We make no reservations about our love for studded handbags. With the military-inspired trend in full swing for fall we are currently lusting over Hammitt Handbags. Seen on the arms of Angelina Jolie and Kelly Ripa, and featured on shows such as Gossip Girl, Entourage, and 90210, each bag is handmade by local artisans using pure Italian leather.

The company was founded by former model turned designer Steff Hammitt, who has a particular affinity for the County of Los Angeles and dubbed each bag after a neighborhood. You can choose to buy the Brentwood or Venice if you like. We personally love the Getty and the Doheny as they are the perfect downsizing bag for us. The handbags range in price from $80 for a navy-colored Getty to $875 for the gold Westwood bag. Best of all, the inside of each bag has the tagline “L.A. stitched into every bag.” What better way to show your love for our fabulous city?

Hammitt is available at Bettina Duncan at Fred Segal Santa Monica or online.

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There’s a new jewelry collection in town that your significant other would try to steal from you if it weren’t for all the bling (on second thought, that might not stop anyone from stealing anything). Belle Coeur is a collection of unisex pendants, cuffs, rings, and earrings that is the brainchild of Jamie Jo Harris, a songwriter who has worked with the likes of Mr. Bee Gee himself, Barry Gibb.

Now, with the help of celebrity jeweler Rosalina Lydster, who counts Jessica Alba, Fergie, and Elton John as some of her fans, Harris has launched her own line featuring all sorts of rocker chic pieces that range from $400 to $5,000.

During the line’s west coast launch party last week at Bettina Duncan at Fred Segal in Santa Monica, we had the opportunity to chat with the designer and check out her creations. Harris, who  says her inspiration comes from, “hope, love, and freedom,” considers herself a “romantic at heart.” A trait clearly evident in the designer’s first pendant.

Sparkling with diamonds, agate, and black and pink sapphires, the pendant has wings to symbolize freedom, a heart for love, hope and giving, and a key to embody a Belle Coeur or, literally, a “beautiful heart.”

The pendant retails for $3,200 and can be worn around the neck or attached by chain to a pair of jeans. A bracelet that will be unlocked by the pendant is currently in production.

A portion of the proceeds of sales from Belle Coeur will benefit the Diabetes Research Institute and Women of Tomorrow.

Visit Belle Coeur for more information.

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Socks are huge for fall. And a fun sock is an easy and usually inexpensive way to update your favorite ensembles. There are loads of styles and lengths to pair with your favorite fall footwear, both open-toe and not.

Here are some of our favorite pairs.

Leg Avenue Lace Anklet with Ruffle, $5. www.sockdreams.com

These flirty ankle-length socks are a perfect match for your high heels. I would wear them with a peep-toe and mini-skirt.

Free People Lace Knee Sock, $14. www.freepeople.com

Free People makes feminine pieces with a grunge edge. These black and red socks with delicate lace trim look so chic with a buckled boot as seen here.

Hansel from Basel Strawberry Top Knee Hi, $28. www.artisansocks.com

These organic cotton socks by Hansel from Basel are perfect for clogs or casual booties. Scrunch them down to sit at your ankle or pull them up so they just grace your knee. I love the neutral color against a bare leg.

Falke Striggings Over the Knee Socks, $39. www.shopbop.com

A thick ribbed sock makes it easy to be stylish and cozy. They feature ribbing at the top along with a fold over detail. Thick-knits are another trend for fall and these Falke socks will update your usual boots and jeans combo.

Wolford Velvet Overknees, $30. www.wolfordshop.com

Wolford makes the crème de la crème of hosiery. These show stopping over the knee-hi’s hit mid-thigh. Just slightly provocative…

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There is something extra special about classic, old-school heritage brands that have managed to stay stylish for longer than five minutes. And Victory Optical, a recently-resurected eyeglasses company that began in 1941, is no exception.

The company was founded during World War II by Vincent J. Salierno, who grew the operation to be one of the largest fashion frame manufacturers in the U.S. In June, eleven of the brand’s most popular styles from the 50s through the 70s were resurrected by Salierno’s grandsons using the same materials and details as the first time around.

There is nothing trendy about these frames — think thick, nerdy and fit for both male and female employees of Sterling, Cooper, Draper, Pryce.

In addition to black, blonde, tortoise and amber eyeglasses Victory also offers three styles of sunglasses named after preppy summer spots including Hyannisport and Palm Beach.

We imagine  a black and white photo of our very handsome grandfather resting against his old Pontiac in a pair of Bromleys, a sleek, thin metal pair of swoon-worthy shades.

Which would look just as perfect in a full color photo snapped today.

Starting at $185. Available at Cat Eye Spectacles. 708 N. Heliotrope Dr., Los Angeles. 323-664-3939. cateyespectacles.com and Society of the Spectacle, 4563 York Blvd., Los Angeles. 323-255-4300. societyspectacle.com

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Any fashionable person knows that a fall wardrobe is incomplete without a few belts and cuffs. Though leather is best, it can be hard to stomach the carnage just for accessorizing purposes. That’s why we are loving Canadian-based Brave Leather products for the upcoming season. The company was founded by belt-maker Scott Irvine who wanted a more ethical approach to leather accouterments. And while all the products are genuine hides, no creatures are killed solely for their skins. All the materials are reclaimed from animals used in the food industry. Additionally, all of Brave Leather’s products are handmade in Canada using dyes derived from plant and vegetable extracts.

The accessories range in design from patent black to glossy brown to studded white. Men’s and women’s belts retail between $55-165 and cuffs between $50-75. Jennifer Aniston is a fan of the Emryk belt ($80) while Vanessa Hudgens enjoys the Callista belt ($120). The company gives names to all their products using baby name books from around the globe to add a “personality” to each piece. Zarina, Sirena, and Elsia are just some of the names we are bookmarking for future use.

Check out all of Brave Leather’s products online here.

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We don’t need to tell you that old-school, American-made heritage brands have been enjoying a nice little moment in the sun courtesy of exclusive collections and collaborations with more modern names (Pendleton for Opening Ceremony and Red Wing for J. Crew are a couple we mentioned back in February). And now J.W. Hulme is the latest trusty, work-minded company to up its cool factor with a customizable bag line debuting at Barneys at the end of this week.

The small, Minnesota-based brand started making canvas tents during World War I and began selling their signature leather and canvas bags in 1905. Today the product line includes killer canvas luggage, leather hunting pouches that make perfect purses and rustic-looking, earth toned totes — all of which can be embossed with your initials. Though Steven Alan started carrying the line back in March, this is the first time Hulme products will be available at Barneys and, likely reach a widespread audience.

The news reminds us of the early part of this decade when the luxury giant began selling and heavily hyping Goyard, the French heritage brand that had been fairly obscure until then.

And with J. W. Hulme’s canvas and leather travel bags coming in at under $500, we’re guessing that we’ll be seeing quite a few on the luggage carousel in the very near future.

Photo: J.W. Hulme Shell bag, $360. jwhulmeco.com

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Traveling to exotic locations is the stuff that we dream of. Unfortunately pesky things like work and well, money, get in the way. But sitting on the beaches of the Caribbean, gazing upwards at the skyscrapers of Tokyo and shopping on the streets of Peru is just part of job for jewelry designer Yuko Osugi. On the go for inspiration, Osugi’s extensive travel has helped this designer cultivate a worldly-elegance and charm that is evident in her L.A.-based line, Yukester, which is made from hand with brass, copper and aluminum materials. Worn alone or stacked, we adore this line and eagerly await to see more from Osugi. Check out our top choices below.

Ball-Chain Necklace inspired by Coco Chanel that comes in 2-strand, 6-strand, or 12-strand length as shown above ($55)

Snake Necklace fit for Cleopatra, this can also be worn as a headband or bracelet ($68)

Snake Spiral Earrings to match your necklace or wear alone ($50)

The mixed metal in these earrings are our favorite in the collection ($52)

Mixed Metal Bracelets that can easily be adorned with your favorite keepsake charms ($75)

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You know you all remember, or at least have heard of, the slap-on bracelet—all the rage one week in grade school, banned by school officials the next because of some janky, sharp-edged metal piece inside the bracelet that budding sociopaths in your class used as a shank during recess.

Cloud 9, one of our favorite new watch lines, has brought the treasured 90s fad back—and perfected it with the Nimbo slap watch ($84.99, available at karmaloop.com, drjays.com and pickyourshoes.com).

And we’ve got one for one of our lucky readers. Just click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter.

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I’ll admit, I haven’t been watching the Lakers (I’m a Bulls fan). But that doesn’t mean I won’t use Kobe and Co. as a reason to buy a rad pair of shades that convey my, uh, team spirit.

This purple and yellow-hued pair by KBL, a cool new unisex eyewear line started by Oliver Peoples vet Adam Mendelsohn, is just what you need to perfect your game face. (Unless you want to paint yourself at the risk of looking like a tool, of course.)

Because it never hurt anyone to wear cool frames — whether you’re at the game, at the bar or on the couch pretending you care.

KBL ‘West Side Bernie’ sunglasses, $155. Available at A. Kinney Court, 1423 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice. 310-392-3400. akinneycourt.com

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Los Angeles jewelry line Les Morceaux celebrates its debut collection this weekend at Steven Alan Oupost in Los Feliz. Treat your mom (or yourself) to French pastries and champs while you shop the new collection of understated-hip necklaces and wrap bracelets made in Downtown L.A. We first spotted Les Morceaux’s (which means “fragments” in French) perfect-for-layering pieces a couple weeks ago at Unique L.A. and were delighted to hear that Steven Alan Outpost would be picking up the line.

This Saturday’s event is open to the public – details below!

Saturday, May 8th, 2010  1 – 4pm

Steven Alan Outpost - 1937 Hillhurst Avenue, Los Angeles (323) 667-9500

Complimentary champagne & Parisian treats, sounds by Milk Ill & Sosupersam

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