it happens every time.

After a long, unseasonably cold day that took Florida by surprise, I returned home to take a steamy shower and settle in with a Lean Cuisine spinach-and-mushroom pizza to check my emails.
Law school, Law School, WaMu, Law School, Sephora, Shopbop...
And there it was.
This happens every time.
Every single time I make a long-debated, serious clothing/accessory purchase, the item goes on sale or clearance not long after I have already parted ways with the cash. This time, my ill timed purchase consisted of some beautiful hidden-platform subtly-pointed pumps to coordinate with my new for-law-school pencil skirt/peplum jacket suit.
Not twenty-four hours after their arrival, Shopbop sent the email announcing their Tax Breaks sale. If you want the same pumps, you can get them for only $140, saving you the exact amount it costs to get another one of my wishlist items, the L L.A.M.B. fragrance roll-on perfume. It is also a good time to justify that pricey springtime blouse or handbag.

It goes in reverse too- if I wait out an item until it goes on sale, it will inevitably go out of stock. I can't win!

bag tag

Thank you to the lovely Wendy B for tagging me and giving me a purpose in life (showing you my boring bag is much more fulfilling than working...maybe). I was starting to feel like the last kid chosen for kickball on the playground.**

So here is my beloved bag:

My sister gave me this Urban bag for my birthday last year, and I've hardly used another bag since. It holds a ton, is holding up pretty well, and looks ok with most of my wardrobe.



Papers, papers. Lists, receipts, and coupons make up a lot of bulk. I am usually very organized and hate clutter, so I guess my purse hides my secret shame.

My Betseyville case is an attempt at some order...cosmetic-ish things go inside. Notice the Purell. This is absolutely vital to my survival.



I always carry a moisturizer. This Fresh Rice body cream is the biggest splurge ever (I had a gift card), but the texture is heavenly.

Applesauce. What can I say? It rules.



I am always making lists/writing myself notes, and I have a bunch of little notepads.

Finally, my fashion cred (joke!). A couple headbands, January Nylon, and the beautifully-photographed Urban catalog.

Phew! Wasn't that exhilarating? I also have the usual stuff like wallet, gum, phone-slash-mp3 player. I think most people have been tagged...if you read this blog (hello? hello?) then I'd love to see what you're carrying around.

**I was actually the biggest tomboy when I was young. Therefore, I didn't get chosen last. But I never had a boyfriend or developed boobs, so I guess it's kinda like that

revelation:

NOT flattering.

I have been on the hunt for gray jeans for a while. But, I tried some on at the ol' standby, Old Navy, and realized that skin-tight, light colored pants do nothing for my thighs. (To quote Charlotte York...I hate my thighs!)

I will just have to stick with my one pair of trusty dark skinny's. I have more important things to worry about anyway, namely, how can I get my poor hands on one, just one of these babies:



brontibay paris nylon tutu tote, $187. MICHAEL michael kors wetherby satchel, $386. l.a.m.b. kensington sutton bag, $645.


marc by marc behati tote, $458. rebecca minkoff morning after bag, $545.


all bags at shopbop.

bag it

Today fashionista had an article about the rise in popularity of fake purses. Obviously, this trend is probably much more visible in a city like New York than it is here in Florida. Here, we don't have many super-fashionable rich ladies who wear enviable clothes from Chloe, Chanel, or Prada. Here we seem to have the tacky rich ladies with plastic faces, bleached hair, and lots of Louis Vuitton purses. So, I have always kind of associated Louis Vuitton with this image and it has never been desirable to me. The fakes are definitely even more tacky, since high school girls driving Neons always seem to have the multicolored Louis'. Don't even get me started on Coach or Dooney bags, which are so common (both real and fake) that they are just tired looking.

As for real, designer, non-logo'ed bags, I appreciate the good quality and craftsmanship. I don't like the idea of it-bags, because that is just a trend personified by overpaid celebrities and the rich people who want to feel on par with celebrities. I think Chloe and Mulberry and Balenciaga bags are beautiful, however I could never feel content with spending over a thousand dollars on a purse. I have struggled too much in life (financially) to drop so much money on one item...I would rather save it or take a vacation.

I do think fakes are lame and just for people who want to feel a certain status. People need to open their eyes and see the beauty of unique, non-designer label bags. A cute bag is a cute bag, no matter what the label says. You can find a gorgeous bag for under $300 that has great craftsmanship and materials. There are even great bags at Urban Outfitters. The bag I get complimented on the most is an adorable navy canvas bag from the store. They also have a great variety of non-leather bags, so you can look cute & cruelty-free too!



I think style is always more important than label, and I just wish more people felt that way about purses. I would love to see less plastic-looking "Goachi" and Louis bags, and more individual style choices.

I'm not an Anya Hindmarch.

When the Anya Hindmarch hype started, I was all about it too. I am really into environmental issues...and fashion, of course. Combine the two and I am one happy shopper.
Now that everyone and their mom has blogged about this bag, I am getting around to it! I still love the bag, but now that it is going to be sold at Whole Foods, does that make it any less special or desirable?

I may still try to snag one, but in case it doesn't work out, here are some more great, fashionable, and earth friendly shopping bags. Don't you know that being green is so in this summer?



All of our favorite stores are jumping all over this trend. You can find a cute, affordable, earth friendly shopping bag anywhere you shop! I'll see you with yours at the checkout line.

from top, l to r: target, urban outfitters, ae, forever 21, ann taylor loft, j. crew