Tell me about your purse -- brand, material, size, etc.

[bunnys]

I don't like shoulder bags.

Currently I have a Lands End mini zippered tote in black watch plaid. It's what I'm currently using for winter. For the past 3 summers I used a tan sailcloth, wooden-handled bermuda bag looking purse that I got from the Bass Outlet at the end of the season for $5. I loved that bag. It was so cute. But it is now so dirty and crummy looking I don't think I can use it again. I've tried washing it but I think it's best days are over.

Oh well...

[lisaflex]

i am a fan of Coach, JPK and Big Budha....i like to change my purses. i have quite a collection. my newest is a small gold Coach that i just love!

My JPK is a big bucket/hobo style so i have a few small Vera Bradley cases that i put stuff in so they are easier to find.

[Telephus44]

I'm a big coach fan, but after my son was born I just couldn't take care of real leather any more - tough when dealing with spit up and half eaten lollipops while trying to find a pacifier I had shoved into it - so I've gone back to cheaper purses. I'll probably get something nicer when kids are grown up.

On the cheaper end, I do like both Relic and Nine West. I generally get a new one at Kohl's every 4-5 months to swap it up. Sometime I go back and reuse older ones, but I carry too much crap to swap them out every day.

I'm also picky because I'm small (and giant bags look silly on me, ditto with most of the ones you wear cross body) and it needs to be big enough to hold my iPad. The one I have now I actually found at a shoe store, cost more than I usually pay ($40) but it just about perfect in size and style.

[dcompton]

A brown canvas shoulder bag, about 8x11. It has a zippered center with a full size pocket on each side of that, with a velcro close tab in the center. One of them is my Kindle home away from home - perfect size. It has a zippered outside pocket on one side where I keep cards and cash, or anything I want to get to quickly and easily, like a thumb drive if I have it with me. My keys are on one of those springy plastic coil rings, so they stay on my wrist when I'm out, the desk at work, and the door knob at home, and never go in the purse. I picked it up on sale at Walmart for $5 a couple of years ago and love it.

[frugalfranny]

Medium size.........leather, with a shoulder strap.

This was one of MANY that I bought years ago in Tijuana. I have to have/pack a purse but I hate changing..........so I don't until they wear out!!

My purse has to always have zipper in main compartment and a shoulder strap, or it becomes a tote..........used for other things.

More pockets the better too.

[mndtrp]

I didn't see it mentioned, so I thought I would (forgive the non-technical terms):

My wife has a purse from Miche. It has swappable outsides and handles, while using the same main carrying thingy. She likes it because she is able to leave everything in her purse, but change the outsides and handles to suit different outfits. Plus, the outsides lay flat, so she doesn't have half a closet full of unused purses.

The Official Miche Bag :: Home

There are different styles of bags, be it purse-sized, bag-sized, or whatever. She said the cost is cheaper than buying new purses, but I imagine that's relative to wherever you normally buy.


I do know that there is also a website that you trade purses to other people, kind of like Netflix, in a way. However, I don't know the site, and I don't have any inside (re: wife's) perspective on it.

[Trishagirl]

I have a black leather purse that I purchased at Sears for $18 which was half price. No brand on it sorry. I love it, right size to carry for me!

[Nana2two]

What ever floats my boat. Never pay over $50 dollars for one.

[frugalwarrior2]

Giani Bernini. Got it new/used at the S.A. and paid $6.99. I could care less about designers but my purse must have lots of pockets and zipped sections. It is cloth w/ leather accents. I will use it to dust if possible. To me a purse is a tool not a fashion statement.

[CrazyCat]

Same here. I don't care about names..but the purse has to fit me.
Usually leather..with pockets on the outside for my keys and such.

My sister bought me my 1st vera bradley a couple years ago. I still carry it during the summer, but one of the girls I work with sewed a look-a-like (with all the pockets), and I love it.

My last 2 purse purchases were brighton's at a flea market. $1 apiece. One was a smaller leather with a long strap, and one is a little larger.

[jas]

The one I am using now is a black fake leatherish one from WalMart. I have been using it for about two years at least. On one side is has two zippers one for my cell phone and keys, the one right above it I have asprins in. The other side has the wallet part right in the purse. I have chosen this type of purse the last several I have bought. It has the space for cards all lined up and a spot for a cell, though I don't use that space for mine. I have random seldom used store loyalty cards in there, then there is a spot for money both paper and change.

The inside has three compartments the whole lenght of the purse the one in the middle has a zipper which I keep fem products in. The other two don't really have much in them one has coupons for Bed, bath and beyoned (they don't expire so I have quite a few of them, even though they have dates on them) And JoAnn and Michaels and my Kohls coupons. Those do expire but I throw them in just in case I go there even though most likely I won't.

I am looking for a wallet that I like enough so I don't keep buying purses with the wallet built in. There are way more options that way!!

I have a Dooney that I love in kind of a copper color that is the dimpled leather (it does that the wallet built in, maybe that is where it all started for me!) I bought it about 10 years ago at an outlet mall. It was the first time I ever paid that much for a purse. Even though it was way cheaper than at the pricey stores in the malls it cost about 120.00. I have had some purses in between that have cost in the 40-50 dollar range. I am and have been for the last few years on the hunt for another nice purse. Don't know which will happen first the wallet or the purse.

Neat post to see what others like/love/need in their purses!

[jas]

DD's purse in one of those hobo type, big space. She can't find a thing in it. Not even one tiny zipper on the side. I need a little bit of organization in mine, not one big black whole. (sorry, those of you that love that style, dd does, can't figure it out!)

[Rhayne]

THe purse I just stopped using is a St. John's Bay brown soft leather large hobo. Sorry I don't have a picture of it but it's packed away in a plastic bin. The one I just started to use is a Coach Soho signature small hobo. I've had it for 5-6 years. It was bought full price as a birthday gift to me from my boyfriend. Last week my boyfriend ordered me another one (not full price, sale and discount) that I'll get for my Bday this year. I'm so excited cause he picked it out himself!
Pics
1. The purse I'm using
2. Closeup of handle. I Love the handle on this.
3. Wristlet that I use as a wallet.
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