Lanvin Love

To continue my anti-backpack crusade, this classy Lanvin bag could perch next to your Tory Burch flats (or dare I say...Jack Rogers??) during Comparative Politics.

The upstanding soon-to-be law student's brown leather bag:

Dear Danae Foldover Tote

It can be folded over for use on the weekend as handbag or the clutch can be detached for a casual night.  Check out the contrasting tan on the other side – love all the practical details.

Purposeful Purses

These fortune cookie-shaped purses are a bit overdue for the Chinese New Year...it would be cute to give out these out instead of red envelopes. Even better than their Asian appeal (and the fortune printed on the inside of them), they're made from leather leftover from various textile projects. Similar to Whole Foods posting signs for customers to trace how meat and fish were raised, purse buyers can trace the origins of their leather by the stamp on the purse

Off-beat designs meet functionality in Otaat bags. Each bag is smartly designed for a certain purpose. Love how the architect's bag accommodates binders. Where's the college girl's version?

Backpack Predicament

Nothing ruins a campus-cutesy outfit like a backpack. I especially love when I see my friend M in a cute dress and tights and boots...and then I see the monstrosity that is her LL BEAN storm blue Loch Ness monster imposing on her back and otherwise pushing her lovely outfit into my periphery. It is a true travesty.

Even worst: the two bag-offenders. Yes, I know you're taking 18 credits and president of 5 clubs and you're doing cancer research and starting a non-profit and so you have to carry all your various outfit changes and very smart-looking books.  How about working on your bag situation?

I love this first Gucci bag. I've always loved white bags...what better way to usher in spring?

This neutral Anya Hindmarch will go with anything...

Although both bags are a bit outside of my current bag budget of...zero dollars and zero cents, I'm loving the idea of carrying a smaller bag with room for your laptop or notebook, a book, and organizer. I'm not super productive when I carry stuff for 10 different tasks and find myself calm and more mentally collected if I have a set of doable tasks immediately in my beautiful leather shoulder bag. Cheers to simplicity and luscious leather!

Is it worth it??

Last week, I found myself following my youngest sister in the 90° heat, under hundreds of tarps orienteering the maze of the St. Thomas flea market. This market is full of knock- off bags, jewelry, clothing, bathing suits, local foods, hair braiding, and local craftsmanship. We made a special trip for my sister’s mission. Her mission: a Burberry purse for under $60. My job, convince the salesman that his fake bag is not the real deal and therefore not worth $60. I got to practice my bargaining skills and also check out the market of fake bags. I quickly became absorbed in the quest for a Burberry.

The St. Thomas Flea Market: is usually full of cruise ship junkies and people out to get a bargain on their own fake bag. This day was unique that there were no cruise ships at dock; only local tourists were out shopping that day. Navigating the market we were essentially shark bait for the tent salesmen. I am not kidding, there are at least 7 or 8 tents full of fake bags. Name a designer they will find it, if they do not have it…well that never happens. They quickly change the tag/label on a bag they do have and waaaallaahh Coach to Chanel. Best magic tricks EVER! (A family friend picked up one of these tags that she found on the ground and handed it to the tent owner and he acted so surprised and could not figure out where they would come from with all these luxury bags around, I was containing my laughter)

My sister continued the search through countless tents and salesmen hackling us. Finally, we entered Burberry Tentland. She found what she was looking for an entire bad covered Burberry plaid, leather inside, cute pockets and a bucket-like shape. Perfect, just what she wanted, her new backpack and basically a gymbag. I have to admit, it is a cute bag, but SCREAMS fake Burberry. It’s fine she is like 12, she is allowed to rock it and I give it to her. (Disclaimer: 7th grade first Louis Vuitton fake and my Chanel; both I believed were the real deal)

These salesmen could lie so much about their products and the qualities, it makes you wonder how much that happens with items we actually do believe are of a higher quality. Does lowering the price when both the consumer and seller acknowledge this (or even just the seller); does that allow the whole transaction to occur with everyone ignoring the obvious fallacies? I think this can be said about other products on the many markets today. Lincoln is a sticker change on most Ford models; Cadillac is a sticker change on must GM models, Lexus and Toyota the list only goes on. These cars are essentially fake bags in the car world. Are the car sales men equivalent to the tent salesmen? This can also be said about food. Organic produce and conventional produce, it’s exactly the same nutritionally only difference the price. Generic or name brand? Just like the bags, the cars, our food and many other things. Where am I going with this, I don’t really know just all kinds of ideas in my head about salesmen, and labels.

After pondering all these pointless thoughts, I walked away feeling extremely good about myself, satisfied that the fake bag man told me I knew my purses and my sister got her extremely fake looking Burberry print bag; which she loves as a real. The mission was a success and it was off for more real shopping in St. Thomas!

Byebye wristlets!

Going out bags...Tons of girls use Coach wristlets when they go out and stuff them with lip gloss, phone, money, credit cards and literally anything that will fit in there (which is nothing)! And then the wristlet looks misshapen and slightly ridiculous. Not only do outfits need to be edited, but also our purse contents!

Anyhoo, my godmother sent me the sweetest birthday box and in it was my new going out bag!

Over the shoulder bags are totally coming back into fashion- they haven't really been cool since sometime in the 90's- and they work so much better for going out! I love the equesterian-looking Cole Haan bag, but it's definitely still got some class (hello, gold chain). The leather is a different color than pictured, I have a hunting-ish green.

But they will go perfectly with the boots I got on Black Friday...so many new outfits!


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Not to say some Cornell girls have style, but a lot of girls are carrying over the shoulder bags when they go out. I have noticed a lot of vintage Dooney and Bourke and newer Louis's over the shoulder bags. You can get a great steal on these bags at consignment and vintage stores. I love my Dooney one, it is so convenient and it actually looks cute with a lot of my winter night outfits. I want to find a lighter and funner one for the summer, my current one is pretty dark brown. I am trying to find a picture, I will post it soon. I just wanted to point out some personal reasons why over the shoulder bags make so much more sense for going out and why every classy girl should have one.

1. All your important is safe, you do not have to worry about losing anything or even your bag because it's on you.
2. It looks cute and stylish - fashion forward - other girls on campus will eventually pick up the new trend(next semester) when they see you at the bars.
3. It can used as a cock block(literally), just swing your bag to your butt(works wonders to keep those frat boys away!)
4. As a classy college girl, it gives you two completely free hands to do whatever you want all night!

Now, go forth and rock your classy over the shoulder bag! -- happy sport