I went shopping for a new pair of jeans this weekend. When I walked into the Buckle, I just knew someone would be wanting to help me, and for once, I wanted help. After browsing around the store briefly, I knew exactly what I would say to help guide them to my perfect pair of jeans:
“Not super low rise, no rhinestones on the butt (or anywhere else for that matter), not too distressed.”
I was sure my helper would know exactly what to find for me and I would be happily handing over $100 soon after. I had bought jeans there before and found them comfortable and thought they looked good. Also, I had a good helper experience the first time who brought me pair after pair until I was happy.
But this time, it didn’t work that way. No one helped me. I helped myself. I finally found my size, which seemed to be almost nonexistent in the store. I found the mid-rise. I found some without rhinestones. It took a little longer, but I did end up spending money.
I don’t mind spending money when I am able to find something comfortable, that looks good and is exactly what I want. Especially when I know I’ll use it or wear it for years.
Which leads me to my tale of the forever search for the perfect bag. Years ago, it was the search for the perfect purse/diaper bag. Something cute, but big enough to hold a few baby essentials. Never found it. I carried a lot of duds. I stuffed diapers in many a purse.
Now it’s the search for the perfect purse/camera bag. For about a year I’ve been tossing my expensive camera into an unpadded Land’s End tote bag. Why? Because it’s big enough to carry my camera and my purse things and it has some of the key features my perfect bag must have:
1. Tote style open top. Anyone who knows me knows that lids on purses or anything else are just in my way. A flap over the top of a bag is just an annoyance. A zipper or magnetic snap is just right.
2. A few pockets.
3. Plain canvas or leather covering. Nothing shiny or bright. No gold, silver or, for Pete’s sake, no rhinestones.
4. The ability to stand on its own.
I’ve been known to carry cast off purses from cousins, Target bags, bags that are too small, bags that are too large. Because I never have the perfect bag, I always have about 3 or 4 bags on rotation. That’s not only frustrating, but terribly inconvenient.
About a year or more ago I thought I found the perfect bag. In spite of the dreaded lid/flap (and the price), the Kelly Moore Boy bag seemed to be exactly my style. I loved the color, the pockets, the shape. I looked at it for weeks before I finally committed and bought it for my birthday one year. I don’t like it. I still love the way it looks. I want to like it. I try to like it, but the main reason I don’t like it is not, surprisingly, the flap, it’s just too big. It’s huge and quite heavy (and for that price should be real leather). It’s not an everyday purse that you throw your camera in. It’s a camera bag that you take somewhere and sit down because it’s too heavy to carry around. Also, the flap doesn’t even close well when all my stuff is in it. Another useless lid.
Last night I began the fruitless search again. I decided it’s time to get a nice purse/camera bag for myself for Christmas. But once again I’ve ended up disappointed. There just doesn’t seem to be anything out there for me. Camera bags are all too big, purses are all too shiny. This one looked close to what I wanted, but looked rather plain for $168.
So please share, is the perfect purse out there? Have you fallen in love with one that fits your needs? Is there hope for me?
