What is a wallet? Just some piece of fabric and Velcro overfilled with receipts and prophylactics? Sure, if it's 1987 and/or you're in high school.

The thing is, that wad of cash and debt in your pocket can be more, so much more. It can be useful and fashionable, no offense, Velcro.

Where, you may ask, would one acquire such a fine specimen of wallet? We thought you'd never ask. Take a gander at Makr.

Though we're inclined to run around all summer in nothing but the exact same pair of dark brown flip flops that "go with" everything from our ethnic print maxi dress to a pair of cut-offs, there are occasions when we may have to wear real shoes. It doesn't mean we have to be uncomfortable in a pair of skin-pinching, back-breaking stiletto heels. Moschino Cheap & Chic's flats are perfect for summer comfort because they are flat and have a rubber sole. The black and silver upper is made of leather and features a tiny strap to keep the shoes on your feet.

Moschino Cheap & Chic's black and silver flats are available from Revolve Clothing for $235.

Every closet needs a classic leather belt, that's for sure. And while a bright, funky, fun belt is a great addition to a lot of outfits, sometimes you need something in between boring and show-stopping. You need something that doesn't distract from your already fabulous outfit, but still shows off your rockin' personality.

That's why we have a bit of a belt crush on this Eugenia Kim Chain Link Belt, available for $187 at shopbop.com. Sure, it's a little pricey, but imagine how much use you'll get out of it. It's got enough interest to liven up a jeans and tee combo, but doesn't have so much going on that it can't be worn with a more vibrant outfit.

We love all of the amazing independent designers out there. In order to find out more about just what makes all of these creative types tick, we present to you an ongoing segment called Indie Designer Interviews.

Today we'd like to introduce you to custom handbag and accessory designer Theresa M. Goodwin of Sakura Urban Studio. We love her leather poppy wristlets, pouches, necklaces and bracelets, not to mention all of her other fabulous designs!

Roberto Cavalli is the designer of choice for divas like the Spice Girls, Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Heidi Klum. He inexplicably selected Amy Winehouse to be his latest muse/model.

Remember when he dressed up as Karl Lagerfeld for Halloween? He is Italian and he is bold.

At last a Coach bag without that extra ten pounds of crazy brass hardware weighing it down. We've loved the style of Coach for years, but our little shoulders, or our habit of carrying everything in the world in our bag, kept us from ever getting one.

The company finally figured out that they're missing a target market, Bag Crazy Bag Ladies, and came out with a new line called "Ergo" which is short for ergonomic. Lightweight, soft, with clean lines, we're very tempted by these bags. They're still crazy expensive, but the Coach story has always been "you'll have it forever" so maybe that works for you. Prices and some pretty colors in the gallery.

When you check out the site, make sure to click on the awesome "Try this bag on" feature on the site. It shows you the scale of the bag on an average woman, both holding it in your hand and on your shoulder.

There's not much that adds punch to an outfit the way a metallic accessory does -- it's exciting, it's new, it's hot. It just makes us walk with a little more strut in our step. However, we will never completely bail on our good buddy brown. Brown has seen us through more trends than we care to remember, and it feels so comfy and safe.

A pink leather motorcycle jacket, is the perfect gift for someone's mom out there, and so fantastic we know you'll be forgiven when it arrives a couple of days late.

Want to make it really special? Pick up the matching chaps in pink or pale pink or supersoft pale pink lambskin. The whole outfit comes in under $300 and will last a lifetime. Or at least seem like it.

Jammin Leather, "the first and largest online leather catalog" has several pink leather items including hats and a lot of stuff with fringe.

Remember, the gift that will bring a tear to her eye is out there, you just have to keep looking. Happy Mother's Day!

We're a little bit obsessed with stripes right now, even though we used to shy away from them big time, unless they were narrow and vertical.

In shoes, however, stripes will never make your feet look fat. In fact, Alexander McQueen's Striped Leather Pumps with a 5" heel (Net-a-Porter actually says 130mm, which is more than 5") will stretch your legs into long lean towers. There's a small platform rise at the peep-toe'd front to help with your balance.

Alexander McQueen's Striped Leather Pumps are $805 at Net-a-Porter.

You know those times when a leather jacket is just too much leather? Maybe too dressy, too butch, too mafia, or simply too outdoorsy?

Gentlemen, we present to you the Leather Shirt.

Available in the optional - but oh so mandatory - slim fit, from Dutch Leather Design.

By now, most of you have seen the video/read the article/received the email on how nasty the bottoms of our purses are. If this is news to you, just take a moment to think about all the places you set your handbag -- floors, chairs, etc. And then, chances are, you set it on the kitchen counter, on the table, and you certainly touch the bottom with your hands, right?

As it turns out, there's more than just a little dirt there -- everything from e-coli and salmonella to fecal contamination and vomit has been found on random handbags. Lifestyle does play a role, with nightclub frequenters and those with children having the dirtiest bags (doesn't that make you wonder what's on Nicole Richie's purse?).

Remember that month in 1988 when it was acceptable to wear a fanny pack in public? Seriously, it happened. I remember it fondly. I was in the mall and I was walking downstairs humming along to the Roxette being piped out from Miller's Outpost, or maybe it was Musicland. It's all so blurry. I was wearing a fanny pack, it was gray and it matched the big 'V' on the back of my Vuarnet t-shirt (sleeves rolled) perfectly. It was fantastic. If I close my eyes and concentrate I can go there and hear the sweet synthesizers of my soundtrack and feel the cool of my mullet on the back of my neck. I had the look. That was my day, and the fanny pack was part of it.

By the time I left the mall they were out of style. Fads are ruthless.

Flash forward to the now. It's 2008 and there isn't a fanny pack in sight. All is well. Still, don't you miss the ease of having everything right on your waist? Batman never outgrew the utility belt. Why should we?

Happy Cow has the solution to our problem. They make "Pocket Leather Belts, Belt Bags, Waist Packs, Micro Mini Skirts, Leather Fanny Packs, Belt Pouches, Money Belts, Urban Wallet Belts" and yes, "Utility Belts."

Freaking utility belts. Holy sweetness, Batman.

Perhaps you think it a bit tacky to make leather goods and call your company Happy Cow. Morbid maybe, but not tacky, you see all of the belts are designed and handmade in Australia from organic leather. According to the website, "this means that the leather is sourced only from cows that have died of natural causes." No meat-packing leftovers for these belts. These are cows that enjoyed themselves.

The products offer ample room for all of your things, cell phones, credit cards, make-up, smoke bombs. Whatever you need to carry on your person, there is a place for it on one of these babies.

The fanny pack isn't back, these are above and beyond a simple accessory. They are the focus.

Check it out, this is your day:

Each season brings a new It bag (or several, as the case may be). Some of these bags are incredibly expensive, which is fine if you can afford it, but most folks can't. Others are beautiful, but really, really trendy, so while they'll look great this season, next year you'll be sick of carrying it.

To me, the perfect It bag is the one that is at the height of fashion without looking like it's about to plummet off the edge of the style map. It's great if it's somewhat functional, and even better if it's not $1500.

Well, let me introduce you to Anabelle (pictured) by RUEHL No. 925 -- isn't she lovely? Lots of celebrities think so, including Ali Larter, Katherine Heigl, Minka Kelly, and Vanessa Hudgens. And it's not just Anabelle they're jonesing for (although I personally think it is everything that this season's It bag wants to be) -- RUEHL has loads of fantastic, high quality handbags, and they're not going to cost you a month's rent. I mean, you might not be able to get five of them, but then again, maybe you can!

Anabelle clutch, available in white and brown, $198 at ruehl.com

Investing in a pair of boots is always a good idea, especially when they've been marked down over 40%. These tough-looking Chelsea boots by J. Shoes would be a great buy if you're hitting the slopes for spring break.

At the end of the day, when all the energy you have left goes towards prying off those plastic ski boots and stumbling to the bar, you might as well set yourself up with some awesome after-ski boots. Otherwise you'll be way too tired to care about looking cool -- and that's no good.

The rounded-off toe, along with the heavy treads, give these boots a rugged look -- unlike most Chelsea boots that end up looking kind of flimsy. These look like they'd come in handy in any bad weather situations, and they would dress up nice too. I really like the weird unnecessary flap -- I don't know why, but it definitely makes the boot look more substantial. They were $182 and now they're $102.

Buy
[via GearPatrol]

Nah, the pale green isn't too Spring-y to wear this early in the year. The shoes are made of suede, and that's totally a winter material!

Dolce Vita's Celadon Suede shoes have a softly pointed toe which is okay by me (I am partial to severely pointed toes) because it matches with the softness of the suede leather and the soft, light celadon color. The heel is a wedge, which makes its 3¾" heel height more comfortable than a skinny little stiletto. The ankle strap finished the shoe off.

Available from Bluefly for $72.90.