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Sorry for the lack of posting. I haven’t really found anything lately to titillate. This lull in finding something scrumptious actually had me thinking about my thought process. Collecting handbags is pretty much like stocking a kitchen pantry. You need a little bit on the sweet side, a little on the spicy side and of course, the basics like flour, beans, rice and cereal that take up the bulk in the food closet as well as in your tummy. Same with handbags. Substitute sweet for classic/conservative styled ones, spicy with rocker and studded items, and the basic items would be, I guess, the totes we all need in our lives for babies, travel, school, backpacking. The ultimate goal is to have a well-stocked pantry to take you through anything kind of natural, or fashion, emergency.

In So. Cal., we live constantly with earthquakes that it’s considered ‘everday’ or ‘normal’ just like others, like our compatriots in the central states must contend with tornadoes, thunderstorms, snowfall. So, the well-stocked pantry is certainly important for “just in case”. Well, my attitude seeps into the way I view a handbag collection. I have been caught so many times invited to some wedding, shower, or some semi-formal to formal event and I would realize that I don’t have anything to wear. Finding an outfit at the 11th hour is not as hard as making sure that you have the right handbag to go with the occasion. Like my pantry, I want to make sure I’m well prepared for, not so much for being sequestered, but for showing off plumage.

I started off picking up the right totes, and I have one for almost each occasion. I have two leather totes for schlepping on the weekend in tan and black, and a third, nicer, dressier tote for those invites I was telling you about when the whole family is invited (it acts as a incognito kid bag). Then, I have my daily satchels, two in lighter weight and with more vibrant color for Spring and two heavier, more subdued ones for Winter and Fall. The two for Spring can alternate depending on my mood. Both are larger size so I can throw in a scarf if I get caught in a light rain shower or wind, and they both can be hand-carried because I love the look of that, but have shoulder straps for those requisite shopping trips. The two for Winter and Fall are suede or patent leather. They both have longer straps to fit over heavy parkas and coats. The patent is a fantastic solution for rainy weather—I can look fabulous but I won’t have to worry about water spots on my bag. Finally, for the long, all-day shopping trips to the outlets or when traveling, I have two smaller bags, which are a Balenciaga Purse and a Botkier bronze hobo, that seem to fit any event while away from home. They both hold everything you need plus, it works day and night.

Now, while it may seem that I may have enough work-horse bags, I lack in the department of dress-up. I do not have any evening bags to speak of. I have a vintage bakelite and velvet number but at 9″ x 6″, it’s too small for me. I don’t want a clutch like I am supposed to. I want a nice big purse to fit wallet and my huge makeup bag and not look frumpy like I didn’t have any other bag to wear but to bring along my day bag. So, the search continues. One caveat to this already challenging challenge: my checking balance is low. I think it will be a while until I find that holy grail, but I’m on the look-out. Do you have a similar problem? Let’s kvetch over some coffee and oh, I think I have some biscuits in my pantry to share.

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