Bag Ladies

A handbag can say a lot about the person who is carrying it. It not only holds the essentials of your daily life, but also affects the way you carry yourself. And since we assume you want a bag that says very nice things about you, the good news is you don't have to spend a lot to obtain a fantastic one. In fact, some of our favorites were bought for a song. Like anything else, this search for the "perfect" bag (on eBay, in consignment shops) is an exercise  in timing and patience.

Here are our three top picks: the Hermès Kelly (of course!), a classic Prada frame bag (iconic 90s Prada), and the Tod's toaster ( a new classic).

And usually when a high end bag has a lowly imperfection, like a little pen mark (see the Tod's bag), that will bring down the price. This kind of thing doesn't bother us, as long as it isn't a ghastly stain or odor (eww!). We think it adds a little character, and doesn't make it too precious to use and enjoy every day. 

And, we really try to recycle leather -- so buying vintage and pre-owned bags is a good practice. What do you think?