Thursday, November 20, 2014

The Bag Equation and a Giveaway!

Like the Boot Equation*, the Bag Equation is also  n+1, where n is the number of bags currently owned. Maybe you’re not a bag person and you think one will get you through everything? Maybe, but I just don’t see how that could possibly work.  Here’s what I think you need for a minimum bag wardrobe:

One simple all around hobo in black or brown:

Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo

One really nice tote appropriate for work:

Botkier Soho Tote

One satchel (or another hobo if you absolutely can’t do hand-held) in a fun color:

Emma Fox Small Dome Satchel

One awesome evening option (which is one of those things you don’t need until you do):

Sasha Metal Window Evening Clutch

For the first two bags, please buy the very best you can afford. (The evening clutch can be dirt cheap.) A bag you carry near-daily is going to take a lot of abuse so buy good quality and carry it forever. I’ve had my black Hillier Hobo for more than four years and it’s still going strong. That’s why I bought a second one in a different color. If a particular style works for you, don’t be afraid to buy it again. If the basics are covered and you love bags, you should definitely consider:

A small crossbody, useful and you can buy a crazy color because it's small:

Fossil

A neutral metallic which is sleek but goes with everything:


Michael Kors

A fun coated canvas tote, great for summer:

Oryany

A cool messenger bag which you just can't with the other bags:

Clare V.

A fancy lady bag, if you're so inclined:

Kate Spade

This may seem like a lot of bags but if you chose carefully and buy things that work with your lifestyle and wardrobe, you’ll be covered for a long time. Now, because I’m not a total jerk and don’t want to set you up to be sad because you can’t afford to run out and buy a bunch of bags, I have a giveaway! OH YEAH.

So, a while back Adina over at Blue Collar Red Lipstick had a Pay-It-Forward giveaway and I won a very beautiful dress. So nice! I decided to do the same, and I’m actually doing it with a great bag I got from Adina in a trade. I've carried it for a while and now it's time for it to find a new home.

This is a Marc by Marc Jacobs Teri bag in a gorgeous subtle metallic color called Fool’s Gold:



It’s been pre-loved and isn’t in perfect condition, but it’s still really nice and has years use left. I’m giving it away to one of you, to be selected randomly.

The Giveaway is now CLOSED. Please stay tuned for the announcement of the winner! 

*The boot equation idea was totally stolen from my friend Paula who's got more pairs of boots than I do, if you can believe it.

69 comments:

  1. I have two purses, a JuJuBe diaper bag/purse and my more recent splurge, a sparkly Fossil cross body. It's twice the size of the one you posted, but I can fit my iPad or a book in it, so it's perfect for me.

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  2. Gorgeous bag selection! My favorite bag is a mahogany brown Fossil tote with a zipper I bought about a year ago. It's the perfect size for work - big enough for some papers, but not so huge it looks odd if I'm using it on an off-work day.

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    1. Forgot my email address! hlschwartz{at}gmail{dot}com

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  3. My everyday bag is probably my favorite. It's a Kate Spade Cobble Hill Leslie satchel in black. It is a real workhorse of a bag and has held up really well. emily dot waltenbaugh at gmail dot com

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  4. My favorite is much loved, much used black, leather Coach crossbody. I think it must be 10 years old?

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  5. My favorite bag right now is a Fossil satchel I won in a charity auction. It's probably the nicest bag I've owned and I just love it. It is persuading me to look at a higher price range now when I look at bags. (removed the other comment because I didn't leave an email - meyergrrl@yahoo.com)

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  6. My Coach Phoebe bag in cobalt is my favorite. ekinland18@yahoo.com.

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  7. My favorite bag is a grey Brahmin medium sized satchel from 2-3 years ago. Now their bags are either teeny-tiny or huge. d1m1turner@yahoo.com. (commenting using my husband's google account - shhhh :)

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  8. I have a black Fossil hobo bag I love. It has enough room for everything!

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  9. My favorite bag is a large, plain tote from Old Navy, of all places. I love it so much I'm looking for a nicer upgrade. (Vgoerz@yahoo.com)

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  10. My favorite bag is my gray Modalu Pippa! loweryk08@gmail.com

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  11. When it comes to bags, I am usually carrying something made from ballistic nylon or another functional and sturdy (manly) material. My current fave is the REI Chock Shoulder bag I have been using for 3+ years. I need to get something like this that is both cute and functional. jordanleeman at gmail dot com

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  12. I am one of those people who thought they could get away with 1 bag but now I'm rethinking that (but wait, aren't dates the equivalent of a large evening bag? No? XD). My favorite bag is a purple nylon Steve Madden bag that felt like a huge splurge when I got it 3 years ago. It's held up pretty well but might be time for an upgrade. My email is mwilliams411 at gmail dot com

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  13. I love the Botkier Soho Tote you have listed above, but there are two bags that I carry the most. One is from Fossil and it is a basic black leather tote. I also carry around a twill zip tote from Everlane way more than I probably should. My email is supasonicsage at gmail dot com. Thanks for the great giveaway!

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  14. I covet the Hillier hobo. I love it every time you show it on the blog.

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  15. I use a brown Danier Samantha crossbody everyday! sus4n.x@hotmail.com

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  16. I have an ancient Coach tote that I love, but I'm always in the market for new bags. My favorite stress reliever is combing through the purse section at TJ Maxx.

    blanket dot evans at gmail

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  17. My favorite bag is a gorgeous blue leather satchel. Thanks for the giveaway, such an awesome prize! kailikea at hotmail dot com

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  18. I've been carrying a Cole Haan tote for about seven years. It's pretty beat up but the scratches are just adding to the allure.

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  19. My favorite bag is the Coach satchel my sister bought me earlier this year. It's the only really nice bag I have every owned, and I feel super fancy every single time I carry it. jenrholden@hotmail.com

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  20. I covet the Hillier hobo. It's the perfect gorgeous purse. Not in the ol budget though! jenmartin2@hotmail.com

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  21. I really love Banana Republic's Olivia bag. All of my bags look very shabby right now so I'm long overdue for an upgrade. mlouprice@gmail.com

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  22. I have carried this tiny black Coach tote for years upon years and it's just no longer cutting it :( I am currently on the search for something a little larger.
    hillarie dot diaz at gmail dot com.

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  23. My favorite bag is a Marc Jacobs Stella in a lovely plum color - from the first year, when they had brass buckles. The lining is pale blue suede. Sigh.
    morive at ku dot edu

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  24. My favorite bag is a mint green Kate Spade cross-body. I got it last year and I love it so much! Perfect size & color.

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  25. My favorite bag these days seems to be the one I don't yet own! Thanks for the giveaway.

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  26. oooh! Would love that! (marisa brandt (at) gmail com)

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  27. I am in a bag desert right now. I am using a crappy fake-leather one (but it's bright green!) for everything. The bag situation is dire. And this one is lovely.

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    1. Does that show email? It's just the username above, at g mail.

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  28. My new favorite bag is a Sash bag (www.thesashbag.com) that I got a few weeks ago and it is pretty perfect, especially on weekends. I need something that's good for work, though!!

    ( marydinkuhn at gmail )

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  29. My favorite bag is a small, black cross-body Fossil that I bought for 5 Euros and wear every time I go dancing at the local club's 90's night. Which is every other Saturday, because my musical tastes never matured past 2002.
    (museumsaskew@gmail.com)

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  30. My favourite is a black, cross-body from Kate Spade. It fits a diaper, some wipes and some snacks for my kids. Perfect!

    (hovanesanniversary@gmail.com)

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  31. I'm a mom of a 5 year old and 18 month old twins so my bag is usually whatever small canvas tote I can grab to shove their water bottles in as we head outside.

    When it's just me I tend to reach for my black satchel.

    total x indecision at gmail dot com

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  32. I have a red patent leather Kate Spade bag that has a giant bow on the side that I absolutely adore. I may have audibly gasped when I saw it at Nordstrom Rack. I only carry it in winter as it seems a little holiday. Otherwise, my Marc Jacobs "Too Hot to Handle" in bright blue is my fave. I don't really "do" neutrals!
    juliahart22 at gmail . com

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  33. My favorite bag is the Nine West Tribeca satchel in wine... http://www.ninewest.com/Tribeca-Pebbled-Leather-Satchel/12434779,default,pd.html?variantSizeClass=&variantColor=JJI20B9_1&q=city%20chic&prefn1=catalog-id&prefv1=ninewest-catalog Such a pretty color! I am also a fan of my Pietro Alessandro "Manhattan" bag too! I have all black bags other than than my Tribeca - need more colors! southerncharmnewyorksass [at] gmail [dot] com

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  34. I tend to shout from the rooftops, telling the story of my favorite bag. It is a large, blue colorblock Cole Haan Crosby Shopper - which I found the day after Christmas 2013 at DSW. It was all alone on the clearance table with a number of holiday themed socks. Original price - $395. Tag price, $120. Tack on 80% off and I double, triple and quadruple checked the tags and ran to check out.

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    1. eeep, may not show email... alisonlazareck at gmail . com

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    2. I have some fun bags and some really great practical bags, but my favorite is this little sparkly no-name clutch that was my grandma's. It was her "fancy" purse, and it went with her on all sorts of adventures. I love that she carried it to places that made her happy.
      Leslie.c.boyd(at)live.com

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  35. My favorite bag ever was a much loved red satchel that I got at a stand in the mall. It was large and leather and magical. I have since upped my bag game but never found anything quite as delightful.

    allison.lore @ gmail (no spaces)

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  36. Forgot email. Claw121803 at yahoo.com.

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  37. My favorite bag is my Sak Silverlake Flap, old as the hills but well loved. I just wish it had a longer strap. My Sak Pax fold over flap is the most used, my practical black everyday cross body. The rest of my bags are mainly Fossil, love them all! A Marc Jacobs bag is the next step up for me, I would love to own one some day and a metallic bag is missing from my collection. ourthreesons at telus.net

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  38. My favorite bag is the Clare V Messenger bag- I coveted for a long time and finally bought it for myself last fall in navy. I know that I will have it for a very long time. This giveaway is a lovely idea- thanks! rinnyc@telus.net

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  39. So hard to choose! The bag I got as a college grad gift (a million years ago) is still my favorite - my Coach Station bag. Not big enough right now with all the little kid stuff that accumulates, but still, it goes with everything!!
    megan dot s dot collins at gmail

    Thanks for the giveaway!!

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  40. I finally splurged this year and bought a MBMJ black hobo for everyday wear. This bad boy ROCKS. Holds everything, works as a crossbody or a shoulder bag...we're in love and getting married this Spring.

    elisaklein@hotmail.com

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  41. I always wanted one of those MBMJ bags with the metal birds on them, but I've never spent that much on a bag. I have a Hobo crossbody bag that I like a lot and lately I've been carrying a Madewell crossbody. It's always nice to have your hands free.

    karmacor@gmail.com

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  42. I love a cross body bag but am diversifying to totes and satchels. My favorite purse though is a depression era purse made by a friend of my grandmother's out of a coffee cand and a hide she tanned herself. Love mbmj bags too.

    ev_hayes[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  43. My favorite style is a large black Kenneth Cole I got several years ago at Marshall's. It has silver hardware and the rings holding the straps are fantastic for clipping my keys on and it holds everything. The over $100 price tag made me pause for a day or two before I purchased but I was so glad it was still there. -Dee

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  44. (Did I not just enter a comment? It disappeared!)
    My favorite style is crossbody, because my condo is on the 3rd floor and I always seem to have my hand full. But the ones I usually can't resist are...every other style. Like the one you're giving away; I'd hitch it on my shoulder and grab all the groceries anyway :)

    Toniab329@gmail.com

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  45. My all-time favorite is a black Coach tote - works with everything. Thanks for doing the contest.

    [suzanne m dwyer @ gmail .com (no spaces)]

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  46. Thanks for the giveaway! My bag equation is n=1, sadly, and my current standby/victim has definitely seen better days. My favorite was a fair trade Guatemalan bag made out of recycled huipil fabric. Colorful, impractical, beautiful. It did not hold up well, and was recently donated after a lot of wear and tear followed by a year or two in the back of the closet. Sigh.

    other.anna@gmail.com

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  47. Love a good crossbody. Helps to have hands free when hauling children. You're inspiring me to up my bag game from flavor of the month el cheapos to real deal Holyfields. Love the giveaway bag!

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  48. My favorite bag = my only luxury bag ever, a Marc Jacobs hobo style purchased at Barneys 10+ years ago.

    Rcb.shops@gmail.com

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  49. My favorite bag is my only bag is just my Jansport backpack. Ha, I would love a hobo or a crossbody!
    megalopolis94 at gmail dot com

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  50. I love my Fossil crossbody-it goes with everything and keeps my hands free...but I am tempted by your giveaway! I love a great neutral bag :)

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  51. I love the boot equation! Totally using that.

    My current favorite bag is a large slouchy ivory leather hobo that I got at a street market in London. It's heavy and getting dirty, but so so loved. Memories makes bags even better (and don't weigh as much as my makeup bag. Oof) barchbo at gmail.com

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  52. My favorite bag is a black B Makowsky hobo with silver hardware. That bag is the perfect size and has withstood a lot of abuse from my three young children! jvaladie74 at gmail dot com

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  53. My favorite bag is my slouchy Kate Spade. It's my only "nice" one and it's been going strong for 3 years! A good bag is worth the investment, much like boots :-) brunett813@hotmail.com

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  54. My favourite is my Cambridge Satchel in Oxblood - smart (and capacious enough) for work but cool enough for the weekend. alex_mizzi at hotmail.com.

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  55. Wow, thanks for doing an international giveaway! So rare on these here interwebs. My favourite bag is probably my giant black and metallic charcoal mimco tote. Here's this year's version, which gives you the basic idea: http://www.mimco.com.au/shop/bags/60173947-1/Vertigo-Tote.html. Mine's nicer though (obvi) ;) They're an Aussie brand! left dot claw dot north at gmail dot com

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  56. I'm in love with with my wine-oxblood colored Botkier saddle-shaped bag with gunmetal gray links. Thanks for asking! micaelab55 at hotmail dot com.

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  57. Oooh, I would love to win that bag! I don't have any really nice bags, but my current favorite is (tearing, unfortunately) a large one that doubles as a diaper bag!!

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  58. My favorite is my Modalu Pippa in cognac. A great work bag and makes me feel fancy when I carry it. Mags8355 at gmail dot com

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  59. My favorite is a Lucky brand crossbody! It's pretty old though. kungfu 8 @ gmail dot com

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  60. favorite bag? The vintage coach willis bag I bought at a yard sale for $.50.

    kat.mceachern at gmail

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