The opening of the Gucci flagship store in New York was packed with shoppers and admirers, all wanting to get their hands on the best Italian leather goods. The limited-edition “Gucci Loves New York” bags was sold out in a couple of hours, but the excitement is still sustained thanks to their latest line of handbags that have thankfully been giving a kick to the otherwise lagging purse category of this luxury powerhouse.

The Hysteria series comes in different shapes and sizes, but all have the commonly-found gold metal crest detail and side ties. And among the different versions of the Gucci Hysteria, I instantly fell in love with the round top handle handbag made from python leather. It also has a detachable shoulder strap, magnetic snap closure, as well as inside zipper and pockets for your cell phone and PDA.

Although it is sold at a high-end price, the Python Hysteria is actually a less expensive alternative to its more exotic cousins like the $37,000-crocodile leather handbag, which is undoubtedly stunning but too out-of-reach for me. This particular version of the Gucci Python Hysteria handbag is only available on its official website for $4,350.