Purses

[indysteel]

I could always just go back to Paris and find an equally gorgeous purse! As it so happens, the sale is in February and falls over our wedding anniversary. I think I could easily sell that to DH! He loves Paris, too. Hmmm; there's a thought.

[GLC1968]

I could always just go back to Paris and find an equally gorgeous purse! As it so happens, the sale is in February and falls over our wedding anniversary. I think I could easily sell that to DH! He loves Paris, too. Hmmm; there's a thought.

Easily the best reason I've ever heard for a trip to Paris!

[indysteel]

Easily the best reason I've ever heard for a trip to Paris!

LOL. I hear the food is pretty good, too!

[Bethany1]

I'm no purse lover, but look for something simple and classy for work. It doesn't have to be boring, just not so distracting that it clashes. Not those vinyl weird snakeskin "hooker" bags that are in fashion now. DH calls them "hooker" bags because of the obnoxious rhinestones, crazy sizes and wild colors.

I don't think I could ever spend 400 dollars on a bag, but I do agree with proportion. It's hilarious seeing small women with their giant purses walking around and you wonder about tall people with these skinny purses that disappear or look odd because they aren't long enough.

[goldfinch]

I am so not a fashionista.

I carry a Kavu cloth purse with a long strap I can put over my shoulder for everyday. I can throw it in the wash when it gets dirty.

I easily lose purses and hate to carry things in my hand because I will set it down and forget about it. Once I had a client stop by my office with my purse. He said he found it in a booth at the restaurant across the street. In the old days when I had to go to formal events I would leave everything in my car and put the car key in my shoe or bra, depending. If I needed cash or a credit card, it was similarly stashed. No purse to worry about or lose.

[NbyNW]

I avoid carrying a purse whenever possible. So, most of the year I am carrying my essentials in jacket pockets.

I pretty much only carry a purse if I have to be wearing an outfit that does not have sufficient pockets. I have a modest stash of purses/shoulder bags for this purpose, and which one I use depends on how much stuff I need to be carrying. Most of them are neutral/earthtone colors, so they won't clash with what I'm wearing. I'm pretty utilitarian about my bags that way.

In addition to this, I have a couple dressier clutches for the rare dressy occasion. One was an emergency thrift store purchase -- a tiny tan suede thing that goes with everything, and the other was a splurge on an oxblood red Cartier that I saw in Paris, which I would have regretted not buying. Gotta take advantage of duty-free sometime, right?

I'm not worried about my purses going in/out of style. I've never had the energy to follow trends, so I just buy things that I like, that I feel will last a few seasons style-wise.

[Marquise]

Another Furla fan here! I was not a purse/handbag person at all until I found my first Furla bag at TJ Maxx about 10 years ago: a rich yellow tall thin rectangle with same color flower cutouts along the top and straps long enough to put over a shoulder or carry in hand. My then-boss's wife saw it and said, "That [dramatic pause] is a work of art." I bought a Furla a few years ago in Rome but the rest I found on the (relative) cheap.

This is probably not helpful to the OP so I'll just add that while I know there's a place for neutrals, especially if you regularly use only one bag, I'm all for a pop of color. My current every-day bag is a deep red Furla.

[Trek420]

I notice that nowadays are (to me) some large, leather, ugly carpet-bag like purses/handbags.

Still my favorite bags:

http://madeinusareviews.blogspot.com...enger-bag.html

these are great bags that will (gasp) work on the bike:

http://madeinusareviews.blogspot.com...ampo-bags.html

[shootingstar]

Always interesting to see what manufacturers produce for cyclists.

I've seen some of these purses (and panniers) for real at a bike show, but right now can't think about the price.
http://www.queenbee-creations.com/items?category_id=93

Wouldn't be necessarily for spiffy evening wear, but other times, might fit the bill.

I'm not the sort of person that would haul around a bike pannier against my side body, since bike pannier often abit of dirt on it after getting off bike.

[jyyanks]

Every now and then I get an urge for a nice purse ($200-$400). I have some nice Cole Haan, Coach, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Gucci bags. The Cole Haan and Gucci bags are more traditional/classic while the rest tend to be trendy. I also have some cheaper bus from Coles and a fake Louie that I got a a flea market. I'm not a bag person but find that I spend more on bags now then I used to. However, I don't think I could ever spend $1000 on a bag, even if I had the money. Many people I work with (I work in Manhattan) have beautiful bags but I's rather spend my money on bikes and gear

[GLC1968]

Always interesting to see what manufacturers produce for cyclists.

I've seen some of these purses (and panniers) for real at a bike show, but right now can't think about the price.
http://www.queenbee-creations.com/items?category_id=93

Wouldn't be necessarily for spiffy evening wear, but other times, might fit the bill.

I'm not the sort of person that would haul around a bike pannier against my side body, since bike pannier often abit of dirt on it after getting off bike.

The two purses I have right now are both from QueenBee Creations, actually. I love them both, but neither of them are 'trendy' except in Portland.

[missjean]

The Queen Bee stuff is wonderful. I love the pannier with the poppy on it!

[redrhodie]

I just got one of the Ibex felted wool bags, and it's really cool. I'd love an Orla Kiely bag, but my lifestyle doesn't let me spend that much on non cycling items. They sure are gorgeous.

[lph]

my lifestyle doesn't let me spend that much on non cycling items.

I love that sentence.

[Blueberry]

I love that sentence.

Me too!!!