I have to admit, I'm not very good about updating my daily purse. Several times I've contemplated starting a purse wardrobe, but I've just never followed through. (I also recognize a need for a better shoe wardrobe and also a coat/jacket wardrobe...more areas for personal improvement). It's a combination of frugality and laziness, really. I have a hard time spending money on something when I already have one that does the job (why do I need more purses, as long as I already have a summer version and a winter version?) The other problem is that changing purses is such a hassle. I mean, I carry a lot of stuff in there. And it's not at all organized. It's more of a tossed together mess of "what-if-i-need-this-i-better-not-lose-its."
But I see several factors coming together lately that just might lead me to finally starting the purse wardrobe. Perhaps the biggest contributor is the fact that I no longer have to carry a serious work purse. The other big contributing factor is all of the pretty purses I keep finding around the web.
This is a good one for summer shopping days:
It's not actually for sale, yet, but
Artsy-Crafty Babe hints that it might be in her shop soon (GONE!), where it will join several other really cute purses. Doesn't this make you want to dig out some white sandals and hit the mall?
I also like this one:
You can find it in
Katie's shop. It makes me want to do some very sophisticated outdoor shopping. It's such pretty fabric, and I love the orange accent. The flower is optional.
One thing I have noticed on Etsy is that really cute purses tend to sell out pretty quickly. This, of course, means constant shopping is a necessity. Otherwise, you might miss something like this:
It's not that I'm obsessed with pleated handbags, I just really like the shape of this one, and the cute color combination. Not sure I'm daring enough to pull it off. That, and I really prefer my purses (do we call them handbags now?) to have straps. I need both hands free to juggle my kids. However, if one was building a purse wardrobe, one would need to include a cute little clutch for nights on the town.
Again with the pleats:
But I had to include this because of its simple elegance. It's also roomy enough to carry just about anything, a good option for lugging everyone and everything to the park for the day. The problem, though, is that I am a short person. Oftentimes, big bags just don't work on me. Oh, and it's white. Probably not the best choice for the park. Or anyone who really uses their purse. Then again, it's leather. So it should be easy-ish to clean, right?
I really like the shape of this one:
It looks very classic and sturdy without being boring and stuffy. Very cute. And you could carry this to lunch with your still-working friends and you'd hardly stand out at all amongst the business crowd.
Tomorrow, another reason why I have trouble buying purses--it's so much fun to make my own! If only I could find the time...