| I am not a purse person. My mother gave me a purse when I was 11 and I lost it within 24 hours. While in university, I had the standard backpack to hold all my junk, but at some point I knew I had to move on. I had to deal with my purse neuroses.
It was then that I discovered the beauty of the tote and messenger bag, and their next-generation cousins – bowling ball bag, duffel tote or, my personal favourite, the diaper bag, all of which are not purses.
I had found an accessory loophole. The purse didn’t have to be a girly-girl, makeup-holding prissy pack – it could be a full-blown, girl-on-the-move kind of bag, with wads of Kleenex, gym clothes, iPod, old candies from restaurants, magazines and maybe some lip balm. Definitely not a purse. However, finding the perfect non-purse is an art.
At happyluckyme.com, they make hand-stitched tote bags with an Asian flair. If you need a tote that proclaims "hot as wasabi" or "I love Korean BBQ," this is the place. It’s great for T-shirts, too. Pricey but original.
Erin Sherry’s site, creamypuddin.com, is home to custom-designed totes, specialty baby bags and backpacks. Her designs are simple, with your choice of cutesy motifs including unicorns, dinosaurs and fruit. Reasonably priced – especially the overnight bags.
If it’s a big tote and high fashion you’re looking for, try katespade.com. Since starting her company in 1993, Kate Spade has been featured in all the top fashion magazines and graced the arms of many a Hollywood actress. Her bags are popular for their clean lines, classy looks and fun prints. The company has now branched out with a new luggage line, if you’re still having trouble finding a bag big enough to hold your gear. Expensive. |
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