The Vera Bradley Plunge & Other Purse Notes

There was a time when my purse always matched my shoes–always! This was pre-kids, in my twenties. Of course, after having a baby, who would have time to coordinate shoes and purses? I gave it up for a large utilitarian purse.  After the years when I thought I would carry a perennial diaper bag, I settled for a purse large enough to still carry those needed kids items like tissue, wipes, hair bands, and whatever else the kids handed me to carry.

Finally, the kids were almost grown and independent, and I went the “as light as possible route.” My purse was just a wallet with a shoulder strap, and it would hold a lipstick, a brush, a compact, and cash and credit cards. I made it that way for a while. Then came the time when I HAD to have my glasses with me. In their hard-body case, they just would not fit into this small purse, so I dragged out the old large purse that I paid quite a bit for at the time and carried it for 4-5 years. I carried it during my antique store days, and once I discovered a plate in it that had been there about a week!

You could really categorize me as not being into designer purses, but a few months ago, I need a new, large purse with lots of dividers, zipper pockets, etc. At Dillards, they had one on sale that seemed perfect. It was a great price so I bought it. When Kerry saw it, she said, “Wow, Mom, a designer purse.” It is a Gianni Bini (I had never heard of it, but Kerry recognized the brand immediately). Kerry usually does not care for my sense of style, but she really liked this purse. I carried it for a while longer and discovered it had a couple of features I didn’t like. The handles weren’t meant to be shoulder straps, but they were long enough that I could, with some effort, get them on my shoulder. It also had a magnetic closure which was difficult to get into with one hand while driving–yes, on occasion, I have to dig in the purse! My arthritic hands made this difficult.

When we were in Europe, I decided to buy a red, Italian purse. I let the “cute factor” make the decision. The purse looks like a minature brief case, has some pockets, shoulder straps–it seemed perfect! It wasn’t! It was too small for what I need to carry.

Now, I’ve seen plenty of Vera Bradley purses and accessories at school, and my step-daughters like Vera Bradley. I have bought them some accessories for their birthdays or for Christmas. I like the fabric the products are made of, but I am usually slow to follow a trend. There is a shop in Karns called Spoiled Rotten, and they have a good selection of Vera Bradley; they also have lots of baby items that are very cute–overall, a cute shop to visit. When I discovered the red, Italian purse was not going to work, I went to Spoiled Rotten and bought a retired pattern (Cafe Latte–a black/brown pattern) purse at 25% off! It is big, has lots of pockets and zippers, and it fits my shoulder nicely. The only problem was at the beach when we were visiting attractions outside, it seems to be very hot to carry (Kelly noticed this when I carried Daisy and she carried the purse). But I love the purse. I might have chosen a different pattern, but I just couldn’t bring myself to pay the price.

So, now I was stuck with the designer purse I don’t carry. Kerry’s birthday was in June, so I sent her the purse and a very nice Hard Rock Cafe Barbie from Paris. She was thrilled! She was carrying the purse when she came to the beach! Of course, when she saw the Vera Bradley purse, she made it clear she does not like Vera Bradley. But that’s okay–that is what keeps everyone in business! And, it doesn’t bother me that I will carry the purse until it probably wears out!

Hoskins Drug Store in Clinton also carries Vera Bradley, and there is a pretty good store in Pigeon Forge–I don’t know the name, but it is on the right going towards the Smokies.

www.verabradley.com