ByKat Hours Updated
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Coffee Break: Tempête GM Leather Satchel

I've heard that Barneys is filing for bankruptcy, but you wouldn't know it from their online presence — they still have tons of great exclusives and interesting brands, including new-to-me brand Delvaux. Barneys notes that the design is “[i]nspired by the trapeze rigging of The Tempest, a high-performance sailboat designed in the 1960s, this bag is one of the Belgian brand’s most popular silhouettes.” I love that kind of context, even if I don't necessarily understand it without Googling (huh). The pictured one looks like a good size for a large work bag — at 10.0″ x 12.5″ x 4.5″ , you can fit plenty of big stuff inside. The pictured bag is $6600, but you can get a number of others for 2000+ (ack, this vinyl one is a mere $2K and is gorgeous). Happy Thursday! This post contains affiliate links and Corporette® may earn commissions for purchases made through links in this post. For more details see here. Thank you so much for your support!

Sales of note for 12.5

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92 Comments

    3. They kind of remind me of Anya Hindmarch bags, another brand I ogled and did not succumb to.

      I’m happy with my $200 Cuyana, frankly.

    4. Yeah, sadly.

      If you click on the tan version you can really see the gorgeous details.

  2. $2k for a vinyl bag?!? Uh nooooooo thank you. That’s more than I make in a month, for something that’s plastic.

    1. I know. I ONLY get leather, even tho I need to use saddel soap and mink oil to preserve it. Who has $2000 for a piece of plastic? Not me. Dad would disown me if I bought this, even for my MacBook Air! FOOEY, Kat! Even I won’t buy this one!

    2. I was all excited to google an Indian actress I had never heard of, only to realize she most definitely is not Indian. Ha.

  4. I have a very functional and reasonably attractive satchel from Target that was $30 full price. I cannot with a bag, however pretty, that costs $6600. I haven’t $6600 to keep in such a bag. But if bags are your thing, you do you.

    2. I spent weeks dreaming about Kate Spade bags and picking out exactly what I wanted… then got a bag for $15 while I was at Target. Perfectly functional, cute, and not $300. Maybe next time, Kate Spade.

      1. Lol. That is precisely what I did. I was THIS close to springing for a Kate Spade with the justification that I would use it forever, but never pulled the trigger. The Target bags right now are cute and will get me through until I decide what I want from Kate Spade.

        I didn’t grow up in a family or friend circle that valued bags beyond their utility, so spending serious money on a bag as a statement piece is just foreign to me culturally.

    3. I got a bag from Target once too, around that price. It was super cute, until it started to fall apart. Same thing is happening with my current bag from Marshall’s. I want to believe it’s possible for a $30-40 bag to last a long time but I’m starting to realize a high(ish)-end bag in a classic style may be a good purchase when I can justify the expense. From a cost standpoint, I don’t mind spending $30 on a purse or pair of shoes, wear them out over the course of a year or two and then replacing it, but I know it’s not great for the environment.

      2. I would not expect a $40 handbag to last for very long at all. My high-quality handbags make it for about a decade of some pretty heavy wear… and I haven’t seen a cheap handbag that can last even a year.

        1. I have some reusable shopping bags that are going on 10 years old and cost about $1.50, so there’s that. Not the most fashionable, but they do take a beating.

        2. Yes, I disagree with this. Depending on the use, some relatively inexpensive bags (<$100) can last a long time and look very nice even after years of use. I also disagree with the statement that people who get $6600 bags get only one! I have fallen into a hole on this issue — although I have *only* purchased $2000-3000 bags so far, I am planning to buy a vintage Kelly bag later this year for $10,000 and am thinking it might become a yearly thing….

          1. The statement about those people buying only one was sarcasm. But now it’s no fun.

        3. OK, so by this calculation your decade long bag should cost $400 or less to be on par with the $40 bag that lasts a year. Is the $6600 bag going to last 160 years? And you’re just going to keep the one bag your whole life? Just acknowledge that someone is making good money off the “sustainability” message, that’s all I ask.

      3. I havd teo puraes (one black, one tan). The black one was $25 from Old Navy and is 3 years old. The tan one was $20 from Marshall’s and is 5 years old. Both look great.

        Before that I had the perfect purse. It was $15 from Forever21 and lasted 6 years (4 of those years it was what I used when I went I frat parties in college. Approx 4-5 nights a week in frat basements for 4 years plus 2 years in the real world). It was great!

        Sure, some cheap stuff is crappy. A lot isn’t.

  5. Can’t say anything in real life, but I’ve been thrown for a happy loop. I’ve been with my boyfriend 3.5 years, living together for 2. We’ve talked several times about getting married – its something important though not urgent to me. He has expressed a lot of hesitation, citing concerns that to me felt fear based rather than rational, and that left me feeling that long term we may end up breaking up over this as I didn’t really see a way forward. He started going to therapy about six months ago, and last night he told me that he’d like to move forward and get engaged!

  7. Hi guys, for a wedding where the couple has asked only that donations be given to a particular charity – what are the logistics? Would I give them a card and some sort of indicator that a donation has been made?
    Thank you.

    1. Usually, you can make the donation in someone’s name and provide that person’s contact information. Then the charity sends them a letter letting them know a donation was made in their name.

  8. One question I had wasn’t answered on this morning’s thread.

    If your company is making you add pronouns, can you just say “she”? I feel like she implies her and any other female pronoun. Maybe I have had too much Strunk & White, but is that not sufficient? I have seen some listings of three, but can’t think of what the third one is (unless maybe it is possessive?).

    1. she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/their

      Just use she if you want and people will surmise her/hers. Still don’t know why you GAF enough to keep posting about this.

      1. For an introduction, this person said, “My name is [whatever] and my pronouns are ‘him/her/they.'”

        Which really confused me. So I just tried to remember his name, which I clearly did not do a good job of.

    3. I think the reason three pronouns are listed are for the non-binary ones. Yes, they/them is coming to the forefront, but if someone used “ze”, the average person might not that that person also uses “hir” and “hirs”. So “she/her/hers” covers all three bases just like “ze/hir/hirs”.

      1. I know I’m in the minority here, but I’m just not going to bother using special unique pronouns like that. I’ll be respectful and not use other ones, but I’m just going to avoid referring to you in a way that requires such intense verbal linguistics. I simply don’t have time (or interest) in remembering who uses “hir” and who uses “fae” at work and how I’m supposed to use them in standard English sentences.

        1. Really? It’s that hard for you to remember?

          If someone has a name that’s difficult to pronounce, do you just not use it?

          You use ze and hir exactly the same way you would any other personal pronoun. Merriam Webster just officially added the singular “they,” even though it’s already been used for centuries.

          You’re doing yourself a disservice here.

          1. Yes, a lot of the super-special pronouns are hard to remember, but it’s also more high-maintenance than I care to participate in at work. We’re talking about interactions with dozens of colleagues a day here, not a close personal relationship with a dear friend.

          2. I … think it’s fine to stick with the pronouns that exist in the dictionary, especially since “they” can now be singular. These ze/hir whatevers aren’t needed replacements plus they just stand out as being odd, and I don’t think anyone wants to be flagged as weird by this.

        2. I completely understand. Not a popular opinion amongst the super libs here, but I’m sorry I’m not learning a very special new made up word (or words because some people just make up pronouns for themselves) and painstakingly try to remember how to use it correctly just for the five people in my personal world that may use it one day. They is a perfectly acceptable third person option and already used in the singular sense. People wouldn’t be so annoyed if you worked within an actual grammatical structure and existing words.

          1. I’m with you. I plan on completely ignoring this stuff until it goes away. I’d simply ignore any instructions about adding pronouns to email or anything els. And I’m very accepting of people doing just about anything they want as long as they don’t scare the horses.

  9. What’s your favorite streaming exercise class or exercise personality? I already like LesMills (bodypump) but am considering beachbody for PiYo too.

    1. I use Fitness Blender and Fightmaster Yoga but have been considering a paid service like Beachbody.

  10. Unfortunately, I’m in need of a process server in the DC metro. Any recommendations?

    1. I read this as you needed to serve someone while on the Metro. It made me chuckle.

      I have nothing useful, sorry!

  11. My husband and I are leaving for vacation in a week, and the first hotel on our trip is currently having a strike. We’re both in unions and don’t want to cross any picket lines, so we want to just rebook elsewhere, but the room is non-refundable and other hotels in the area are limited (the strike is covering a couple of the larger hotels). Any suggestions? I’m thinking about calling and seeing if I can negotiate a refund, but I’m not feeling super hopeful it will work.

    Also, we’re very annoyed that the hotel didn’t inform us (we found out from the news), and also that it looks like they aren’t even offering a discount despite the presumably reduced service. This is not making the hotel look good…

    2. Good for you joining unions, supporting the strike, etc. But even more so, the strike will F up the business worse if customers make their position clear and ask for refunds!

    3. Definitely ask. If they say yes, great. If they say no, then at least you’ve voiced your dissent. I would push for a refund though, insisting that these are not normal circumstances and that they obviously can’t guarantee that your stay will be up to the usual standard.

  12. I have noticed my vision becoming a little blurry/watery when I look at my computer screen or at my television (not while watching, but while reading the guide listings). My vision is fine when looking at printed papers or books. This usually happens in the mid afternoon/evenings. I do work at a computer off and on for most of the day. I am 34, so not unreasonable that it might be time for reading glasses. I had LASIK five or so years ago, in case that is relevant.

    Because the blurriness only occurs with screens, not print, it makes me think it might be blue light related rather than time for reading glasses generally. Has anyone experienced this and have any suggestions? I thought of ordering some blue light glasses, but am not sure if they’re even effective. Would love any input!

    2. just use f.lux on your computer, thus blue light minimized or removed, problem either solved or at least you can rule this out. Also, we blink less often when staring at screens so try blinking more and drinking more to be able to rehydrate your eyes. That may solve the problem too!

    3. so this exact thing happened to me for about a year… i always assumed it was end of the day fatigue, and that “screens” bothered me. after a while my TV brightness was on like 20 out of 100. FINALLY this spring I went to the eye doctor, and lo and behold, yes, I am near sighted, and screens with small print were making me squint. I have a very low prescription now and only wear them to watch TV/drive/attend graduate classes. Make an eye appointment!

    4. Yep- I had exactly this problem start 2 yrs ago. Turns out I needed reading glasses. I got them optimized for computer use- so set to focus at computer distance and tinted for blue light. No eye strain since.

  13. I’m a larger size (36DDD), and need to get some new sports bras. I suspect the answer is no, but figured I would ask – are there any brands that sell supportive sports bra for larger sizes that are less than $60+?

    1. Brooks (Moving Comfort) Juno is a classic and goes up to your size and larger. It’s $65, but is often on sale or has clearance colors/patterns.

    2. I love the SYROKAN brand on Amazon. Lots of styles, and very supportive. I’m a 32E and there are five or six styles that all works for me.

      1. Same! These are awesome. I normally hate these type of sports bras (even though they’re a necessary evil) because they’re so constricting. I don’t feel that way about the SYROKAN ones at all.

    5. Stalk sales for the Panache Ultimate High-Impact Underwire Sportsbra. You can get them sub-$60 and they changed my workout life.

  14. Single for almost 3 yrs, had a few bad first dates. Met someone on Bumble, gave him my number (very rare for me, both to connect and to give my number), said I’d be open to a call if he wanted to talk rather than message. He texted to ask if now was a good time. We’ve since had a couple of calls, which seemed easy. We’ve texted and flirted as well. I’m wanting him to ask me out so we can meet and see if this is something (or so I don’t get attached if there’s no chemistry) but I already initiated when giving my number and sometimes via text communication, so it feels like I should wait, right?

    (Also, as much as I thought I wanted a deep intellectual, this guy seems like a Cole from Teen Mom 2; adorable, hard working, not super formally educated, maybe not a philosophical thinking type. I’m beginning to think maybe that idea is less important than someone stable and kind…)

    1. Unfortunately if he hasn’t asked you out after several texts and calls, he probably never will. This is SO common with guys on dating apps. They string women along without initiating a date so they have plenty of backup options. So either ask him out, or move on.

    2. It may feel better if you go ahead and ask to get to together, even if you’d prefer he initiate. Alternately, you set a deadline of a few more days or a week (some period of time that works for you) and if he hasn’t initiated a real life meet up, either you can or you can mention that to him “hey, I want to meet you in person. I’m enjoying this phone relationship but I’d like to meet” (or something similar. I’m not smooth or cool about these things). That gives him a chance to respond with plans for a meetup or not. His response will give you info you need as to what to do next.
      I too used to think that equally matched educations was an imperative, but am definitely having to reconsider as the man I’m dating does not offer that. And it’s actually OK and a very good compliment to me.

    3. I mean look, if you want to grab a drink with the guy then ask him.

      Re your concerns about “initiating” too much – ymmv but if it’s going well with someone, I don’t notice who texts first. Sometimes it’s me, sometimes it’s him, maybe it’s not exactly 50/50 but I don’t feel the need to keep score. If I’m always the one texting first – and if I don’t text him then I might not hear from him for days – then I feel like he’s not that into me (and fwiw, if a guy tells me I’m not texting him enough, it’s probably a sign I’m not that into him). Maybe he’s “not good at texting” or whatever but sorry no I don’t have time for it. If you’re not feeling mutual interest from pretty early on, then that’s a hard pass.

    5. I don’t think texting is really “initiating.” I would definitely ask him out.

  15. My midsize firm just emailed a ridiculous slideshow to the entire office with “do” and “don’t” examples for appropriate workwear. The slideshow is from 2006, so you can just imagine . . .

    1. My old agency did that last year! The slides were horribly out of date!

      Rumor has it that it was sent out because one division had people in Hawaiian shirts. Meanwhile, my division was a mix of suits or pencil skirts and heels, depending on the day.

      I wish I still had the guidance bc it was pretty funny. My boss took umbrage because apparently colors were not appropriate. She went on a tear of wearing her most colorful (extremely work appropriate) outfits

    2. It’s been a couple years here, but there was an HR email-all announcement that leggings were against dress code. They aren’t; the executive director wore them almost every day. She awesomely responded with very detailed, illustrated, and properly cited response about how leggings fit into professional women’s attire (tldr: literally cya).
      Since then they only enforce the actual written dress code: no holes in clothing and no flip-flops. It’s great.

    3. Ah, dress codes. Especially in summer. At this point in my court I’m just pathetically grateful to see a collared shirt, long pants, and no belly skin on the unrepresented litigants.

    4. Lol. I wish you could share it. When I run my firm (ha!), the dress code section of the handbook will be, in its entirety, “Dress like an adult. Thank you.”

  16. Non justemental, just honestly curious.

    How much do the people who spend 6k on purses make?

    I do probably 90% of my shopping at TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, Target, Old Navy, factory outlets and thrift stores (salary is ~50k, local government employee), so this is quite foreign to me!

    1. This is probably sheer bias, but I’ve always assumed those with such an extreme level of spending must have grown up incredibly wealthy. In other words, it may be passive wealth, not wages.

      1. I don’t know, when I was a Big Law associate I bought myself a $1000 bag (after several years of work and paying off all my loans). If I’d stayed and made partner could see myself buying a bag in the $6k price range for a milestone birthday or professional accomplishment like making partner. It certainly wouldn’t have been an annual purchase for me, even if I had an income north of $500k, but I could see doing it once in a while at that level of income. Now I’m in-house and just to go Target because I have kids and none of my stuff stays nice so even $200 bags seem like a waste of money :P

        1. Yeah, it could be a culture thing as well. In my Biglaw office, all the first year female attorneys bought $2k~$4k designer handbags (Gucci, Fendi, Chanel, Hermes and the like) with their first paycheck. My mom asked me to buy her a $3k bag (common to buy gift for parents with first paycheck in the Asian country where I live) and made me get a $2k bag to “fit in”.

          To be fair, most people don’t have student loans (or if they do it’s well south of $100k), but not all of them came from a wealthy background and still buy these items 2-3 times a year

    2. I imagine people at that level don’t so much make money like the rest of us as swim in amber waves of 18k gold while diamonds rain down upon them (and their bag sits on a lounge beside the pool with a Hermes scarf tied around the handle I guess). Perfume-commercial territory.

    3. Simple. They’re rich. Only someone rich or with terrible budget management would buy a $6600 purse. I mean if you have the money and it’s a drop in the bucket for you, why not, no shame if you’ve got it like that.
      I know a lot of people here don’t like the word rich but make stupid high incomes with high net worth (I guess wealthy or “comfortable” as they like to say is more palatable to the ears). But yeah, if you have a $2M net worth and a $400k or more yearly income, you are objectively rich my average societal standards (depending on where you live). Just own it. No one cares about your purse, but they care about you being purposefully obtuse about your position in life.

      1. At $400k a year, you have nicer versions of the things people have when they earn a third or a quarter of that, but their lives aren’t different. They budget, work for their money, fear job loss, grit their teeth through bad bosses, and worry about being wiped out by old age expenses.

        1. I think most of that can be true (don’t agree lives aren’t different) while one is still objectively rich by average social standards. My husband and I call it being “working rich.”

        2. Their lives are VERY different. I don’t know anyone who makes $400k and doesn’t outsource most household chores (and I don’t mean a biweekly cleaning service, I”m talking daily housekeepers, personal assistants and personal chefs), have (multiple) nannies instead of driving their kids to daycare and activities themselves, travel all over the world without giving a second thought to the costs, and have far nicer and more spacious housing than most people in their area do (maybe not a beautiful single family home in the Bay Area, but certainly a lot more house than a family making $150k in the Bay Area could afford). They may not feel completely recession-proof but their day-to-day lives absolutely look very different. And not *just* because of the money. The jobs that pay $400k are mostly incredibly demanding and don’t live a lot of time for leisure unless you outsource everything you can. The money and the hours you have to work to earn the money change your life a lot.

          1. Raises hand. Live in close-in suburb of DC, HHI of $450K, two kids in daycare. We have cleaners every other week and a lawn service. Nothing else is outsourced. I drop my kids off at daycare every morning and my husband picks them up every evening. We take public transportation. We live in a perfectly fine but smaller, older house in a good neighborhood.

            Don’t get me wrong, we know that we are very fortunate and I would never suggest that we aren’t wealthy. We have choices and savings and security, which is what money buys. But we also had no family support after age 17, hefty student loans, family financial obligations in adulthood, 2 young kids and a mortgage in an expensive area, goals for retirement, etc. So no, we do not have a personal chef or a driver or a daily housekeeper. Not even close.

          2. My parents made between $300k and $700k, and the most they ever had was a day nanny and a biweekly house cleaner.

            They made me shovel the driveway, mow the lawn, and walk home from school. I worked summers.

            You just know people who conspicuously consume, and I bet you don’t know or do not see “the millionaires next door.”

    4. Same. I adore my Target purse purchased from the thrift store (with a $10 bill found in the pocket of said purse).

    5. The one person I know who has multiple $5000+ bags is a doctor married to a doctor. So HHI seven figures plus?

      1. Maybe your doctor friends are rich even by doctor standards but the average doctor doesn’t earn anywhere near $500k.

    6. I don’t buy 6k bags (but I would probably spend 10k+ on a Hermes bag at some point in the future…) but I do semi regularly spend 2k – 4k on bags (Gucci, Prada, etc). I’m magic circle and this is quite common in my circle, at least at work. The same would be spent on boots, coats, etc. I don’t have kids and neither do most of the female associates / partners who are spending on this sort of thing.

      1. I see a lot of designer bags in Silicon Valley as well. Quiet wealth signaling when everyone is dressed casually. I travel a lot, though, so don’t bother with anything that isn’t indestructible.

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