Brunette

The name of this purse is "Brunette Satchel." Maybe I was drawn to it because I've been sporting some brown hair lately? Either way I love the color and the gloss of this bag. I'm not crazy about the shape but the color is amazing.

Hey, I guess the bag IS appropriately named - don't we all want the color of our hair to be gorgeous and shiny, and isn't it typical that if we finally achieve that, then there will be something wring with the cut.

Is it wrong to want perfect hair AND a perfect purse?



Brunette Satchel, $218 from Anthropologie

Mellow Yellow

My daughter's favorite color is yellow and its rubbing off on me. I have been wearing a lot of gray lately and I just love the combination of gray and yellow. I have a gray and white striped open cardigan from Old Navy that I wear often, and everytime I put it on I wish I had a big bright sunshine-y yellow purse to go with it.

I just wish my kid was old enough to buy gifts on her own, because I have no doubt she'd agree that any of these options would make a great Mother's Day gift.







1. Steven by Steve Madden "Sun+Kiss" $248.00 from piperlime.com
2. Latico "Mimi In Memphis" Clutch $75.00 from endless.com
3. Dooney & Bourke "Priscilla" Medium Satchel $345.00 from nordstrom.com
4. Big Buddha "Abby" Tote $70.00 from piperlime.com
5. B. Makowsky "Soft Pleat" Satchel $218.00 from nordstrom.com

Zippers and Angles

I've never considered myself a trend-spotter. But I am going to take a gamble on this one - zippers and angles. I think we'll see a lot of them this summer.


MARC BY MARC JACOBS Flash Leola Zipper-Detailed Lambskin Hobo $498
from Bloomingdales
I really like the pretty, buttery yellow color if this bag. I think this color would work well year-round.



Hobo International 'Vintage' Clutch $138
from Nordstrom
I am taking some inspiration from my 2 1/2 year old daughter who has recently become fascinated with clutches. She doesn't go anywhere without a purse (not my influence I promise!) and lately she has been relying on a little blue make-up bag which makes a perfect kid-size clutch. I think she likes it because she can grip it in her hand or use her arm to press it against her body and she doesnt have to fuss with straps. I have taken note.


Kooba 'Hadley' Satchel $475
from Nordstrom
I found a lot of fun color purses in my search for bags with zippers.


Rebecca Minkoff 'Zipper' Baby Bag $395
from Nordstrom
I already have an amazing Navy Blue Kate Spade diaper bag which will more than likely last me through my next kid. But if I do decide to get a new one at some point, this one would be on my list. But I would have to shorten or remove all those zipper-pulls. That would be way too distracting while juggling a kid.


Cole Haan Contrast Piped Zip Shoulder Bag $328
from Nordstrom
This is an excellent example of how a trend and a classic can live harmoniously together.


Burberry Mega-Check Large Tote $795
from Neiman Marcus
I am pleasantly surprised by how much I have been digging Burberry latetly. But for this one I would want the straps to be black.


Olivia Harris Zippered North/South Leather Hobo $495
form Saks Fifth Avenue
I will be honest I am not at all a fan of this last one. It is way too "messy", but it helps showcase my point that zippers and angles are all over the place right now.

Feeling Blue

Normally I wouldn't consider a Navy Blue purse. I just don't wear enough of the color, and when I do, my bronze purse suffices. But this purse is only $65. For that price I am considering it.



Although I would detach the shoulder strap and only use the handle. Not a huge fan of the bulky look of convertible purses (or the way the top flaps over when you put it over your shoulder).



photos from piperlime.com

It's Show Time

I have a vested interest in cross-body bags - but fashion is no where near the top of the reasons. I manage a lot of events and Trade Shows, I like to call them Show Bags. They are great for "onsite" because you can carry the essentials (cell phone, pad of paper, pen, business cards, lipstick), and hook a walkie to the strap - leaving you hands free to carry the rest of the essentials (AKA a 10-pound binder).

For the last few years I have carried a super cute and durable LeSportsac crossbody bag. It has a cute pattern with Robots. Unfortunately one of the seams has started to unravel and I just don't trust it to last through my next event in March. And since it is my biggest event of the year I don't want to take any chances.

Here are all the styles I am currently looking at.

This bag is the same style as the one I have been using for the last few years. It is certainly the most affordable.
LeSportsac Kasey Crossbody Bag, $38
from Bloomingdales.com



I would feel so hip wearing a L.A.M.B. bag - if only because I think Gwen is one of the coolest girls on the planet. Not sure how many pockets are in this bag, though, and pockets are essential.
LAMB Crossbody, $129.50
from Bloomingdales.com



I like the simple clean lines of Kate Spade bags - but this one might be a little too boring. When I do events its the one time I feel comfortable taking fashion risks - I am usually so casual and boring when it comes to personal style (although I like to call it "classic" instead of boring).
Kate Spade Gramercy Park Thomas Crossbody, $135
from Nordstrom.com



Now this bag is CUTE. Its B. Makowsky which always reminds me of Marc Jacobs style. And its no secret I love Marc Jacobs. This is also a bit of a different style (wide instead of tall) which actually could work! I have a white B. Makowsky purse and it is very well made.
B. Makowsky Belted Crossbody Bag, $128
from Nordstrom.com

My Name's Written All Over It

I am still on the hunt for a black purse that I can fit over my shoulder. Today I was browsing through the shoulder bags on Neiman Marcus' website and caught a glimpse of a Kooba bag that looked cute. So imagine my surprise when I opened it up and saw that its called the "Kara" bag. For Reals! This bag just went up up up on my wishlist.

I like the size. I love the shiny leather. The one thing holding me back (besides the $595 price tag) is that it has a flap closure. I'd really prefer a zipper - for some reason I am always paranoid of getting pick-pocketed if someone could reach their hand in from behind me. The flap does look pretty wide, though. This bag might warrant an in-person visit.

Next Year...

I picked up a back issue of 7x7 magazine from my office yesterday so I'd have some reading material for my trip across the bay on the ferry. The issue was from October 2009. In it I stumbled across a listing for an event called This Old Bag and I actually got sad that I didn't even know about it.

It was a charity event to benefit Breast Cancer. Here is the description from their website:

Guests will enjoy appetizers and cocktails while bidding on scores of handbags donated by fashion designers, celebrities and San Francisco’s leading philanthropists. A live auction will showcase the most valuable and coveted bags paired with other exciting items like cruises, dining and entertainment packages, shopping sprees and more!

At least they had a Flickr gallery on their website so I was able to see a little bit of what they had up for auction. Here are a few of the purses I would have definitely had my eye on had I been there...













Sounds fabulous doesn't it?! I am going to keep checking their webpage until the 2010 event is scheduled so I can get my ticket early!