Buy Beautiful Things!

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!

Leave a Reply