WANT: 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli Satchel

You know that story your parents used to read you, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie? It's a phrase that has stuck with me my whole life and I find myself saying it quite often... though mostly in a bratty I told you so sort of way to my boyfriend. Well, I am writing a new version entitled, If You Give a Chelsea a Designer Bag. It explores the downward spiral of a post grad upon obtaining her first designer bag, Alexander Wang's Rocco Duffle, and how that one fateful purchase was the proverbial blood in the water for this great white (bag) shark (Side Note: Don't you think it's a little racist to the other sharks to call them Great White Sharks, I mean.. jeez...). Enough of my attempts at Amelia Bedelia-esque humor (Wow, I'm really pulling out the children's book references in this post), I'm obsessed with the 3.1 Phillip Lim Pashli.

[ black with silver hardware / aubergine with black hardware / black with black hardware ]

This bag is everything -- it's sexy and feminine, but masculine at the same time; it's structured and formal, but slouchy and cool; and it's expensive as f@!* looking, but with a price tag under $900. It's the Celine Luggage Tote for the everyday working girl (so long as this "working girl" I allude to is, like, REALLY working a lot at a REALLY high paying job). 

I've drooled over this bag in the flesh and I don't recommend anyone else do that because you will not be able to get the Pashli out of your mind. It's not crazy heavy (newer models come with a detachable shoulder strap), the construction is gorgeous (though only one interior pocket), and the shape is versatile (zips can be worn up or down for a different look). The three pictured above are the sexiest of the sexy, in my opinion: The black with silver hardware is the most adaptable and everyday; the aubergine is the trendiest, for the buyer who's not afraid of a designer bag in a color other than black (I am not one of those daring individuals); and the black on black is the coolest, most modern and sexy feeling one to me.

I keep calling this bag sexy, is this weird for anyone? Is there some sort of -philia or -ism I should be diagnosed with? Crack open your DSM-IV and get back to me on that one. If you need me, I'll be the girl drooling and creepily stroking the bag wall at Barneys Co-Op.