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!

Tano

After my pink purse epiphany the other day I decided to expand my search and see what other pink goodies I could find. Unfortunately I had no luck. The only other pink purses I could find were very juvenile, or involved cotton, or even worse...Terry cloth.

But my search for pink did help me discover a purse brand I had not heard of before. It's called Tano, and I really like all the shiny leather and simple designs. It's just too bad the color choices are a little lacking.

Here is the pink hobo that caught my eye - but it's too HOT PINK.


I REALLY like the style of this bag. Love the strap, love the seams, love the name (Dangerous Indeed Tote). HATE the colors!




All imagaes from bergdorfgoodman.com.

Think Pink

I don't think I have ever considered a pink purse. If I were to consider one, I think it would be this one from Burberry for $995.00.

Burberry Tumbled Leather Tote, available in Pink, White or Black.


from Bloomingdales.com

(Re)Discovering Gucci

One of the benefits of getting on the email list for retailers is getting info on sales, and special offers sent right to my inbox. And one of the drawbacks is getting sucked into the retailer's website and adding to the growing list of things I need/want/HAVE TO HAVE.

Case in point, Neiman Marcus' latest email showcased Gucci's Spring and Summer 2010 line. When I think of Gucci I only think of their signature pattern, on canvas, in brown. I don't wear that much brown. And if I am going to spend that much money on canvas, I'd rather get a Louis Vuitton.

So I innocently browsed the new collection, knowing it was safe because there wouldn't possibly be anything I'd swoon over. And then I saw this:



It's simple, it's classic, it's leather, it has silver toned hardware. I love it. I don't love it $1600 worth – but I love it nonetheless.

And if I wore heels more and had an extra $550 sitting around, I would naturally have to get these to go with.



All from NeimanMarcus.com.

Comparison Shopping

Today I satisfied my craving for a classic black satchel by searching for purses that compare to the Marc Jacobs Jen tote I wrote about in my last post. Since the Jen tote is out of my price range, I compiled the fololwing options at different price points.

$675
Rebecca Minkoff Eyelet Devote Leather Tote
This purse is pretty, but a little too trendy for what I'm looking for. The eyelets and the overall look is a little too "rock and roll" for my personal style, but I would definitely admire it on someone else.

from Bloomingdales.com


$548
Coach Peyton Embossed Exotics Large Carryall
This purse would be more of a win for me if it did not have the embossing. They do make a smaller version in a smooth leather, but I am looking for a bigger purse.

from coach.com


$495
Furla Maira Tracolla Leather Hobo
A pretty, classic look, but the handle is WAY too short for what I need. I actually find it interesting that they classify it as a hobo.
from bloomingdales.com


$395
Tory Burch Dena Satchel
This is a beautiful purse that will remain just as timeless as the Marc Jacobs Jen satchel of my dreams. I actually made a trip to Nordstrom over the holidays specifically to check out this bag and considered it as a "second best" to the Jen. I ended up not going for it because I need the straps to be just a smidge longer. I really want a black bag that can go over my shoulder and this one is close, but it would not work when wearing a jacket.
from NeimanMarcus.com


$295
DKNY Glazed Leather Tote
This purse is probably the closest match to the Marc Jacobs Jen, but it is more slouchy. I have a great hobo already that I love and use often and I am really looking for a purse with structure in my current search.
from Bloomingdales.com


While all these purses would be viable options, I truly believe in never settling when investing in a new purse. Since it is something I will carry almost everywhere I go, it needs to be something I truly love and will not grow tired of. So the search continues.

Welcome

Welcome to Purse of the Day! My love affair with purses didn’t start until I was 26 years old. But when I started, I started BIG. My husband (boyfriend at the time) gave me a Louis Vuitton French Wallet (Epi leather, black) for my 26th birthday. He upped the ante on my 27th birthday with a Louis Vuitton purse (Epi leather, black, Jasmine), and gave me the matching checkbook holder that Christmas. Can you see why I married him?

Since then I have not been able to settle for knock off, trendy, (cheap, gasp!) purses. No, I have to have the real thing and it can’t come from Kmart. Obviously that means my purse purchases (purschases??) have been few and far between. But over the last few years I have accumulated a nice, classic purse collection. Maybe one day I will have a closet full of amazing purses that I can plan my outfits around, instead of the other way around, but until then I will just lust over purses online and share some of my favorites here on this blog.

My first Purse of the Day is the Marc Jacobs Jen Satchel in black. This is the 2009 version, NOT the 2010 version. I have been lusting after this purse for 3 months, stalking online retailers DAILY and this sucker just won’t go on sale.

The thing I love about this purse is its clean and classic lines. It is not splattered with a logo, and it can be carried in the hand OR hang from the shoulder. I predict this purse will look as beautiful (for style AND quality) in 2030 as it does now in 2010.


Photo from nordstrom.com