The Perfect Summer Purse

Although I have said summertime usually means more summer projects, it also means summer clothes and summer accessories - possibly two of my favorite things, due to my laid-back, small-beach-town upbringing. Tank tops and short shorts, sandals and bathing suits - all things that make me want to tan by the waves and eat watermelon - these are the essentials of summer. But my most anticipated, and perhaps most thought-out, purchase of the summer will always be that of the summer purse. It is to be casual yet multi-purpose, adorable yet practical, and inexpensive yet durable (with the experience of previous summers and previous purses, it must also be not too white, because stains and scuff marks are inevitable).

And here is this summer's solution:



It is from Urban Outfitters, a store with numerous fabulous items I often wish I could afford without feeling guilty. But fortunately, I found this one in time to be included in my birthday wish list! Wish lists hold a special place in my heart, and creating them for either my birthday or Christmas has become a tradition that not only is helpful for my parents and relatives, but also just plain gets me more excited for the actual holiday (materialistic, yes, I know). Plus, if an item passes the Wish List Test (surviving on the list for an extended period of time), it also reduces the chances of wasting money on items that I might like for a few days, but then decide a week later that it wouldn't be worth the cost. And we could all live with a little less buyers remorse in these rather sad economic times, don't you agree? Anyways, back to the purse. I love love love it, and have received numerous compliments on it. It meets all of my requirements and I am certain it will continue to be used in the fall.

There is, however, another purse that I am pining for (it is patiently waiting in my Forever21 online shopping bag) and although it does not meet a few of the crucial requirements, its cuteness factor makes those seem irrelevant (I'd say Einstein knew a thing or two about shopping, considering his Theory of Relativity...) But all joking aside, this purse is ADORABLE!



As you will see, I am ever the advocate of bargain shopping - Forever 21, Traffic, Ross, and TJ Maxx are my secrets for success on a college budget, and I delight in telling people that "Oh, this? It only cost $13!" and watching their jaws drop. However, I do recall reading an article about bargain shoppers who love bragging about purchases as a manner of proving what a savvy shopper they are to anyone who will listen... but I prefer to think of it as understanding that great style does not require a massive cash flow. This purse from Forever21, at $30, proves that... at least to me! In any case, I only hope that I don't have to wait too long to buy it!