Add a hot trend shade – neutral nude, plus a classic, versatile style and have the best of both worlds in Jean Paul Gaultier ‘s Le Tresorier utilitarian chic tall cross-body bag in fine pebble leather. Perfect for a bike ride, a trek through NYC’s Soho neighborhood, or a quick trip to the grocery store.

Dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars on the season’s hottest fashions is normal for many fashionistas, but in the current financial environment, it may not be the most fiscally responsible choice. However, there is a bright side to the bleak financial picture. Now is the perfect time to focus and streamline your wardrobe to create a unique look that is completely your own.

Let’s be honest; how many of you have bought clothing in the past simply because it was the hottest trend, not because it was really your style or looked great on you? Probably all of us have done that at one time or another – but now, when we need to watch our pennies, we can’t make such poor fashion decisions. Now is the time to carefully assess each item we buy and ask, “Do I need it? Will I wear it (more than once)? Do I LOVE it? Is it ME?”

As you ask yourself these questions, keep your current wardrobe in mind. What are your favorite colors, clothing styles and accessories in your closet? Do your wardrobe pieces add up to a coherent “look” or are they hopelessly eclectic? If you can figure out the way you want to look and the image you want to project, it will be much easier for you to figure out what your wardrobe basics should be and build from there.

Once you’ve discovered your own style, there will be no need for you to spend thousands on new trendy clothing for each season. As new styles come along, decide if they fit into your overall style and lifestyle, and if not, pass them by. For instance, an outdoorsy girl who prefers to dress casually probably doesn’t NEED red patent leather boots, fabulous though they may seem. A better choice for her would be a pair of hiking boots in a fun, flirty color – that way she can show her trendy side in a way that complements her lifestyle and existing wardrobe. Ladies who prefer pants to skirts can simply ignore the upward or downward trend of skirt and dress hemlines and stick to trousers entirely.

The same principle applies to color. If this season’s hottest color is yellow, but you hate yellow, look terrible in yellow or have nothing in your existing wardrobe that goes with yellow – skip it! If it’s not YOU, there’s no point in wasting money on it. If you’re dying to try the trendy color, choose an inexpensive, utilitarian item like a handbag or belt – that way you haven’t spent a ton of money, and you can always trade with a friend who really does love yellow!

In short, building a wardrobe of clothing that looks good on you, fits your lifestyle and reflects the image you want to project will always make you look a hundred times more fashionable than simply wearing the latest trends. Never buy anything you don’t love – your look AND your wallet will thank you for it!

Studies have shown that the average woman carries a handbag weighing five to nine pounds. And when you’re pregnant, that pretty purse weight usually increases rather than decreases. You add a baby naming book, a list of baby items to shop for and that sample bottle of prenatal vitamins that your doctor gave you. The problem with that hefty handbag: it can exacerbate your already aching back and shoulders! The solution is to lighten that load with one of these tips:

Relax in the most comfortable chair in your home, put a TV tray in front of you and remove everything from your purse. Those pennies that you tossed into the bottom of your purse, the throat lozenges, the free pens from the bank manager, the credit card holder crammed with cards (half of which probably you no longer use!), the value shopper cards from various supermarkets and drug stores — set it all out. Ask yourself what REALLY needs to stay. The pennies can go into your piggy bank for a rainy day. Those pens belong in your desk. And those value shopper cards? Request to use your phone number rather than a plastic card and shred those cards along with the expired credit cards.

Next up, let your fingers do the shopping online for a much smaller purse. A small, attractive purse will keep you focused on the goal: keeping your handbag as light as possible. For example, consider the highly rated Jessica McClintock Large Satin Clutch, in the cutest, most cheerful colors like pearl pink. It’s easy to access, and lovely to look at! It’s convertible, with a chain, and even has room for your credit cards.

How about a drawstring purse? Tuck away all those essentials with a lightweight drawstring that holds what you need. You won’t get in a flap about a flap purse, sometimes referred to as a tote bag. Often made of lightweight canvas, this style of purse is made for convenience such as the Kavu Tortola Tote Bag, which has a separator to keep you organized.

If a casual girls’ night out is on your list of things to do, then toss on a black O’Neill tank with your favorite pair of 7 For All Mankind jeans. You can ward off the spring chill with a Gabriella Rocha trenchand show off your personality with a pair of sassy Charles David wedges! Don’t forget to throw your favorite Stila lip gloss in a ruched Francesco Biasia handbag before you run out the door!

See another outfit featuring this Gabriella Rocha trench!

See another outfit featuring these 7 for All Mankind jeans!

See another outfit featuring these Charles David wedges!

See another outfit featuring this O’Neill Tank Top

Drape yourself in this stop-them-in-their-tracks red Calvin Klein dress and core item Gabriella Rocha trench . Accessories are key to take this look from fun to fab! A bow-adorned Betsey Johnson clutch , statement necklace by Marc by Marc Jacobs , and the pièce de résistance, strappy Stuart Weitzman stilettos !

See another outfit featuring all the core items!

If you think about haute couture (high fashion), you’re likely to think of Paris, France. Paris has always been at the forefront of world fashion. Clothing designed in France makes it all around the world in a matter of weeks, with similar designs soon showing up from London to Hong Kong. French accessories aren’t any different. Accessories designed in Paris are big business and often affect accessories fashion for the rest of the world. In 2009, the must-have French accessories are handbags, or purses, as the Americans call them. French handbags are known all over the world. From Louis Vuitton and Chanel to Etienne Aigner and Yves Saint Laurent, to lower priced but still beautiful bags from the likes of Jerome Gruet.

Started in 1893, Chanel is one of the most loved handbag designers in the world. This year’s Chanel handbags are gorgeous, many of them with the typical Chanel chain handle, and all of them with the very familiar Chanel logo. En vogue colors are gray, red and black with some beiges and pinks thrown in for a little splash of color.

Louis Vuitton designs luxury leather luggage and purses. The Stephen Sprouse collection is popular this year, with bags having either the traditional brown and cream Louis Vuitton design base then overlaid with enormous red and pink flowers or with brightly colored graffiti on the same Louis Vuitton background.

Yves Saint Laurent , another of the high-end bag designers, has some sweet clutch purses for 2009 that are designed to look like the front of an envelope, complete with stamp and postmark. Adorable. They come in black or ivory patent leather. In tote bags, Yves Saint Laurent has a similar design that they call the Y-Mail Patent Tote Bag. Priced at around $500, it’s actually not a bad price for something so unique and so exquisitely made.

Jerome Gruet has a little shop in Paris that specializes in beautiful quality canvas bags with contrasting trims. Jerome Gruet bags are great for a woman who likes a larger bag, because she carries everything with her including the kitchen sink.

Finally, check out Catherine Zarzecki who specializes in small handbags and clutches. What makes Catherine Zarzecki stand out is all of the accents on her bags are made with semi-precious stones. In 2009, she’s gone with red, black, blues and greens with some very special limited edition silver clutch bags.

Whatever your bag style though, you’ll find anything you’re looking for in Paris.

Clutch it and go! This Hobo International ‘s supple, broken-in leather Lauren Dual Top Closure Clutch can go anywhere. The rich bordeaux color of this clutch is hot trend color of the season, the smaller size makes it ideal for going out after work, and the hidden pockets between the two top closures are perfect for lip gloss and keys. It can dress up jeans and a tee or give a pencil skirt some going out flavor.

Pink, especially pearlized pink, is that delightful hue that bridges the color gap between youthful abandon and grown up sophistication. What’s even better than that? It is one of the hot color trends for Spring/Summer 2009. We are loving this Moschino Cheap and Chic Dual Handle Pearlized Pink Shoulder Satchel. Pair it now with a black or navy turtleneck sweater dress and boots, and for the spring, think sleeveless sheaths and peep toe pumps.