Black (Leather) Beauty

I love a good leather bag... who doesn't, really? They are the epitome of classic, durable, and fashionable, and every girl has at least one that she absolutely can't live without. I recently raided my mama's closet as she was cleaning out and scored some great hand-me-downs which sparked a little bit of a leather obsession, and now I'm just itching to fulfill my every purse and pouch need with leather, leather, leather!! As much as I love brown leather (and have a couple of great brown bags from my mama), I'm currently on the hunt for some black items because they look just a wee bit more expensive and classic in my opinion. Here's a little compilation of some of my recent favorite internet finds...

First of all, can we all just please take a moment to swoon at the 3.1 Phillip Lim for Target collection tote? All of the bags in the upcoming (surprisingly affordable and ridiculously wearable) collaboration collection are gorgeous but this one immediately caught my attention. It reminds me so much of the Celine Luggage tote, but this one is only $55 opposed to the $1,690 you'd have to shell out for the high-end counterpart. I'm sure the online world will take this by storm and it'll be sold out in an instant, but I am willing to bus and line up at the closest Target and wait until this is released because I need to get my hands on it. Need.

I've also had my eye on a black Rebecca Minkoff Mini Mac for quite some time, but they are also quite pricey though the design is everything I'm looking for. The stud detailing on the bottom is so me and it's the perfect size for my keys, phone, cards and a chapstick. I keep hoping that I'll stumble across a black one on HauteLook flash sales but Rebecca Minkoffs only come around once every so often that I'm starting a coin jar to save up so I can eventually get my hands on one (perhaps by the holidays I will have saved something up and the bag will be on a seasonal sale) as a treat to myself on a special occasion -- maybe even my 21st? There are plenty of similar bags around like the ASOS clutch that are simple and have gold accents, and I really love the stud detailing on the New Look clutch, but nothing will compare with what I've got my heart set on.

I'm also in the hunt for a nice leather wallet. I used to have a long zip wallet and I loved it (until the pleather burned in the sun, but that's another story), so now I just want one that will last because honestly that Vera Bradley coin purse is only going to hold up for so much longer. I've reached the age where having a dinky little purse is a bit juvenile as all of my friends look so sophisticated pulling out their designer wallets; I think it's about time I become a big girl and join the gang. I'm not saying I just want one for the name on the inside, but because the quality of brand name products are worth the money, especially if we're talking about leather. I've always dreamed of having a Coach wallet like my mama and whenever I'm at the outlets I pop into the Coach Outlet which always has great deals and sales upon sales but I've never fallen in love with the perfect one. The Saffiano Leather wallet is a great simple purse that will last no matter how the trends change, and the Gathered Twist Leather wallet reminds me of the Miu Miu Matelassé wallets that I could never ever imagine actually buying. I also stumbled across the Aubrey Bailey purse that has adorable bunny embossing which is a fun twist on a sophisticated classic. Right now I'm afraid if I bought one of these now I'd have nothing left to put in the wallet, but a nice leather purse is something that's high on my wish list and I can't wait for the day when I can finally cross it off!