a handbag love story

When I was in the 5th grade, I got my very first handbag.  It was the wooden-handled Pappagallo, and I felt super-cool like the rest of the girls even though mine had three buttons at the top instead of four, so I couldn't get my purse covers at LL Berger's like everyone else and had to have them custom made.  I was very sensitive to the fact that mine was different and would sometimes be shunned by the gang of girls led by Vicki Hoffman.

Random fact:  I don't have my Pappagallo anymore, although it may be somewhere at my parents' house so I tried to Google an image but there doesn't seem to be a single one out there, but funnily enough, if you look at my search you'll see that my friend Emily comes up as the 6th top result which is just so very perfect.

So, Pappagallo purse.  Three buttons.  It carried me through until 7th grade when I splashed out with my allowance on a tan canvas tote with whale ribbon handles.  So preppy!  I think it cost 8 bucks and some Williamsville South High School girl made them in her basement. 

High school = backpack, pink and grey.  I do remember buying myself a leather purse at Half & Half on Elmwood in Buffalo (is that still there?) during senior year.  I also had this metal/leather monstrosity from Pier One, about the size of a very very large egg that opened on a hinge and was just big enough for my Bonne Bell lipsmacker, Revlon's 'Cherries in the Snow' nailpolish, my CVS nametag, and a fake ID.  I did buy a small brown leather bag at Banana Republic in Boston in summer 1987, when I went to my BU orientation and spent all the cash my parents gave me for gas on shit that I did not need.

College = EMS backpacks.  Hunter green for two years, until it busted.  Then a new gray one.  I still have it.  Somewhere.

It wasn't until I was well into my 20's that the sickness started.  Here is photographic evidence.

This is the first nice bag I bought for myself, sometime in the mid-1990's.  I was working in the Financial DIstrict in downtown Boston and Filene's Basement is always a draw, when you are working your first real job, making somewhere in the upper $20's and not saving a single dime of it. At just about the same time, I spent well over $100 at Jordan Marsh on a hunter green soft leather Liz Claiborne shoulder bag; it was vaguely Coach-like, the same square shape and buckles.  I have no idea where that Liz bag is now, I'm sure I donated it to Goodwill at some point.  I bought the briefcase because I thought it was sharp and it has a hunter green lining.  I guess I liked hunter green.  Can you just picture me walking to the ofice through Downtown Crossing in my skirt suit, pantyhose and running shoes with white socks?  Okay, now imagine the bright yellow walkman in my hand and the green shoulder bag and this briefcase over my shoulder. 

Guess what!  Pretty soon I got tired of the green fake Coach bag and bought this one.  And it matches the briefcase shown above, same maker and everything.  So goddamn matchy matchy.  This cost me about 75 bucks and it holds nothing because it's too narrow.

This clutch bag I got as a hand-me-down gift from this elderly woman I did kind of a Meals-on-Wheels thing for almost 10 years in Boston.  She told me she carried it to the club where she dined with her husband on Friday nights.  I love it.

It's silk, with a cute metal clasp.  The corners have some serious wear.  Boo hoo.

There were several mid-range bags I bought in the mid to late 90's:

Soft leather, simple structure, but way too light of a color to be carried anywhere.  This one was about 60 bucks at Filene's Basement in Dedham, Massachusetts.  I used to stop in on my way home from work, spring 1999.

Navy blue Jones New York small bag, purchased in 2000 to match the dress I wore to my friends' weddings (Lauren Moroz and Kate MacKay.  Married the same day!  Fucking-a!  Speeding from Cape Cod to mid-Connecticut on a hot June day).

That totally rhymes.

Ick.  I bought this in Japan on my trip there in spring 2002.  I hated Japan.  I hate this purse.  I may throw it away right now.

Vera Bradley black backpack.  Bought in 2005 new on eBay for $88; this replaced the little black backpack I blogged about here in 2004, one of my very first blog posts, way back when.  Incidentally, I had to replace the LL Bean one because I set it on the stovetop one day and then turned on the burner when I meant to turn on the oven.  And I cooked it to death.

Red Ralph Lauren twill bridle bucket bag.  If I ever wore red and/or brown, I might carry this.  I bought it in 1999, when apparently I wore red and/or brown.  It has a small (coffee?) stain on the bottom.  Goodwill, here it comes.

My boss from ABC company made this for me and gave it to me as a going-away gifty when I left after nine years with the same company and moved to Buffalo.  It looks like a chair, no?  I love it - especially the bamboo handles - but it's a bit too foofy for me.

Laptop bag.  Bought last fall (blogged here) to house my new Sony Vaio laptop, the one with the pretty white lines. 

Straw beachbag/poolbag.  Holds towels, sunscreen, bottled water and Star Magazine.  Not too fancy but I loved the lining.  Look:

Oooh, pretty.

I think I last used it in the summer of 06 when we rented a cottage at Crystal Beach.  Of this I am sure because of the surprise I found in the inside zip pocket:

Tampons and money, including $26 Canadian dollars.  Important beach accessories.

Here's my Donald J. Pliner canvas tote with orange leather handles (the orange leather handles sold it for me, so fucking fabulous) and accents.  This is the same carry-on I took to Germany and recently discovered in my closet, full of goodies.  I am a loser.

I found this Lily Pulitzer Sweet Magnolia clutch bag irresistible in early 2006.  I've carried it once.  It really matches nothing, since I can't fit into my pink and green Esprit outfit from 1986.

Before I discovered the beauty that is Kate Spade, I was really into Burberry.  I still love the Burberry.

Peter bought this for me when we went to London together in December 2000.  He was a nice fiancee. The thing is, you can't carry this bag if you are wearing anything but black, or maybe jeans with a black top.  Plaid and prints do not match, you know.

Ooooh, ahhhh.  My fabulous sissy bought this for me in 2002.  This tote is from the Burberry Blue Label collection, available in Japan.  This is sooo much nicer than the other Japan bag.

But now let's move on to really the good stuff.

This is my first Kate Spade bag.  Peter bought it for me for my birthday in 2001.  That was the real start of things.

The Kate Spade fleur print FE tote.  Oh my, I saw this on eBay, it was NWT (new with tags) in the fall of 2001 and bought it for about $140, to take on my Italian honeymoon.  I stil love this bag, even though it has a little wear at the corners. 

Secret for blog readers only:  I have an identical bag stashed away for the sad day that I drop this into a muddy puddle.  I know it will happen someday, I just don't know exactly when.  But hey, you have to plan ahead.

Did I mention I love this bag?  And this print?

Kate Spade fleur print makeup bag.

Kate Spade fleur print clutch.  This came from a nice person on eBay who sold it as a shoulder bag, used, for $31, but I clipped that strap right off and now it's a clutch.  Yay for me.

Kate Spade two-tone canvas tote, in pink and brown.  I bought this in early 2006.  You can take this to the beach too.

Kate Spade Luggage Stripe bag.  I bought this back in 2001, carried it for a few weeks and then had major buyer's remorse.  So I sold it on eBay.  Then last year I felt unhappy (depression can strike at any time) for a minute and bid on TWO Luggage Stripe bags on eBay and WON BOTH OF THEM.  Stupid girl.  I sold one back on eBay for more than what I paid for it, so that worked out okay.

Kate Spade wicker basket with blue linen lining.  I scored this for the unbeliveable price of $19.99, on eBay of course.  This is a vintage bag, circa 1998 or 1999, before Kate started putting her labels on the outside of the bag.

It's in great shape and I thank the idiot who sold it to me for such a bargain.

Kate Spade wool plaid FE tote.  It's from the fall 2001 collection but I got it last year.  EBay you are my friend.

That's a fake Kate Spade.  I do not know where it came from but it was in my closet.  Who the hell slipped that in there?

And here's the new one.  I LOVE IT.  Do you love it?  My husband does not love it.

Comments

[Christine]

Jen, was the purse like this?

[justJENN]

I too had a yellow walkman.
But uh, your purse on the stove? Nuts.

[Nanette]

Wow! You are the biggest Kate Spade fan EVA!

[Eden]

Dear sweet Jesus you have a lot of bags. But at least they are all totally awesome ;)

[Samantha]

Loved this post!

I bought two Lulu Guinness handbags (or are they purses?) on eBay in the past year. I just got it in my head that I had to have at least one (and then two). Maybe I'll photograph them today and post them.

I have a bunch of Nine West ones. I really miss my faux Chanel quilted bag (black) with the heavy strap. I don't know what happened to it. Since it was faux, something probably broke on it.

[Em]

Ha Ha! I guess that explains why I get so many blog hits for "Pappagallo Purse" -- great post.

[beth]

Still have my Pappagallo - you can borrow it any time you want (still has my middle school locker combo sticker in it too!) Still have all the custom made covers my mom made (with my name on them) and you're right - Vicki always noticed if you didn't have the original of anything (especially the Izod's before they bacame LaCoste)

[Nicole]

I really love the *fake* Kate Spade bag...interested in giving it up?

[Jen14221]

Nicole: You bet. Free to a good home.

[Nicole]

Seriously? I love it! I am a wierdo for imposter design bags when I can get my hands on them for next to nothing (or in this case nothing). Where do we go from here?

[Not telling]

Send me your address: My e-mail is Jen14221@hotmail.com and I'll ship off a little bitty early holiday gifty to you!

[Nicole]

Sent you my address via personal mail! Thanks so much and HAPPY HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[NYC]

Add some elegant pieces to your collection.
Chanel, LV, Tods & Bottega Veneta would be much better than Kate Spade (Waspy).

[Lisa]

Hi. I have just bought a Burberry handbag from ebay and was searching the internet for the style name. Surprisingly enough, the burberry Peter bought you in London is the same style I just purchased :) I was sure the bag was authentic but after seeing your photo - I was reassured!
Thank you :)