Mission Brown

A while back I had bought a little leather crossbody bag to replace a very similar one that after many years of use had worn out. It’s a convenient, lightweight and tiny bag I like to use shopping when I don’t need a tote. The replacement bag is lovely Italian leather, soft and supple, but there’s just one thing wrong with it: it’s red. Scarlet. Pillbox. Bright, in-your-face, lipstick red.

Now, I love red, and it is one of my favourite colours, but in these more minimalist days I came to realise that what I really needed was a tan leather bag. A red crossbody bag had become just too cute for me. I wanted something that was more discreet, neutral; something that went with everything.

… in these more minimalist days I came to realise that what I really needed was a tan leather bag

It became my mission to find a new one. Because I felt a little guilty buying another new bag when for all practical purposes there was nothing wrong with the red one, I decided I would hit the op shops (thrift stores) first. Some weeks of desultory searching went by, and then last week I hit paydirt. Sort of.

I found this tan leather wallet with a wrist strap in an op shop. It is by Roxy, unused, fits my phone inside, and cost only $8. I don’t love it, particularly not the embossed logo on the front (which friends assure me is discreet and barely noticeable), but it is perfect for use as a lunchtime purse (if not for marketing), and will do until something better comes along.

Ironically, it is too big to fit in some of my smaller handbags, so I have to decant the bare necessities into a coin purse.

The mission continues!

(Photo: December 2015)