<p>[Shoes</a>, handbags, apparel: Your insider’s guide to shoes, apparel, handbags and more | Piperlime](<a href=“http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=682550012&tid=plfr1r]Shoes”>http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=682550012&tid=plfr1r)</p>
<p>This is the wallet I have, except mine is torquoise. It’s not that expensive for a leather wallet. Around $100.</p>
<p>Well, I have ordered a few things from Zappos. This is the wallet I chose:</p>
<p>[Lodis</a> Accessories Audrey Checkbook Clutch - Free Shipping](<a href=“Anuschka Checkbook Clutch with RFID - 1153 | Zappos.com”>Anuschka Checkbook Clutch with RFID - 1153 | Zappos.com)</p>
<p>I ordered caramel with cranberry lining (the opposite of what is shown), but I got the last one in that color and it will no longer come up. I hate to pay full price, and almost never do, but my current at-least-4-years-old Coach wallet needs to be replaced badly. The latest thing is that the zipper is stuck and my coins are held hostage. </p>
<p>I am not completely happy with the bag I ordered:</p>
<p>[Fossil</a> Blackburn Satchel - Free Shipping](<a href=“No results for Fossil blackburn satchel | Zappos.com”>No results for Fossil blackburn satchel | Zappos.com)</p>
<p>I don’t like contrast stitching, and it is not exactly the organizational arrangement I prefer - it has two slip pockets and one large zippered compartment, while I would rather have a zippered compartment with dividers inside - but it is OK, and I cannot spend any more time on this. I also usually buy a higher-quality bag on sale or from a discount site. I ordered it both in cognac and in black; Zappos has free shipping and free return shipping, so it is easy to try things out (very important for shoes).</p>
<p>Everything else I looked at was either too expensive or not right. I saw nothing at all that was perfect. </p>
<p>Thank you all for the suggestions - particularly the poster (MOWC?) who told me about Fossil. They come close to what I am looking for.</p>
<p>For those of you still searching, I will post a few good sites. I have ordered things in the past (not bags so far) from Overstock and SmartBargains. They often have high-end merchandise deeply discounted. One thing I have just discovered about SmartBargains is that they list their merchandise on Ebay, at a lower price, and with free shipping! I have also used Bluefly in the past, and they are great.</p>
<p>The bag looks nice. Does it close completely? I couldn’t tell.</p>
<p>Re: buying fake purses on the streets of New York or other places: Please don’t, it is illegal. The vendors and the manufacturers are stealing the intellectual property of others. I daresay that everyone here would be furious if someone stole from them to make their living. Whether it is intellectual property or personal property (like a burglery) a theft is a theft. And an FYI: most of these fake purses are produced by child labor, or in factories where, I dare say, that we would be appalled at the work conditions.</p>
<p>Thank you for listening.</p>
<p>roshke, I definitely agree with you about people in every strata of society living beyond their means. It’s a dangerous position in which to put yourself, regardless of your income!</p>
<p>MOWC, I like that wallet! It’s the style that I always choose because I like to be able to fit a lot into mine. When I got the Coach bag about a year ago, I looked all over for a Coach wallet to go with it. I couldn’t find one that I liked or that would hold what I wanted it to hold. 
I ended up with a nice Fossil leather wallet that I actually like a lot but I may have a look here to see if anyone carries Tano.</p>
<p>NYMom, nice wallet. I don’t see a disclaimer that says “20 bucks is not included”. Did it come with a twenty? 
Really, even without it the wallet looks nice.</p>
<p>ellebud makes several excellent points (says she who recently bought a “second” while in China; it was probably a knock-off)</p>
<p>Also, recall the recent money laundering scam involving rabbis and cereal boxes? (for those who did not read about this: I am not kidding!) That was knock-off purse money.</p>
<p>I have an expensive Longchamp bag that is 15 years old and still going strong. I get compliments on it all the time even though the logo is very discreet and most people have no idea what brand it is. I throw it around everywhere - I hate changing handbags so they have to be sturdy. I have an old Coach bag too that I think may be indestructible. Now that I no longer have a Longchamp income, I shop for bags at Loehmanns.</p>
<p>MOWC, The center zip compartment closes completely, and there are narrow slip pockets (open) on either side of it. I don’t mind those pockets - they are great for holding airline tickets, for example. But I like the main zippered compartment to be divided. Fussy, fussy, I know. If you click on the multi-window view, there will be 7 photos of the bag, including a good look into the inside. This is one thing I love about Zappos. The online sites selling Tano don’t even describe the inside! </p>
<p>BunsenBurner, it would be nice if the 20 were included, but I’m not holding my breath!</p>
<p>If you go to [Must</a> Have Bag- the best Tano retailer online!](<a href=“http://www.musthavebag.com%5DMust”>http://www.musthavebag.com), which is the leading online Tano retailer, they do describe the bags (inside, too). You have to click on “Details” next to the overall description.</p>
<p>this thread boggles my mind.
I had to get a larger wallet recently ( i was using a cigarette case from urban outfitters), because it didn’t hold enough. I found one I liked at Target ( where I also bought a print hobo bag for $11.00- end of season).
I sometimes will carry a large bag ( or backpack) so I can bring my laptop, sweater and lunch, but usually just have a small cross shoulder bag that holds my phone, wallet and a pen.
I like overland outfitters and rei- cordura or microfiber bags that are very sturdy.</p>
<p>these are pretty cool too.
[url=<a href=“Laurabeedesigns.com”>http://www.laurabeedesigns.com/]Customphotopurses[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I believe they have tightened up the rules/regulations for the NYC street vendors. These are purposely made knock-offs, not something that “fell off the truck”, and they don’t put the fake logos on them anymore. In the past the vendors would set up in one location and then move around to stay one step ahead of the law. Now the vendor is there all day in the same location. </p>
<p>Can we really know if any of the bags or merchandise sold in TJ Maxx or some other discount store aren’t also made with child labor? Sadly, there are lots of sweat shops around the world.</p>
<p>I think the style/quality of your purse/wallet is like anything else- it depends on what image you care to project. In a professional work setting, I prefer to not arrive with a nylon backpack-style purse. If I were staying home with kids or vacationing in Colorado, that might be just perfect. I’m not saying I need to show up with a $1000 purse at my business casual workplace, but I am a professional working downtown and the women in our company try to maintain a slight degree (not a huge degree) of professionalism.</p>
<p>What a timely thread. My husband just told me this weekend that my new purse looks like a “grandma” bag and my 15 year old chimed in that he agreed. I thought it was quite stylish, don’t even remember what brand it was/is…wasn’t too expensive, though. I generally use my older Coach bags (don’t like the new ones) but they are starting to look alittle shabby for work. Love the Tano and I could probably slip my laptop into it. Hmmm, mom needs a new purse I guess. I like purses that have a “grab” handle in addition to a longer shoulder strap. I do like my backpack purse for vacations so I can slep luggage without dealing with a “real” purse.</p>
<p>The place of origin of a garment tells you a lot about who may have made it. China, Phillipines, South American countries can indicate that there may be child labor involved. It is tricky however. If one paid American wages in foreign countries the workers would be VERY wealthy. They can be paid at the top of that country’s wage scale, or not. They can employ child labor, or not. When I was a child I distinctly remember hearing the jingle on the radio, “Look for the unions label…something something.” My mother used to look for the AFL-CIO label on every piece of clothing we bought. </p>
<p>When looking for a new rug for my dining room I refused to let my decorator bring rugs with a modern Chinese or Indian (India) manufacture. I finally purchased an antique Persian. </p>
<p>(My husband’s firm has represented manufacturers who had their clothing lines/logos stolen. These forgeries bring up the cost of everything.)</p>
<p>Wow- $100 wallets and antique Persian rugs. This is a highbrow group! :)</p>
<p>Not me, jym, despite the $100 wallet. I buy a wallet only once every 4 years or so, and a handbag only every 3 years or so. I wear no jewelry - never saw the point of it - and own only a wedding ring, which I never wear because I hate the feeling of metal on my hands, and a string of pearls that my mother-in-law left to me (that is in the safe and never worn). I buy my clothes from Lands End and LL Bean (with a couple of nicer outfits from Eileen Fisher for when I have to give a talk), and keep them for years. I have only a few pairs of shoes, kept for years. We keep our cars for at least 10 years. I am only on my 3rd car, and I am in my late 50’s! I had a Ford Custom for 2 years in the early 70’s, then lived without a car for 7 years, then married and shared my husband’s car until I bought a 1988 Volvo station wagon (old, boxy style) that I drove for 13 years. We replaced it with a Honda Odyssey that is now about 9 years old. </p>
<p>I think we should start a car thread!</p>
<p>I don’t think $100 is too much for a wallet. They last for years and get used every day. I don’t mind paying for things I’ll use and enjoy. I cut corners on “dressy” clothes unless it is something that will work for many years.
I love clothes, purses, shoes and jewelry. I probably spend more on running shoes and gear than most people spend on groceries. I work hard and I play hard. I like “stuff”- somewhat less so in this economy…</p>
<p>Since you have the pearls wear them, if you don’t they will lose their lustre. And do not spray perfume and/or body lotion on or near the pearls as that will ruin them. </p>
<p>BTW, why should any of use apologize for or justify how we spend our money? It’s all, as my daughter would say, how we chose to roll.</p>