A Woman’s Love Affair With Her Purse
As I write this my husband is sitting at his desk snickering because he has spent 33 years trying to figure out the connection between his wife and a big worn leather bag that looks like it has been around the world a few times. (I should be so lucky!) He has been fascinated (well maybe it’s aggravated) as I pack up my purse with “necessities” for daily outings. So what if it takes a few extra minutes a day?
The truth is, men just don’t get the female species. We are genetically programmed to be prepared for anything life throws our way. This explains why we go into survival mode every time we leave the house. This requires packing liquid and solid sustenance (you never know when you’ll be stuck in an elevator for hours and need a drink or a snack), medical supplies (can’t count how many times I’ve whipped out a band-aid and saved the day), cosmetic and toiletry supplies (hand sanitizer, breath spray, lotions, duplicates of makeup for quick touch ups, tweezers for that stray eyebrow hair the makeup mirror missed), hairbrush (have you seen my hair?) tissues (what if the public bathroom runs out of toilet paper… need I say more?)
Let’s not forget the wallet, check book, mini bag for receipts and keys, a notebook (never know when I’ll find the BEST person to interview) and an assortment of pens from every hotel room I’ve visited in the last decade.
In the outside pocket? My newly improved cell phone, programmed with all the kid’s numbers (You can imagine how much they’ll love to read that!)
I’m not into labels but somehow I managed to find the world’s most perfect “designer” pocketbook at a discount outlet for a fraction of the cost. Judging from the admiring (maybe even envious) glances and the compliments I’ve received from other women through the years, I know I snagged a winner!
A great purse and a good man. What more could a woman ask for?!!
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Details, I want details! I have something of a purse fetish and am forever trying to find the perfect one – stylish, with all the right compartments. I like my cell phone and keys to be accessible from the OUTSIDE, and it’s hard to find a good purse with decent outside pockets. I also like a separate inside zippered area for makeup, etc. so I don’t have to carry a separate makeup bag. And of course, it has to be affordable!
It’s made by a company called Stone Mountain. And YES…It had two outside pockets and a zippered inside pocket AND it is lined in a pretty color. It was $40 and retailed for quite a bit more! As it gets older, it gets better (just like my adorable husband). It is absolutely the BEST purse I ever had which explains the love affair!!
EXCELLENT CHOICE!
Even though I have my own purse business — I just LOVE Stone Mountain purses!
I have a chocolate business. It’s fun to sell things we love…isn’t it?!
It is very fun to make and sell things! I make clothes and get a huge kick out of making a piece to order and seeing it on the new owner. The smile on their face when they put on a new shirt or dress that is made just for them, it fits and they know there is not another one out there just exactly like it, ya just can’t hardly beat it!
Do you have a website? I would love to have something made just for me!
Hi Debi,
Yes I do! http://www.katyscache.etsy.com
There are some skirts and tops as well as my “No Bones About It” waist cinchers. I am working on some long sleeve blouses that will go up this week. If you have an idea of something you want, let me know and we will put it together for you.
Where do you sell your chocolate? Do you have a web site? We always keep a supply around here and even on the road!
Kind of off the original topic, but yes, it is fun to sell things we love! I make jewelry (I’m shamefully good at knocking off items I see the Soap stars wearing) and love to see my pieces on friends and clients. Maybe we should all get together and start a website selling clothes, purses, jewelry and chocolates…what every woman wants!
That sounds wonderful. I don’t make stuff to sell but I like to look and buy stuff that I can use. Clothes, shoes and purses are my main purchases
It takes me so long to get back in here, usually because the service is not so good out here in the Phoenix Outback! But go check out http://www.etsy.com
It is all handmade and vintage, and even soaps and chocolates too! We could probably get another site similar just for women over 50, how fun!
I looked at the Stonemountainhandbags website … There are so many choices! What is the name of the bag that you like so well?
LauraSue Cromwell
Yes, that was my question as well…..I love how we starting with a topic and it leads to another conversation. That is the beautiful thing about women – we move in a series of connecting the dots!
Checked out the Stone Mountan site – great purses. The Hamilton is reminescent of my Coach – thanks for the lead.
Is the purse “The Hampton? I couldn’t find a “Hamilton”.
Hey Deb! Can’t find the purse you described. Which collection?
Thanks!
I love Stone Mountain bags. They tend to have longer shoulder straps – I hate the short ones – and lots of pockets and come in great colors. I have literally, no exageration, about a hundred bags (the last time I counted it was 97 but that was a few years ago). I have a bag in just about every color under the rainbow. I’m currently wearing a red and black outfit and carrying a red bag. Few of my bags cost more than $20 – the Stone Mountain one I have cost $50, but it was the most lovely shade of lavender and I couldn’t resist! I tend to wear the same color for a few days so I don’t have to change my pocketbook quite as often. But I do match all the time.
I haven’t heard of Stone Mountain, but my favorite bag is the “puddle jumper” by Lug. It has tons of pockets inside and out, and even features a vented slot on the bottom for sandals or gym shoes. It was recommended on Oprah and it is great!
I used to carry Stone Mountain bags all the time. Didn’t discover them until I moved to NC in 1984. Then they disappeared for awhile. I know the manufacturer took the name from Stone Mountain, Georgia. Have to look hard to find them anymore. Must try online again.
I, too have severals multi-compartment Stone Mountain bags that I love. My only complaint about them (that I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten older) is the weight of them. Since they are good sturdy leather, once you pack them with all the necessities of life, they weigh a ton! I wish they would come out with cloth varieties with all those wonderful compartments. My shoulders and back would appreciate it.
Katwilly, II design purses, but I can’t advertize my website, so maybe I can give you my email
cdiane@rogers.com
DejaNew
Debi – your purse sounds like my sister’s.
My purses (4 – the oldest is 25, the youngest is 5) are pretty lean. My wallet is a leather credit card carrier. The only pictures in it are my drivers license and the presidents on the bills. I carry a few business cards, debit/charge cards (3) and any receipt I got that day. It is always in the inside pocket, next to lipstick case (only make-up I carry), and the ubiquitous cell phone. In the main section of the purse is my journal with pen (all purses must pass the ‘does my journal fit’ test) and small calendar. The outside pocket (also requisite for any purse I buy) is where keys go as well as any loose change.
Like your humorous style, and I trust you’re going for more humor with reference to a ‘female species’.
Perle
I love all things practical and these bags are really impressive — I like several of the options.
I am always looking for a lightweight easy to use wallet. Not having found one, i use a cheapo pencil case in which i can see my coins in a netted and zippered side compartment. So easy to access my stuff without opening a heavy piece of leather loaded with credit cards and then having to dig around to access my change. I think the make is Buffalo.
Also, I have a business in which my principal product – The Detailer – is a very practical agenda/address book/notebook. It is a perpetual concept so no replacing everything each year – except the weekly calendar which has a great at-a-glance view with spaces for daily notes and additional notes you can add yourself. The alphabet tabs act as a referenced note book as well as address book — this is something you can do with many different personal organizers to facilitate accessing your notes. I always keep a running list of books i hear about under ‘B’ so i can find them when i am in the bookstore or library. ‘W’ for wine, ‘D’ for notes i want at the doctors, etc.
“A great purse and a good man. What more could a woman ask for?!!” SHOES!!!!!
I love a good purse, and shoes. I volunteer for a local thrift store that supports our local food bank, and guess what I price? Purses and shoes. By the amount of new purses and shoes that come into our center I can attest to women looking for that perfect fit. Just yesterday I priced out 3 brand new Stone Mountain purses at $5 each. We also had a Betsy Johnson, 3 Dooney Burke, 2 Coach, 2 Kathy’s, a Prada (still researching that one to determine if it is a real one) and at least a hundred more that were just purses. I get first pick of the purses and have not paid more than $10 for a purse. My daughter and I love purses and bags so much that we have started recycling cloth bags (with company logos and such) into fun, hip bags. We use old t-shirts with funky designs and logos, spice them up with old buttons and embellishments (all recycled) and use them for our shopping needs such as a day at the mall or the grocery store. It beats the heck out of the reusable plastic bags out there. I love a good purse and am very grateful to the women who donate to our thrift store; supporting not only our food bank but my purse fetish.
Loved your idea…can you supply me with your email or website? Mine is katheelynn@gmail.com. I love purses and recycling old clothing to newer objects!!