We are now breaking the price barrier with the latest Ralph Lauren Collection Alligator Purse. According to Vogue Magazine (don’t they know everything?) our pal Ralph has put a $10,000 price tag on this structured handbag with polished silver and bronze hardware and tiny side straps. The “gorgeous new gator-skin handbag introduced this season is a permanent accessory in the designer’s line-up.” The shiny green gator bag is nice, but it would have to do laundry, chauffer me around and take me to dinner to get me to hand over $10K for it. Think Hollywood. By the way, Ralph is now sanctioning the knit beret in his ads (must be cashmere), with matching knit dress and hand-warmers. I wonder how much it costs.

THE ACCESSORY RULES OF THE SEASON ACCORDING TO…
Harper’s Bazaar Magazine. The fashion police of Madison Avenue are touting the essential tools of the fashion season and wouldn’t you know they have singled out the HAT. “Top it off with a hat…Fur Trappers, newsboys or skull caps – pick one and you’re sure to be chic.” We like the tan shearling hat on the following page (154) with suede and shearing pieced together with shearling fringe from Chanel.

STICK YOUR NECK OUT…
The latest accessory item is the narrow chiffon scarf in tied-dyed, novelty chiffon or hombre fabric. This Indian-inspired neck piece makes an Isadora Duncan fashion statement and goes well with tunic tops. We saw them in Bloomingdales in NYC and in Barney’s. According to New York Times fashion pulse editor Ellen Tien “the little chiffon neckerchiefs of yesteryear have been replace this summer by long flowing scarves in lace, crocheted yarns and threads and silk. Worn as a frivolous ornament (what isn’t these days?)…the new skinny scarves are paired with tank tops or T’s and are worn loose or tied neck around the neck….. Tien showed a lace scarf from Erickson Beamon in black lace with jet beaded fringe and 12 feet of fabric priced at $1,480. Talk may be cheap, but accessories aren’t. Why not make these narrow scarves with matching hats and bags….it’s a great add-on impulse item for all women of all ages.