Let me exhort you to buy truly beautiful things.   When you find them, get them.  Not cheap flash, but items that satisfy the woman deep within.

Where, you ask, would I find these things?

Most of the time, you’ll find them sold by craftspeople and artists.   Sometimes in boutiques, occasionally in high-end stores, but most often at street fairs, and on online retailers like Etsy.

I find the pursuit of status symbols boring.   Do you know that people stop me to compliment me on my carved-leather purse?  That wearing a bright-colored dress with feminine detail earns me a delighted response more often than not?   We *say* that we want to support American made goods, that we’re pro-small business, and that we love our artists and craftspeople… but do we support them by purchasing their products?

No.  We lack courage to do something a little different from the mainstream.  Or we just don’t think indie when we think about our basics.

Let me do my part to shake you out of this mindset.

I took a minute and looked on the Target site to get an idea of what pleather mass-market purses go for.  ($30) Then I took a few minutes and searched etsy, setting the “American made only” filter on… oh, and I want real leather, not faux.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/181200778/handmade-smaller-genuine-leather-purse?ref=shop_home_listings ($30)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/165033967/lyn-brown-tooled-leather-crossbody-bag?ref=shop_home_listings ($40)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/268047649/plum-leather-ball-clasp-clutch?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=handmade&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=leather%20purse&ref=sr_gallery_32 ($38)

Let’s go a bit higher-end, shall we?   The Coach outlet sells the handbags for 50% off, according to a brief internet search.  If a slouchy handbag sells for $300, that leaves us $150 for our own purse search.

Not made in America, but sold from a small boutique in my area… less than $150.

http://silverfever.com/anuschka-medium-bucket-handpainted-genuine-leather-hobo-precious-pups-puppies-clone.html

http://silverfever.com/medium-satchel-with-front-turnlock-pocket-silver-studded-frill-wave-detail-black-clone.html

Do I even need to speak about what you can find from independent jewelers?  Or my obsession with hand-painted silk scarves?  Oh.  Nordies is selling those here…http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/st-john-collection-brigitte-floral-print-silkgeorgette-scarf/4148842?origin=category-personalizedsort&fashioncolor=CREAM%2F%20CERISE%20MULTI

Or etsy https://www.etsy.com/listing/290821271/hand-painted-silk-scarf-butterfly-silk?ref=shop_home_listings

If you’re going to spend the money, spend it well.

Let’s have a beauty revolution!