Bag Lady

A floodgate has been opened - ever since I've started thinking about which Chanel to get a year ago, reading up on and learning more about purses in general has become a favorite pastime for me. Going on Purse Forum regularly is now a routine, and I've been dreaming about new handbags. It really all began 2 years ago with Hayden-Harnett and Rebecca Minkoff, two mid-level brands that opened my eyes to the world of pretty, well-designed purses that you're proud to carry on your arm. It's a slippery slope... from there, I began to appreciate handbags and am now planning and saving for the next. Perks of being a girl =)

I got my Reissue in June but have since been even more hooked on Chanel. All this talk about purses has created a multiplier effect on me and my roommates - funny that it's just like how reading fashion / beauty blogs increase my desire to go shopping - because the other day, my apartment had these goodies:

Oh I wish these were all mine.. I've always wanted a shot like this haha

They're friends now! L to R (all Medium/Large sizes): Black caviar GH, Tiff's black caviar SH,  my black reissue GH, Jess' ecru caviar SH, Black lambskin GH

 Close-up of Jess' Fall 2010 Ecru with silver hardware

Lambskin + gold hardware is a match made in heaven

Since these were arguably the biggest purchases we've made in our lives so far, a lot of lengthy discussions and list-making of pros and cons went into the decision process. Whether choosing the leather material, hardware, leather color style, size, etc. - each facet can affect the feel of the purse. It was probably the most brain damage I've ever done to choose an accessory haha, and not just for my own bag! I also had a lot of fun talking through every detail for my roommates' bags. But it was all worth it in the end, because each of us ended up with something we loved!

Of the quintet, 3 are spoken for but the black caviar M/L and black lambskin M/L are for sale, so shoot me an email if you are interested.

With fall coming up, I've turned my attention toward getting a new bag for work / casual use since the Chanel flaps are strictly for going out. The contenders are:

1) YSL Muse

I'm a fan of this classic shape and it seems very roomy for work.What I don't like is the strap drop - it seems a little long.

This may be the large size, so I'll probably need a medium satchel to not overwhelm me

2) Chloe Paraty

For fall, Chloe has a beautiful gray leather option for the Paraty, but seeing this in pictures sways me towards "no". The shoulder strap really bugs me.

3) Mulberry Alexa

I like the structure and briefcase feel of this bag.

Any thoughts? I'm still thinking through it and who knows if it ends up being another option altogether, but in the meantime, it's definitely fun just dreaming =)