Three Favorite Handbags On Sale

You may have heard that ShopBop is currently running their "Event of the Season" sale where you can get 20% off on any order, and 25% off orders of $500+ with code EVENT19. If you've been wanting to make a big designer purchase, now is the time! I actually had been planning on making a major handbag purchase next week as I'm getting my annual bonus (yep, in mid-April!) so this couldn't be better timing for me - I'm thinking it'll be this tote!

I honestly rarely buy designer items and even more rarely shop at ShopBop because most things are pricier than I like to spend. However, they do carry a few lines I love (like Madewell and Sam Edelman) and three of my favorite handbags are included in the sale. The sale only runs today through Friday, so move fast if you want something.

Tory Burch Fleming Convertible Bag

I shared a full review of why I think this bag is worth the price last fall, and I still love it just as much! It's beautiful and gets so much use, as it works great for everyday as well as dressy events. I also love that the chain lets me wear it short or long, or even crossbody. I've had mine for three years now and it still is beautiful, just a little wear is showing on the corners. I was worried the soft leather would scratch easily, but it still looks brand spanking new! 

Clare V Petite Alice Tote

I wore this all. summer. long. And spring. And a little in the fall too ;) It is just so stinking cute and goes with everything! I was really surprised by how much it holds, I can fit my bigger camera in there when I travel along with my phone, (small) wallet, and sunglasses! It does not have a closure at the top but I found that it sort of closes itself when it's really full. I do keep stuff in a pouch inside and clip it to the handle when I travel though to make sure nothing gets stolen or lost. 

There are a ton of dupes out there (as well as really similar bags) so if this isn't in your budget definitely go cheaper, as it is a trendier item. However I love the real deal, and you can definitely tell it's higher quality than the dupes between the weaving and materials of the bag itself and the leather strap and detailing. 

Madewell Zip-Top Transport Tote

This is the newest item in my handbag collection, and I already love it and carry it every chance I get! I had been considering a Transport Tote for years but couldn't quite stomach the price, but a big gift card from Christmas changed my mind! I love the zipped top for safe city commuting, and love that it's big enough to haul anything and everything, including my laptop and all of the cords, or any number of baby items. I sprayed the heck out of mine with a leather waterproofing spray to protect it from stains, and definitely recommend it if you get a lighter color since they can stain - I've seen some pretty beat up transport totes on the train! 

Have questions about any of these? I'm happy to help!

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My Most Expensive Purchase - Was It Worth It?

What's the most money you would ever spend on a single item? $200? $500? $1,000+?

Everyone has their own comfort level, and I always thought I was solidly in the $300 max range. For the most part (as you can tell from my budget posts), my clothing items are typically in the under $50 to under $100 range, but I'm willing to spend more on shoes, bags, and coats. $300 is really where I hit my max, and I very, very rarely get that high.

Until I bought my Tory Burch bag.

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I love, love, love this thing, and it's probably the item that gets the most comments and questions when I'm out and about. So I thought I'd answer some of the most common for you in case you're considering splurging on a bag this holiday season!

Is it worth the full price? 

I actually paid for the majority of the bag with a combo of gift cards, which is really how I could stomach spending so much. But, having carried it regularly for almost two years now, I can say resoundingly that yes, it's definitely worth the price. The bag is still in beautiful condition, the leather is so much higher quality than anything else I've owned, and thanks to the versatility of the style I picked I carry it all the time. It doesn't get as much use in summer, but I wear it with daily casual styles as well as to weddings and parties, and the convertible strap means I can wear it two different ways.

I've owned a lot of lower quality bags, and really they don't hold up nearly as well. They typically end up looking beat up quickly, or start to fall apart. I always thought there couldn't be that big of a difference in a more expensive bag, but there really is!

I also like to think about the cost-per-wear. Since the style is so versatile, I wear it almost daily during the fall and winter, as well as sporadically during the spring and summer. With how much use I've gotten out of it, we're definitely down to it being less than $1 per wear! Much better than the $50 bags I only use a couple of times!!

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How is it holding up? 

Like I said, it still is in amazing shape. I was a little worried and babied it at first since some of the reviews online said that the soft leather scratched easily. But honestly, I haven't had any issues, and I'm pretty hard on my bags! The only wear and tear has been a little bit of wearing around the bottom corners, which really is only noticeable to me. The chain and strap have also held up amazingly well, especially considering that I have owned similar style convertible bags in the past, and the chain always ended up falling apart.

Something that helped this bag stay looking new and beautiful is the color. If you're considering an expensive bag, I would definitely recommend getting a dark color so that the color of your jeans doesn't stain it! Remember this beautiful bag I bought a couple years ago? Yep, literally the first day I wore it the back started turning blue, and I haven't been able to figure out how to get the stain to go away!

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Is it big enough? 

I stuff this thing full, I carry it almost every day in the fall and winter and usually have my iPad mini and/or my big camera in there! It's deceptively large inside. Now, to be fair, a couple of years ago I did stop carrying my full-size wallet on the reg, which definitely helps. I just carry the cards I need in a little card holder like this, which takes up way less space. The bag also has a little magnetic pocket in the back where I usually keep both of my phones, which helps with interior space too.

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How did you decide on the style? 

Like I said earlier, I've previously owned similar style bags that convert from shoulder to cross-body, and I loved the convenience of being able to switch styles without swapping out my bag. I also have always wanted a quilted Chanel bag, and I love that the quilting on this bag as well as the chain are reminiscent of Chanel. The style really is timeless and I know I'll have it forever. If you're going to spend so much on a bag, you don't want to get something super trendy that will go out of style quickly!

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So now that I've dished, I'm curious to hear how much you're willing to spend on a single item! Are you in the designer camp? Or do you prefer to keep your pieces budget-friendly?

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