Cheryl Shops

Objects of desire
When Tom Ford left Gucci, I worried a bit. After all, this incredibly stylish, sexy man had singlehandedly resurrected an almost-dead brand, turning it into an incredibly popular, desirable (and profitable) luxury house. Earlier this year, Frida Giannini, the post-Ford womenswear designer, resigned, and the accessories designer, Alessandra Facchinetti, was chosen to oversee all womenswear and accessories. So while we have to wait till September to see her first ready-to-wear collection, I think we can all agree that her revival of the "spring flowers" motif was super-successful, and I must say, I'm quite blown away by La Pelle Guccissima, her contribution for fall. Once you get past the tackiness of the name, you can realize the genius of the design--instead of the boring old woven logo canvas, Guccissima features the iconic logo in stamped leather, taking the luxury of the Gucci brand to a new level. The bags come in every shape and size, from ladylike handbag to boho hobo. I think my favorite is the horsebit hobo, a bit pricey at $1565, but you can take comfort in the fact that this is going to be a hard style for Chinatown to rip off. Still, if that's a bit too much of a financial commitment, try a sexy pump for $495, a wallet for $445, or an iPod case for a bargain $215. Get on the waiting lists now, ladies.