Try It On?

What a concept! I am an internet shopper. I HATE the mall and dealing with crowds and parking and the feeling that I'm paying a premium plus tax. But, I've bought and returned so many pairs of boots that it is just a waste to order them.

I've had my eye on Anthropologie's Fountain Pen Boots and Peaks & Plateaus Bag. They have been in the cart, ready for purchase but I just couldn't pull the trigger because I just wasn't sure. I received some good news at work today and thought I could get a little gift for myself.

So, I called 2 Anthropologie stores and of course, the shoe and bag can't possibly be in the same store. I mapped out the route to each of them and off I went.
Turns out, the leather of bag wasn't that soft and the handle drop - as I already knew - was too short. And, it was bigger than I wanted. Then, I took the E to Spring Street - for ONCE, the E train wasn't crowded. Must be my lucky day. I had a nice walk with window shopping (nothing really interesting) and got to the second Anthropologie.
13.5 inch shaft my ass. More like 15. I KNEW the boots would be too tall. I left both Anthropologie stores empty handed.

This apparently is my new budget strategy. If I want something, I will have to try it on. Which means I'll have to find time to get to the store, make sure what I want is there waiting for me and see if I really truly do love it.

Grey Bags (cont.)

This is a continuation of "Grey is the New Black" and "Meet Grey Bag." I think I really missed out on the Marc Jacobs Dr. Q Grovee shoulder bag but I console myself in that it was a weird beige grey color.

I found the Peaks & Plateaus Bag on Anthropologie and LOVE it - except that the top handles are too small to go over my shoulder. That is a huge problem. I cannot have a bag that I have to hold in my hand or wear on my elbow. Bag is going to be put down somewhere and forgotten.

Then, I saw LV's new Angele Platine bag. It is lovely but Doris and I think it is too long. I measured it out and it is HUGE. It is the same size as my Prada laptop bag and that thing is so ginormous that I don't even carry it anymore - such a waste.

So, the search continues and in the meantime, I'll wear my Bica Cheia bag which is almost close to perfect except that the quality of the leather is not very good. I call it my elephant hide bag.

Meet Gray Bag

The Bica Cheia grey bag has arrived and design-wise, it is perfect. Great size (I learned my lesson - not too big!), tons of sections to keep you organized (even side pockets for water and umbrella!), light gold hardware (kind of looks like the hardware on my Botkier bag) and I can't say enough how much I love the 3 different ways I can carry the bag (satchel, shoulder, messenger, oh, my!). And, I admit, I bought the bag because Anthropologie had a picture of a woman carrying a dog in it. I will buy anything if there is a dog in it (see super cute Vogue spread on booties with pugs). That, and someone was selling it on eBay for way less.

But, I haven't switched over from the Botkier because I've rediscovered how much I love my Botkier's shape and super luxurious lambskin. It's better than butter. I touch it all day and love carrying it. The grey bag is made of leather (perhaps of an old cow?) and maybe I'll give it a try over the weekend. Maybe it'll hold up better in inclement weather than the Botkier and will be a good bag for the winter. I will keep it as part of the collection.

System: Bag Part Deux

So, the one large bag thing? No good. Prada is too big and too heavy. Plus, I'm not hauling a ton of stuff every day. Prada needs a new home.

New system: All of the other stuff from the original bag system post. Medium bag for daily use (Botkier/ new grey tote). Plus, use large Longchamp Planetes bag for gym/ sfactor days. I like the Longchamp bag because it is low maintenance, light, zips across the top and opens up really big. The rolled handles also make it comfortable to carry. The other cool thing is I can just keep all my gym stuff in there instead of packing and unpacking. It is a transporting and storage solution.

*Botkier

As you know, Angie and I are BFFs and I was so thrilled when I got the large Sascha duffel because it is a convertible bag! Can be off the shoulder with the large strap, off the shoulder with the small straps and the large strap can be wrapped around the bottom to make a cute little satchel. It's made of the softest lambskin. I do love it. I took it out yesterday to give my Prada a break. The metal part on the shoulder strap was ruining my sweaters! I'll break Prada out again when I have a lot to carry and can wear it over a jacket or coat.

So, I looked on the Botkier website today and they made a nylon version! You know I love nylon over real leather - I'm so tempted because I love the design.

http://www.botkier.com/

Desperately Seeking Miniature Pony

The thing with carrying a large mothership bag containing all one's worldly posessions plus provisions in the event of germ warfare and hurricanes and shoes and clothes for pole dancing is that the bag weighs a TON. Wearing the bag across the body is preferable to one shoulder but it is still really heavy. I think I will get a miniature pony to carry my stuff for me. They currently help disabled people. Too bad they can't be housebroken...

Ooo.... update, they CAN be trained to "spend" in certain places.