Things I Would Buy - Oct 4

1. I have versions of this bag in two sizes/colorways. They’re inexpensive, fit lots of stuff, come in great colors and I bought one in Paris and one in Hydra a few years apart so they remind me that sometimes I am international and fun.

2. It’s sweater weather* and today I broke out my red Plexida knit. It fuzzes everywhere but I like leaving reminders of myself with every hug. *I started this newsletter during the torrential downpours of last week so expect content to skew Fall.

3. I read Deborah Levy’s “The Cost of Living” in four hours. Granted, I was on holiday and had the time but really I couldn’t put it down. Recommended for: women, women with mothers, divorcees, parents of teen+ kids, people going through tumultuous life changes.

An excerpt:

“He wore a delicate ring with a tiny sleepy diamond embedded in the latticed gold band. He said, "My wife chose this wedding ring for me. It's Victorian, not really my style, but it reminds me of her." And then he said, "My wife crashed the car again." Ah, I thought, as we walked past the golden trees, she does not have a name. She is a wife. I wondered why my male colleague often forgot the names of most of the women he met at social events. He would always refer to them as someone's wife or girlfriend, as if that was all I needed to know. If we don't have names, who are we?”

4. I also zoomed through Gabrielle Zevin’s “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” after impulse purchasing in the airport. It’s been a long time since I plowed through a fiction - I think it’s because I was trying to read classics like “The Satanic Verses” (not bad! Quite funny! But not a speed read) - and a good, engrossing read is so satisfying. As you know. Anyway, it’s a story about friendship! And it’s like “The Little Life” with 60% less unnecessary tragedy (that book is emotional terrorism don’t read it).

5. Have you also come to the realization that a good bag that fits all of the following criteria doesn’t exist in an affordable price range? I need it to: fit my computer, not hurt my shoulder, complement most outfits, not look like a computer bag, be made out of leather, not weigh 5 pounds empty, have a long enough strap that I can wear it on my shoulder while wearing a coat, not have a giant logo on it, and not… look like Everlane. My friend has a good Balenciaga one (wrong price range, has a logo) but I can’t find it on the website and she used to work there so it might be a sample (am waiting for her to text me back*).

   This is actually a hilarious and amazing computer bag for the savvy, wealthy, working woman. But then you can’t text with your right hand.

While further researching the Balenci bag on Google I stumbled on this from Etsy. Reasonably priced but will it bruise the clavicle when stuffed with my daily provisions (loose change, two hand creams, a water bottle and laptop)? (I just want to custom make everything for myself.)

*My friend’s bag is the Balenciaga Laundry Cabas.

From R to L:

• This Gucci bag is good but suede (anti-weather) and perhaps too small.

• The Kassl puffy guy is cute, definitely won’t hurt your shoulder but is vegan leather.

• The Row one is close but perhaps a smidge too small. And the wrong price range though this was the least expensive one I could find.

• Stutterheim waterproof carry-all?? No good for summer (sweaty) but I am intrigued.