National Handbag Day!
- Liz Flaherty
- 8 hours ago
- 5 min read
 by Wendy Kendall
Celebrate with Mystery Author, Wendy Kendall
What are you carrying on National Handbag Day? Â This year it's Friday, October 10th.
I celebrate every year just for the fun. You see, my passion for purses, mystery and romance led to writing my books - the intriguing In Purse-Suit Mysteries published by The Wild Rose Press and Harlequin. Kat Out of the Bag introduces Katherine Watson purse designer/sleuth. As Katherine moves from designer bags to body bags, she's uncovering clues to a murder.
Of course, Katherine celebrates National Handbag Day. With a designer’s attention to details, and a couturier’s eye for what’s out of place, it’s amazing the clues Katherine finds and analyzes. In her first mystery Kat Out of the Bag, Bayside’s town mayor is found murdered at Katherine’s gala premiere, so of course she’s compelled to investigate. Tailed by her adopted stray cat, Purrada, Katherine matches wits with local cop Jason Holmes and his K-9 partner, Hobbs. There’s an undeniable attraction building between Katherine and Jason, but those feelings are put on hold to focus on solving the murder before Katherine becomes the killer’s next knock off.
Five years later, this December my sixth book will publish, and Katherine will be very busy
again solving a mystery. Watch for my new release – Don’t Shoot The Messenger Bag. It’s the perfect accessory to murder.
Of course, while investigating Katherine always receives unsolicited advice from her meditative mother who renamed herself Moonjava. Her lifestyle is inspired by the 1960’s hippies. There’s also her grandmother Pam with her eclectic friends known as the Ladies of the Round Table, where they meet for dinners and coffees and conversation. There are also insights from the younger generation, led by Amber the college student who works in Katherine’s Purse Museum Gift Shop.
You see, Katherine designs purses via Rodeo Drive, and she also opened a Purse Museum that tells women’s history through the purses they carried. There are only two Purse Museums in the world, besides Katherine’s. One is in Little Rock, Arkansas and is named Esse Purse Museum. As the mystery author I spent a wonderful time researching there and meeting the inspiring woman behind Esse’s creation.
Some people say the purse you carry says something about your Purse-onality. Or, something about your mood? What do you think?
Designer bag - Stick to well known designer labels and prepared to spend all disposable income on bags. If possible, you'd collect all models of bags by your favorite designer. Don't care much about color, style, materials, or size. You're a champagne drinker, whenever corks are popping.
Clutch - Minimalist and a little fancy. You like simple and clean things but don't have so much on your plate that you need to be hands free. Holding a clutch makes you feel empowered and like you could be going on a hot date any minute. You're glamorously girly and love to wear flirty dresses, skirts and high heels. You like to finger the stem of your wine glass, as you chat with your friends, or your date.
Novelty bag - Love collecting unusual and strange shapes like maybe a train, animal, house, fruit, etc. Don't want to be boring or "normal". Also look for bags covered in patterns, comic book characters, or other fanciful design. You like pretty drinks like Tequila Sunrise, Malibu Sunset, or Cake by the Ocean.
Impulse bag - Buy because you fell in love with the bag at first sight and have to have it. Don't care what it will go with or if its practical size, or what it will be used for. Can't live without it because so in love. Live life with your emotions on your sleeve, the sleeve on the arm with the bag. You also love passionate drinks like Sangria.
Hobo - Chill girl likes to go with the flow and needs an equally carefree bag to match your free spirit lifestyle. Friends would describe as boho chic. Inclined to live in a year round warm climate and only use umbrellas as decorations in your icy drinks.
Logo - Usually you have just one bag, or few bags, but you like to look fashionable, so you want a prominent designer logo on show. You probably bought it quite a while ago, probably in a sale, but you don't care if it's a design from an old collection or even if it's getting worn as long as the logo is still in good shape. You don't want to spend an exorbitant amount, so you'll carry the old one until the next sale of logos. You like drinking Baileys and other name brand alcohol
Tote - You're prepared for anything, which is why you need a bag large enough to carry all your stuff. You're the one who always has aspirin, bandages, hair ties, and so on, and enough for everyone. You tend to be a planner and don't like to get stuck without something you might need. You like to drink tequila shots.
Oversized Tote - Busy career woman who's always on the go, so the need for the huge tote to lug around all your essentials from laptop to makeup bag and sometimes change of clothes. Ready to take on the world and always comes prepared, but you often forget to stop and smell the roses. Remember to relax, it's good for your health. You drink wine, especially Pinot Grigio
Backpack - Super active and love to travel. You're always on the move so you need a big enough bag to hold a lot of stuff and have double-strapped shoulder support. Like the tote gal, you're usually prepared for most situations, but you like more comfort. You're a beer and hard cider drinker
Arm Carry Bag - You're independent and fashionable. The arm carry bag fits in the crook of your arm, which pulls out a slightly sassy attitude, but it's because you're confident. You're up to date on the latest trends and like to be sophisticated. You drink daiquiris, martinis, sidecars, and moscow mules.
Shoulder Bag - Loved by downtown gals with cash, and by models. Usually worn with scarves. Drink Makers Mark bourbon and soda.
Satchel – A more serious bag, you take your job seriously too. Definitely not a high maintenance gal, you do appreciate the finer things in life, and you have a classic sense of style that you convey through your impeccable power-woman wardrobe. You like to drink Mojitos, gin and tonic, white russian, Jack on the rocks.
Crossbody - Less is more type of gal. Appreciate the simple things in life and skip the 24/7 glam makeup thing. Just need wallet and phone to be ready for anything. You like adventurous, and well-crafted drinks like Bacon Cherry Creek, peach margaritas, jello shots
60% of women own more than 10 bags and 3% of women have at least 25 bags.
Enjoy celebrating National Handbag Day. What are you planning to carry? Please tell us in the comments!
As you carry today think back on the old styles and what they say about the incredible history of women through the decades.
You can fit my books in most purses for an on-the-go mystery read. To find out more about me and the In Purse-Suit Mysteries –
Website – WendyWritesBooks.com
Facebook – WendyKendallMysteries
Twitter - @wendywrites1
Instagram - wendyekendall
