Summer Style Bag

Coach “Straw Dog Leash Hobo”

While this may not be new and groundbreaking information, I wanted to remind you just how much I love the perfect purse. I have been saving, buying, and collecting them for about 10 years and while some might love the perfect shoes or the perfect pair of jeans, I still stand strong with my love for the perfect purse. I remember back when I when I was in college, I wanted the Kate Spade “Sam” bag more than anything. Being a college student, this little wish list item was going to have to wait as I spent most of my money on making sure my social life was never dull. Priorities! Right before my senior year (which was the same year Curt graduated from the Academy), Curt and I were engaged in Italy after he surprised me with a trip overseas. (I KNOW! Keeper…). While I’ll save the details of this very amazing trip for another day, when he got down on one knee, the ring I so proudly accepted was tucked inside of this Kate Spade bag. I mean, could this be more perfect for me? The love of my life, that is for certain.

We laugh about it now as this one bag was like opening a Pandora’s Box in that I now love everything about a well made bag. I still have that KS Sam tucked away in my closet as I used it, and used it, and USED it. It’s a little run down but holds such sentimental value to me. Curt kept my ring inside of that bag for days (which was also inside of his large travel book bag) as we toured all over the Italian countryside and big cities before finally popping the question.

Curt sometimes asks, when does it end?! Which bag is going to be the one that holds you over for…ever? The honest truth is that I will always have my eye on the next one, lucky for him! I do, however, spend months to years saving and making sure that when I buy a high end bag like the Chanel or the Prada so I know that when I buy it, it’s in my closet forever. I also care for those bags more than a normal person would care for a non-living/breathing item. When we moved last summer, instead of letting the movers pack up my bags, I carefully put them in 2 large suitcases and drove them 2,500 miles across the country myself. No shame.

So, there you have it. This girl loves the purses and I’m always going to be sharing with you the latest and greatest on my radar! And, if you’re still not sure about the Straw Bag for summer, let Ms. Olivia Palermo and her Gerard Darel “Woodstock” bag try and convince you. You makes everything look fabulous!

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During the summer, I love a straw, raffia, rattan, basket weave, straw…bag. These textured purses really just remind me of the beach and I think that’s why they’re so perfect for warmer days. I have a few Kate Spade basket weave clutches and one large Coach basket weave clutch that I love breaking out in the summer. I’m on the lookout for a straw tote with leather straps and I showed you my frontrunner at the top of the post with all the other top summer picks down below I have right now.

*I’m still unimpressed with Polyvore so while this list below is a tad lengthy, I tried to hit a variety of price points (Priced high to low)! The link for each item is BELOW the image.

Have a great Tuesday!