Stylish Selma

Blogging is proving to be a serious obstacle to any conscientious attempt at resisting material indulgences. The latest proof: this navy Michael Kors Large Selma Top-Zip Satchel that I spotted on The Mod Mermaid several weeks ago. It was instant obsession. Suddenly, I felt like I had been living under a rock all this time, oblivious to the beauty of this bag. I had vague recollections of seeing it before, possibly in other variations (colours, detailing, sizes), but I'd never paid much attention, dismissing Michael Kors bags as "not my style". I normally have a strong preference for slouchy leather (my last major bag splurge was the Mulberry Alexa), but recently I've found myself warming to more structured pieces. Blame it on the popularity of the Céline Luggage and Prada Saffiano Totes, but I wanted a piece of the action.

The main aspect that sealed the deal for me was the relatively affordable price tag. By no means is this a cheap purchase, but compared with luxury brands like Céline or Prada, the Selma is within reach. It's part of the more affordable diffusion line MICHAEL Michael Kors and retails for $459 in Australia ($358 in the US). I actually made a hasty visit to the Michael Kors store at Westfield Sydney but they only had the brown, black and a bright blue. I was fixated on the navy as the only option I'd consider, so I had to resort to purchasing it online. Shopbop didn't have the navy, Bloomingdale's never sent me my 10% off code after I'd signed up to their mailing list, so it was Nordstrom all the way. I did have to pay over $40 for international shipping, but in the end it worked out roughly the same price as the Australian retail after factoring in shipping costs and US currency conversion.

I'm genuinely so pleased with the Selma, and despite the unexpected splurge, I think it's one of my more savvy bag purchases. It's a beautifully made bag that looks more expensive than it is. A lot of people have commented or complimented me on it the first few times I've worn it out. The leather and gold hardware are refined and understated, and the bag appears more luxurious and higher quality than its price might suggest. My pet peeve with expensive bags is gold hardware/detailing that looks gaudy, overly shiny or "fake", but thankfully the Selma has no such problem. The stiff, structured leather also seems like it would wear well over time and not become a crumpled mess when stored away like some of my slouchy bags (though I'm partly to blame for not stuffing them). It's not the roomiest of bags and I find the base is fairly narrow (at least compared with the bottomless caverns I'm used to), but it fits all my daily essentials. The additional strap gives it extra versatility and functionality, as the bag can be carried over the shoulder, cross body, in the crook of the arm or by the handles.

With its structured look and clean, elegant design, I think it's an ideal office/work bag, or an accessory that makes any outfit more sophisticated and polished. I see this being a timeless, classic piece that I can keep in my wardrobe for years to come — provided I keep it in fairly good condition!