The Tale of One Furla Bag

Posted by c.a. Marks on Feb 15, 2012 in From The Chifforobe | 2 comments

So it looks like the very first item “from the chifforobe” I am going to share with you is one of the most important pieces I own, my bag. I guess it was about a year ago that I splurged on my Furla bag. Quite frankly, I think I was already strung out from hours of a spending frenzy when I stumbled my way into the handbag section of Dillard’s that particular day. In other words, I was already hyped up and my mental attitude was one of giddy delight from my day’s worth of shopping. What was one more item?

Yes, at the time I was in the market for a new bag but I am very particular when it comes to selecting this type of accessory. I have a few requirements:

• it has to be a simple style, without a bunch of gadgetry
• the shape must be straightforward, I typically like the tote
• it has to have a very large opening so I can easily get things in and out
• normally I like the bag to be deep
• and if it sits up on its own without falling over on its side, that is a plus
• I prefer the two short handles, I’m generally not keen on the shoulder bag

It usually takes me a good week of looking around before I decide on any one bag. Sometimes I walk away empty handed and make do with what I already have because I can’t find that “right” bag. But then there are times when I find the treasure, like I did with this bag, my Furla bag. It was worth every single penny.

[Photos by me, click on each one for a larger view]

As you can see, there is plenty of room inside if I wanted to put in my iPad, pair of flats, lunch sack, magazines and newspapers, or whatever. The bag is roomy.

I am a strong believer of you get what you pay for, nice materials and good craftsmanship go a long way with me. Now, will I spend that much money on a pair of jeans? Probably not but that kind of item is not that important to me either. I know, eeeegads, right? I use my handbag every single day. I don’t wear jeans every single day. Jeans are an item of clothing but my handbag is instrumental in my day-to-day activities. It’s like oxygen! Well, okay, maybe not like oxygen but you get what I mean, I’m sure. I’m willing to spend a little more on something I deem important and use on a daily basis.

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact moment when handbags were invented. The farthest back I’ve found mention of anything resembling a handbag is in the 14th-century when men carried pouches (or purses) for their coins and they were attached to their waist belts. The term “handbag” came into play much later in the 1900s when it referred to a piece of hand-held luggage for men.

Once women took hold of the accessory, well, shall we say, the rest is history?

What about you? What’s our must-have item?

Thanks for reading,