Okay so, here's what's been on the frivolous portion of my mind lately:
C's mom got me a Tory Burch bag as a Christmas present [that's a sneak peek above, because why not]. It's a small little guy, but it's still Tory Burch, and it's purple and cute and while I've never been much of a purse person before, I keep finding myself dwelling on it. Like, sitting in class, learning about muscle architecture, thinking instead about the little bag left sitting on the floor by the kitchen table. It's an odd feeling.
And then a couple of nights ago, instead of reviewing lectures for the day I found myself researching Tory Burch totes, because I've seen people carrying them both in real life and on the internet and admired the way they looked. Suffice it to say I'm going through some sort of weird phase, I guess. I've been a pretty dedicated Kate Spade fan for a long time now, for all that I cannot afford the majority of what the brand sells, but there's something about this gifted purse that has me in the mood for more Tory Burch. I was never on board with her huge tacky logos splattered all over those flats and boots and whatever that you tend to see all over the place, but I've recently discovered she has a whole array of items that lack that obnoxious detail...and now I'm feeling much friendlier toward the brand as a whole.
And then of course, window-shopping Tory Burch turned into window-shopping unaffordable purses and bags in general...and now here we are. And then I turned all of my thoughts into a post so we can discuss fancy handbags together. So tell me, purse people - what do you like? What do you prefer to splurge on?
My preferences run on two ends of the spectrum...
Portable crossbody bags:
Rebecca Minkoff 'Love' crossbody bag | Marc by Marc Jacobs 'New Q-Natasha' | Michael Michael Kors Cindy crossbody | Michael Michael Kors Selma messenger | Rebecca Minkoff 'Mini Sydney' crossbody bag
The crossbody is my everyday bag of choice. I like the long straps. I like the small, convenient sizes - furthermore, I like the variety of small, convenient sizes. I have some bags that are teeny and some that can snuggly fit my giant camera. I tend to buy these in pretty colors instead of classic browns and blacks, and I like the little bit of vibrance and interest they can add to an outfit.
And multifunctional totes/satchels:
Tory Burch York tote | Lauren Ralph Lauren Tate satchel | kate spade new york lark street maddie handbag | kate spade new york lily avenue carrigan tote | kate spade new york cedar street medium harmony
My preference would be to carry a tote everywhere if it weren't for the fact that I have so much stuff to lug around to school and back. I have a couple that I love and use to death, but that doesn't stop me from continuing to shop for more. They're perfect for everyday uses as well as for travel - I usually bring one with me as a carry-on because they can hold so much more than a purse. I love my leather tote from Cuyana [a Christmas present last year!], but I think at some point I might like to acquire a new bag with a bit more structure in the bottom. I know there's things you can do to help shape the bottom of a bag that I should probably try, but window-shopping is obviously the more fun alternative, right?
For anyone interested in more classic caramel-y totes à la the ubiquitous Madewell version, Rank & Style put together a ranking list of the best bags available.