That’s my bag, baby!

I love when fashion magazines ask celebrities to share the contents of their bags.  I find it so interesting, so intimate — such an indication of personality and style.  So today I decided I would launch a series of “bag lady” mini-posts, asking different fashion magpies what they tote around on a day-to-basis.  I’ll start.

Most days, I toss my belongings into my Louis Vuitton NeverFull.  When I’m feeling extra put-together, I’ll swap in a bag that coordinates with my get-up (I often lean on my quilted, chain-handled Kate Spade Mary Anne tote — l.o.v.e) — but I pretty much always fall back on the NeverFull.  Inside?  My two hot pink mini Moleskine notebooks ($8.95 for set, Moleskine) for recording fashion finds and all-things-food-related (Mr. Magpie and I are big cooks, and I like to keep track of the recipes we try / the wine we drink / our thoughts on restaurants…nerdy) and some extra-fine-point felt-tip pens (I l.o.v.e. the super fine tip — basically the width of a needle point — of the Le Pen model; perfect for my minuscule handwriting! — $1.99 apiece, CalligraphyEtc

I of course carry my wallet everywhere — it’s the Tory Burch fluorescent pink logo wallet.  I get so many compliments (and also insults) from it — people love it or hate it.  (“Man, that’s bright!” or “Ooh, I love that!”)

Barbie doll pink is always just fine by me, though I’ll have to find a more season-appropriate model soon.  I saw this leopard print one ($195, also from Tory Burch) and wanted it badly…how cute would it look tossed inside my big black Kate Spade tote?!

I’m now realizing that the majority of the belongings I tote around on a day-to-day basis are, in fact, pink — love it — as I also always carry my pink iPod shuffle ($49, Apple; amazing for my daily runs — I just load up whatever’s poppy and on the radio and don’t have to worry about searching for songs, etc; plus, it’s so tiny and comes with a built in clip that I can affix to the band of my running shorts!  Genius!) and my hot pink earphones (I go through earphones on a bi-annual basis — for some reason, I’m always losing them, which is highly uncharacteristic of me.  At any rate, I snap up sets of these inexpensive, brightly-colored JVC “Gumy” earbuds — $10/pop, BestBuy):

I’m an Apple gal — I also have my trusty iPhone (from $99, Apple) on me at all times:

I know people have been “down” on the iPhone lately, but I still marvel at it’s chic design and infinite utility.  Plus, my Crossword app can occupy me for hours.  Other things I always have on me?  Candy of some kind (I’m like a child — I just cannot get enough gummy candy, and I live for Haribo) —

–and shades.  I’m almost always carrying my two favorites: Chanels and RayBans:

The two styles befit two different circumstances/wardrobe choices.  Because I’m perpetually cold (aka preternaturally freezing at all times; I lose circulation easily, as I did yesterday, in balmy, 70-degree rain, when I looked down and noticed my fingers had gone white), I usually have a cardigan (the J. Crew “Jackie” is my favorite, and I own it in about 34 shades — $62, J. Crew) and a scarf (this one’s cashmere for extra warmth — White and Warren, $240, Ron Herman):

I’ve also been known to carry hand warmers around in inclement (and even not so inclement…) weather ($10 for 12 pairs, Target):

Now, I’m sort of embarrassed to own up to this next item on the list because a) I think it borders dangerously on the “I-wear-sneakers-with-my-suit-so-that-I’m-comfortable-on-my-way-to-work” line of thinking, which — well, I find extremely unattractive, and b) it illustrates a tragic fashion-related shortcoming of my own.  But.  Here goes: I always have a pair of flats in my bag because I’ll admit that I am not a talented walker in high heels, and I’ll often switch into my heels for office hours and then giddily transfer my feet into some broken-in flats come 6 pm.  Gah!  Caught red-handed (or un-heeled, rather)!  I’d happily stash these Lanvins ($525, Zoe):

My bags are always littered by stray bobby pins ($3.49 for 50, Target), hair elastics ($4.99, Sally Beauty), and headbands:

You never know when a quick hair fix will turn your day around.  Sometimes, nothing makes me happier than pulling a bad hair day back into a high bun.  Done and done.  Another “quick fix” nearly always found in my tote?  Costume jewelry.  Whether a sparkling pair of enorma-studs (on sale for $75, BingBangNYC), a chunky statement necklace ($198, Henri Bendel), or a glitzy oversized cocktail ring (on sale for $105, Noir Jewelry), they can make any ol’ day better:

I’m also never, ever without a tube of mascara (I like DiorShow — $24, Sephora — and Benefit’s BadGal Lash — $19, Sephora):

My other cosmetics-related must-haves: Fresh’s Sugar Rose lip treatment ($22, Sephora) and Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Cream (magic balm that my mother has used for.ev.er — it soothes chapped lips, minor burns and abrasions, dry skin, etc, etc, etc — $17, Elizabeth Arden):

I’d been stashing Tarte’s lip/cheek stains ($30, Sephora — and they have great shades; I own “Tipsy” and “Flush”) in my tote for awhile, but recently (as in…two days ago), I receive a sample of Benefit’s PosieTint ($28, Sephora) and I’m a convert — I l.o.v.e. it!

Whew, I know it looks like I carry around a suitcase on a daily basis, but everything manages to fit comfortably in my Neverfull.  The only other things I consistently have with me?  Scattered notes (grocery lists, to-dos, etc) and coupons and a book — right now I’m reading Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go ($17, Amazon):

What must-haves do you carry around in your tote?

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Don’t forget to check out Amanda Pearl’s unbelievable collection of jewelry and evening clutches!  The designer has kindly offered all Magpie readers 30% off with the coupon code: MAGPIE!