Finding my Perfect Hand Bag

Four years ago, I wrote a draft about a moment that felt like a small milestone in my life; picking out my very first branded handbag. At the time, I didn’t have a blog, but I poured my heart into that draft, capturing every thought, doubt, and excitement behind the decision.

I recently stumbled upon it and realized how much I still love the story. It’s more than just a handbag; it represents a moment in my life when I invested in something meaningful, a blend of practicality and luxury that I had dreamed of for so long. Today, I’m sharing that story with you: the thought process, the lessons, and the joy of finally owning the bag I’d always imagined.

My birthday is approaching, so I decided to get a handbag as a gift from my husband. It is my first birthday with him, so the handbag has to be very special, classy, elegant, and from a well-known brand. What is most important to me is that it has to be affordable ONLY on sale!

The first brand that pops into my mind is KATE SPADE.  Secondly, I am looking for a dome-shaped satchel.

Day 1:

Kate Spade Maise Medium Dome Satchel in Chalk Pink

The first handbag that caught my attention was this Maise medium dome satchel by Kate Spade.

I really liked this bag. Its size seems perfect (i.e., neither too big nor too small). Its shape is almost dome-like (My favorite these days!). Color (chalk pink) also seems very cool, but does it?

Its price is also very reasonable; $130 (down from $300), so it might be the one…but wait!

Kate Spade Maise Medium Dome Satchel in Blue/Green

Then I saw the same bag in this color. I like this color just as much as the previous one. At least in the pictures, it appears to be just the perfect shade of blue. It is so soothing for my eyes. But I am not sure it will also be as appealing in real life. Moreover, I would love to have cooking utensils and a toaster, etc., in this color, but a handbag…not so much! I think I will have to pass!

Live Update: I did get an air fryer, popcorn maker, and a toaster in similar colors!

 Kate Spade Grove Street Carli in Warm Beige

Then, I like this Grove Street Carli, even more. The shape is more dome-like and the material (leather) also seems finer and more expensive than the first one. This color (warm beige) is similar to chalk pink, only more beautiful.  The size is a bit smaller than the previous one, but it will work for me!

Its price is down from $360 to $130. I can actually picture myself carrying this bag around and everyone dropping their jaw and asking me when, how, and where I got such a masterpiece….but wait, let me check some more!

 Kate Spade Grove Street Carli in Mint Frosting

This color (Mint Frosting) also looks cool but maybe not cool enough. Now, its size also seems too small to me, plus the placement and size of the handle seem a bit off. So I guess, I am gonna have to keep looking.

Day 2:

On day 2, I opened my mind a little bit and gave a chance to other brands as well. Then I came across this handbag.

Coach Katy Sachel

 At first sight, this Katy Sachel by Coach seemed like the bag of my dreams! Perfect dome shape, black color; not my favorite though, but classy enough.  The brand is not as classy I guess, but it is very spacious. its price is down from $350 to $140.

It is slightly more pricey than the Kate Spade's. But most importantly, my brother brought the exact same bag for my mother from Australia, 6 years ago! So it feels more like an auntie-type, rather than for me…so  Hard PASS!

Kate Spade Greene Street small Mariella in Frosted Spearmint

I saw this handbag (Greene Street small Mariella, from the Surprise collection by Kate Spade) yesterday, but it didn’t attract me much. But today, it feels like candy for my eye! The color (frosted spearmint) also looks great (at least in the pictures)

But the shape is unacceptably less dome-like. Its leather and the overall look is fine. its price is down from $360 to $130. But I think it’s too simple for me and also a little bit too small. So although I like this bag, I might buy a bag like this some other time, but for now…. pass!

DKNY Leather Paige Satchel

I saw this handbag (Leather Paige Satchel by DKNY) on Macy’s website today. It seems like a great bag. The size is good and classy enough. Black color is fine.  I love the pendant-type logo hanging from the handle.

The only problem is…the brand! I mean, DKNY? I have never heard of it. At this point, I would rather prefer a simple and maybe not-so-good-looking bag with a more attractive and popular brand rather than this baby from an unknown (to me at that time) brand.

Day 3:

After staring at about 100s of handbags in the last two days, now I am beginning to like other shapes in bags as well.

Kate Spade Chester Street Miri 

Today, this handbag (Chester Street Miri by Kate Spade) caught my eye. Its shape is nothing like a dome, but strangely, I like it! I love its handle. But its size is too small with respect to its strap, so it's more like a Crossbody. Plus, now I remember, I already have a bag like this (very similar to this one actually). So basically, now I like the bag I already have, even more. 

So basically, today I am more open, or rather inclined to rectangular bags.

Kate Spade Stacy Small Satchel in Black

Today, this handbag, Stacy Small Satchel, briefly caught my attention. I simply fell in love with it (at first sight). I could hear this bag speaking to me, saying, “I am the one. Buy me!”.  I was looking for a Kate Spade bag and finally, I think I found one.

I think I am going to order this one, but not right now. This is the decision of a lifetime for me. I am not going to make it hastily. Originally, I was not up for a black colored bag, but this one… I can spend the rest of my life with this bag. But still, I am going to sleep on it and order it tomorrow.  

Michael Kors Black Hope Medium Leather Satchel

Just after finally finding the bag of my dreams, I came across this handbag; Michael Kors' Black Hope Medium Leather Satchel.  I like the brand, Michael Kors, just as much as Kate Spade.

This bag has officially tied with the last bag, for the title of my Dream Bag. One thing is for sure. It is definitely gonna be one of these bags that I order tomorrow. Whenever I close my eyes, I see this handbag. (one of these, actually, and which one; I am not sure!).  I think I like this one more, because of its MK pendant. I will order this tomorrow.

Day 4:

I am still in love with the black bag I finalized yesterday. But just to be sure, I will take a final look at all the bags one last time.

Kate Spade Mulberry Street Lise

Okay, today, my favorite shape is still a rectangle. (I am completely over the D-shaped bags now). But I am having second thoughts about color.

I don’t think I can buy another black bag. I already have a Back, Brown, and a small blue bag. So maybe this is the time to add a beautiful, warm beige-pink color to my collection.

I am actually in love with this Mulberry Street Lise from Kate Spade. Plus, this one is on special offer, for just today. Its original price is $350, but only for today, it is around $90 (down from previously $120). This is a very attractive offer, and one thing is for sure. I am going to place my order today. 

Michael Kors Gramercy Large Satchel

This is another beautiful handbag from Michael Kors. I specifically love the lock. But after staring at it for 20 minutes straight, I think it is more of a document-carrying bag.

If I were a lawyer, I would definitely get this bag and carry my documents in it to the court, every single day.  But for now, I am afraid I am gonna have to pass!

Day 5:

Today I finally placed my order. I took screenshots of all the short-listed bags and reviewed them from my gallery, still not sure which one I was going to order.

Then I realized I had five photos of the same bag, taken on different days. Its color was warm beige, rectangular shaped, Michael Kors logo shining in full glory in the front with an MK pendant hanging from its handle. Thus the decision was made and I finally ordered the perfect handbag I finally found!

Taa Daaa...

I ordered this Michael Kors Rayne Medium Satchel in Bisque color. Its actual price was $450, but I got it for $105. My heart is so full (of love) right now. ( I think I might cry). Now, the hardest part of the process begins… having to EXPECT this until this baby is DELIVERED! I can't wait to welcome this new addition to my family. 

After ordering this baby, I kept looking this handbag up on the internet and learned some amazing facts about it.

 While surfing through Michael Kors’ official website, I found out that most of the other handbags, which were originally cheaper as compared to my handbag, were more expensive after the sale. For some reason, this particular handbag was about 80% off!

Another interesting thing I found out was that this particular bag (in second-hand, excellent condition) is sold at around $180 to $250 on different websites, like Mercari, Poshmark, eBay, etc. (I don’t know what I have done to deserve this handbag at such an amazing price!) 

Moreover, when I looked up the color Bisque on internet, a lot of Michael Kors handbags appeared on search results, along with a fridge, and some furniture in this color (particularly in this shade!). This means that this color is a signature of this particular brand. Kate Spade and other brands also have beautiful handbags in different hues of pink, but this particular shade is the signature of Michael Kors.

After that, I learned that this handbag is made of SAFFIANO LEATHER. When I looked up Saffiano Leather on Google, I found out that this particular type of leather was first made in one of Italy’s most famous tanneries and was a signature and patent of the brand PRADA.

It means that PRADA’s handbags are exclusively made up of this type of leather. (Most of the other handbags I was looking at and liked were made of PEBBLED LEATHER). I personally like the plane leather far more than the textured lather (i.e., pebbled leather) so now I am even more happy and proud of myself for choosing this handbag!

Day 8:

After anxiously waiting for 3 days, my handbag finally arrived! 

After placing my order, I had nightmares (on all three nights), that my handbag had arrived, but it was not as beautiful as I thought and I did not like it!

In one dream, its color was faded, in the next dream, its leather was nothing like the Saffiano (even though I have never seen it in real life!); and last night, in my dream, its shape was different.

After waking up, I looked at the photos and thanked God that the handbag that had arrived in my dream was not this one. I still loved that handbag that I ordered.

After opening the box, I was relieved to my very core that the handbag was much prettier in real life than it looked in the pictures.

(P.S. It did not arrive like this). I just couldn’t wait and unwrapped it immediately (without taking pictures at each step). All its straps were individually wrapped and it took a lot of time and effort to unwrap it!

It looks great with the strap and even classier without it! The size is absolutely perfect. I thought (or rather feared) that it would be bigger, but it is just the perfect size.

The bottom line is: I just love the bag and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with it!

Live Update

This is how my bag looks now, after 4 years of use. It is holding up quite nicely.

After only six months of buying this bag, in September 2021, I bought another one by Kate Spade.

I bought this one mainly because of the color. the size is on the smaller side. In the description, it said that it fits an iPhone Pro, but not a Pro Max. For this reason, I had to buy the iPhone 13 Pro, instead of the Pro Max. but, it was worth it because I love this bag so very much.

This is the only handbag I ever bought at full price, $350. I have used it almost every day for the past four years, and it still looks good as new, except for minor wear and tear on the front hardware, which opens the bag.

Every time I carry this bag, people stop me to ask where I got it because it’s so beautiful. For some reason, it’s an especially big hit with kids; they’re drawn to it and love playing with it. Luckily, the bag’s intricate opening mechanism keeps it safe from curious little hands and even confuses adults, including security guards, at checkpoints!

I can't find this bag on Kate Spade's website for some reason. They have probably discontinued it. I can't even find the official name of this blue color or the material. However, it looks like many of the Valentino bags.

Most recently, I bought another Kate Spade bag: Madison Shoulder Bag in the color Seaweed.

I bought it mainly because of the size. I needed a shoulder bag to wear it over my winter jacket. Also, the blue bag is a bit too small and now I like to carry more things with me.

Also I loved the green color. This time, when I decided to buy a new handbag, I ordered it within minutes, unlike the first one, that took months of research and obsession.

Choosing my first branded handbag was a thoughtful and memorable experience that made me realize how much I appreciate handbags, not just as functional items but as a reflection of personality and style. That journey sparked a deeper admiration for beautifully designed handbags. While I’m not someone who buys them impulsively, I do find joy in noticing and appreciating them, whether in stores or out in the world.

Over the years, my small collection has grown with purpose, each bag carrying its own story and significance. Looking at them now, I’m reminded of how something as simple as a handbag can hold so much meaning, reflecting personal growth, thoughtfulness, and a love for timeless design.