Most people who know me already know this, but for those of you who do not know me personally, I have a problem. I am addicted to buying purses. At any given time, I probably have enough purses to start a rental business and still have my own choice of styles.
Although I am a big fan of Coach purses, a purse does not have to be designer for me to want it. It does not have to be expensive. In fact, it does not even have to be new.
I love thrift shops. When I am cruising for a new purse, and I am in the mood for a deal on a designer bag, my two favs in the area are Still Stylin' in Channahon and Plato's Closet in Joliet. Because of my addiction, it has been only two short weeks since my last trip to Plato's Closet, where I landed a name-brand purse and matching wallet for under $20.
The whole reason I went looking was because my pretty, pink Coach purse, that I had put away for the winter because of its suede bottom, was about ready for its spring debut. But, I had changed my wallet, and my essentials no longer fit. I intended, when I went into Plato's Closet, to only buy a wallet, but as I have already told you, I have a purse addiction.
I have been using the new purse and its matching wallet for a couple weeks, but the other day, my friend and I were looking for fabric for a sewing project and she suggested that curtain fabric would be the right weight. In search of a good deal, she steered me to the Unique Thrift Shop.
I've been in there before, but apparently I averted my eyes from the back wall and additional aisle of purses and bags.
I exercised some self-control and did not buy the purse I had picked up. Okay, actually, it had nothing to do with self-control, it had to do with the fact that Unique accepts cash only and I only had enough for the other things I had picked up. I actually have no self-control. I went back and bought the purse later.
The original visit, I bought a wallet that says Prada. It isn't real, of course, but that really does not matter to me. I doubt I will ever be in a situation like that episode of "Sex and the City" where Samantha has it out with a Playboy bunny for taking her fake designer bag.
Sometimes the fakes are better, anyway.
I have an imitation Hermes bag at home. I could not carry a real one; it would give me real concern for my safety. The real ones are worth thousands of dollars
So, if you see me on the street, take only a quick look at the bag I am toting around. If you look really fast, you would probably believe I am carrying a designer bag.
And when I pull out my wallet, pretend it's a real Prada. In fact, pretend that we are in New York and I am one of the famous journalists who is recognized everywhere. That's what I will be doing.
Do you want a good deal on a designer bag too?
Still Stylin' in on Route 6 in Channahon, just west of the I55 interchange
Plato's Closet is on the corner of Caton Farm Road and U.S. 30
Happy Shopping.
P.S. Sometimes, because of my addiction, I try to clean out my purse collection. And, sometimes, I rid myself of some that I wish I had kept. Like the lilac, lizard-skinned, Liz Claiborne. If anyone later bought it, likely from Goodwill, and you are no longer using it, I will buy it back from you. Heck, maybe we can trade. I have a new one I just bought from Plato's Closet with a matching wallet.
Dawn Aulet is a woman, a writer, a wife and a mother. Often, the lens
through which she sees the world is colored by these roles, but not
always. Sometimes, her experiences have less to do with her roles and
more with the frustration of being a consumer, the need to put gas in
her car or the realization that the world does not have any obligation
to deliver what she expects.
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