What’s Jack up to? Once again he’s proving himself to be the cagiest little dog ever. Would someone tell me how he’s learned to open the sliding pocket laundry room door so easily? Dude those are paws not hands and stay out of my clean laundry. I didn’t wash it for you to lay in it. Ugh, Jack!

So for a few hours yesterday evening I perused the mall on a quest. And I do mean a quest because when I get it into my head that I have to find something there is really no putting me off. I’m relentless. Now you may ask what was the reason for said quest. Well, I was in search of a new everyday bag.

Bag shopping for me is no light deal. It takes much care and preparation. I’m a former designer born and raised in New York and although it may sound shallow (so what I never claimed to be deep) I love a good bag. For me a new bag is heaven. What’s not to love? Bags don’t hurt your feet and in most cases don’t make you butt look big.

Now, it’s a recession going on and I’m not rolling in the dough by any stretch of the imagination, but I think that a good bag is an investment. At least it is for me. Sure trendy is great and I do go for that every once in a while, but trends come and go and even if you get a good knock off it’s bound to fail you down the line in the quality department. I’ve had cheap bags break at the most inconvenient times. And Mom has had the same Louis Vuitton speedy bag since I was a teen and it still looks great today.

That said, I do believe the prices are just crazy. What’s with some of these unknown makers throwing a 695.00 price tag on a bag? You’d better prove to me there’s something that makes that bag worth it besides the color. For another fun debate check out Brown Girl Gumbo’s post on the subject.

What also gets me is seeing a 15 year old prancing around with said 695.00 bag. Sister, you don’t have a job and I don’t care what your daddy makes you should not be sporting a 695.00 bag. Reality will hit one day and it will hurt like hell.

All that said, the lovely DH went on his best behavior (no sports on TV) and patiently walked with me while I looked at pretty much every black bag in the mall. He also gave really smart and well thought out opinions on the contenders. Was that really my DH talking stitching, construction and weight? Oh I was so proud, something has rubbed off!

There were stops at Nordstrom, Coach, Michael Kors, Burberry, Banana Republic and for wishing, Louis Vuitton and Gucci. Ahh… is there really nirvana in the bottom of a Pelham bag or bliss in the pouch of a Damier Speedy? I think yes.

bags from coach and Marc by Marc Jacobs

Now, this little black bag had a lot of criteria to stand up to before making the cut. It had to be the right size, not too big or too small, the right weight and the right look, not too trendy and defiantly not boring. It’s a lot to ask for, but this bag would be my new BFF for years to come- we had to connect. After many steps and some back tracking the winner of the bag bowl was found in a surprising place, Cole Haan. There it was. Black –check, good size- check, good weight-check, excellent construction-check, Gorgeous- super check. Yes!