Hi everyone, its Jaime Lynn – Happy New Year! I must say as a “bagaholic” I always look forward to the new season to see what the designers are putting out there and to see what will be the new “it” bag and the various versions there of. I have always felt that if and when your climate changes so should your bag. So here I was in a “dilemma” such as that. I have lived my entire life in New York but here I was moving to Florida and being the sun worshiper that I am couldn’t wait to get there. When I had landed and saw the palm trees and felt the warm breeze on my skin; I just smiled. I was never so excited to be starting fresh in a fresh new city. But a couple of days later I realized that my “classic” Gucci (my favorite designer) bag was not blending in so well with the climate. I was in a warm weather city with a winter city bag, what is a girl to do? Shopping! I took a trip to the beautiful Galleria Mall in Fort Lauderdale and found myself in Neiman Marcus in the Louis Vuitton section (my second favorite designer). I always try to follow what is pulling me toward it, something has to stand out to me, I don’t like to have what everyone else does and I don’t like to have a bag I am going to see on a corner for 10 bucks. But there she was, this perfect size, perfect color, perfect everything – limited edition 2006 Cruise Line Denim collection bag. The cream of the leather, the softness of the canvas, the color which is lighter then brown, darker then tan but goes with everything. What more could you ask for! I was so happy when I left the store that I think I skipped to the car. For those of you who share my passion you will understand fully what that means. I went home unwrapped her and switched from my New York bag to my new Florida bag, the next day at several business meetings and daily errands the compliments came pouring in and even better I didn’t see one other person carrying my bag. (Except for Eve at her Fetish premier in Vogue...) FABULOUS!

But now fast forward 2 years and I would be moving bag to NY and during the winter season yet again. Now I must say I have a highly established collection of bags so did I really need another one? No, but what is Christmas without a new bag. I was really trying to find something that I loved, that I could wear with a lot of things so I wouldn’t have to constantly be changing bags etc. As I stated I always start at Gucci but I didn’t see anything that I “had to have”. For some time I have been looking for a Chloe bag to add to my collection but again didn’t see anything that I had to have (well rather I did, but the $4,000, price tag was not in the budget this year) so then I ended up back on the Louis Vuitton website always a trusted “friend” and the Speedy bag was really calling me. (How did she find my number?) I had added it to my favorites and though I would take a trip to go and feel it out. When I entered Short Hills Mall I saw every other woman young, old, and in between carrying this bag. Now this did let me know that this was the “it” bag for the season but could I change my inner feelings about not wanting to have the “same” as everyone. So I went home did some more searching on the website when I clicked on what I thought was the wrong thing and there she was! The Speedy bag but in the Monogram Mini Lin – LOVE IT. Here is was the perfect color combination, the perfect size, and an affordable price tag (although this would be a gift, thanks Santa) and again to date haven’t seen anyone else with it and compliments galore!

Moral of the story – when keeping with the “trend” that includes your climate. Warm weather – warm tones, Cold weather – darker tones, always be you - be fabulous!