Coulda Shoulda

Remember the J.Crew chiffon rose tee craze a few years back?

It was nutty what people were willing to pay to own one after they sold out. Gosh, you could've made a bunch of money buying multiples at the eventual sale price of $19.99 and selling them for $100+ at that online auction site. Crazy!

So fast forward to a couple months ago when I first heard about

the Kate Spade Journal Newspaper Clutch.

Since I work with reporters, my first thought was,

"how cute would it be to carry this to a media event!"

(My ready imagination for fantasy occasions gets me into shopping obsessions too too often.)

It's made to look like a rolled-up newspaper (look at the edges that look so real!).

And come on, how fun are the headlines ("Silver Lining Spotted Mid-rainstorm,”
“Traders Pick Gold Lamé As Solid Investment -- Stock Prices Soar” and
“Cocktail Hour Is To Be Formally Observed -- City Planner Says 'Cheers' to Ground-breaking Legislation”).

 

Little did I know it had sold out. Though it was originally priced at $125,

people were willing to pay way more than $300 at that online auction place,

if you could even find one up for bid.

With a heavy sigh ... after much hunting,

I decided to give up.

The journal clutch, evidently, was the previous edition (pun intended, har har).

Enter the KS Travel Magazine Clutch, inspired by vintage magazines.

I kept running across it during my search for the journal clutch.

And repeatedly dismissed it, not wanting to settle for close but not it.

It was only after I concluded the journal clutch was not going to be found for anything close to reasonable price did I reluctantly get it (at the time, the magazine clutch was less than half its original $298 price and I also had a good extra discount to apply).

The clutch is the most impractical "handbag" ever.

It's made of Tyvek and will not hold up to wear and tear;

it would likely sustain noticeable damage if dropped or wet.

It holds almost nothing: I struggle to get it closed with just my BlackBerry,

a tube of lipstick, a very small and flat wallet and a couple keys in it.

Total frivolity.

However ... just how cute is it?

To look like you're holding a magazine when it's your bag.

I've also decided, in some ways, the more colorful cousin

of the journal clutch is a better execution, especially when opened:

Instead of red lining under the flap, it looks like a page or back cover.

At some point during the past week or so, it sold out too.

I just watched one sell for $300 plus $9 shipping, another one is at $220

with eight bids and 20 more hours before the auction closes.

I could've purchased at least five when I bought mine, I had

wondered if the "value" would go the way of the journal clutch.

Tell me, what would you have done?

Was it worth throwing money at this (virtually) throwaway purse?

Did you miss this clutch or is it a miss?