An Attainable Fashion Statement For The Mom On A Budget – Emilie M Handbags #CBias

Raise your hands if you had kids.  There, I see a few hands raised.  Now keep you hand up if you like to shop!  Yay, there are still hands in the air!  Now, here’s where it gets interesting, keep your hand up if you actually shop for yourself (and I’m not talking about products you have to buy).  I bet a lot of hands went down.  Not because you don’t WANT to shop for yourself or LIKE to shop but because you put everyone’s needs ahead of yours.  Yup, you’re a mom but just because you’re a mom doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do something for yourself everyone once in a while.  For me, that means getting a new handbag and I’m loving my new Emilie M handbag.

In my single days, I used to shell out quite a bit of money for a handbag.  For many of my friends, spending $300-400 on a handbag was unheard of and the time I spent $800?  Well, no one could understand that.  There is something about a nice handbag that puts a swing in your step.  Fast forward a few years and now instead of worrying about whether my handbag goes with my outfit, I’m lucky if I remember to grab it when I walk out the door.  Were you one of those who kept their hands raised because you have kids?  Then you know what I mean.  After getting sippy cups, snacks, an extra change of clothes, the baby doll (I’m dealing with a 2-year old) and making sure her shoes match (or that she even has shoes on) I’m usually in a frantic sprint out the door.  I’ve been know to leave the house without my handbag and scrounge for money in my car to make a purchase.

Since my birthday is in just a few days (yikes, I’m going to be 38), I decided to treat myself to a new handbag.  Just because I’m a mom doesn’t mean that I can’t look stylish and fortunately Emilie M makes looking stylish easy and affordable.  Emilie M’s philosophy is “an attainable fashion statement for the mom on the budget.”  That’s definitely me.  With college funds to think about, I’m more practical with my purchases.  All of Emilie M’s bags have a retail range of $50-$80 and they ARE stylish! I had trouble picking just one but knew ultimately whatever I chose, I’d be happy with my decision.  What’s even better?  I can do all my shopping from the convenience of my home.  All I have to do is go to their e-boutique and wallah, shopping at my finger tips.

I chose the Nicole handbag in pewter croco.  Doesn’t pewter croco sound so fashionable?  I’m embarrassed to even tell you what my current handbag looks like.  It is designer but it has definitely seen better days.  Probably about 365 better ones to be honest.  My new fabulous handbag hangs great on my shoulder.  It’s large enough that I can still get all my daughter’s things in it as well as the things I need.  I also like that there are separate pockets to keep things somewhat organized and two zipper compartments.  The inside shell is a cool pattern (I’d love to have a scarf in the same pattern – hint, hint Emilie M).

To go with that new handbag, I decided it was time to spruce up my accessories as well.  I enlisted a few of my girlfriends and we went shopping at our local mall.  We ended up finding a bunch of cute things at a shop called Francesca’s.  This shop has a little bit of everything and I knew I could find something that would go great with my new handbag.

I’m a huge fan of platinum/silver pieces and was hoping to find something that would go with the metal hardware on my purse.  Luckily for me I brought my super shopping friend Dori with me (she really is a shopper – that should be her profession) and she found the perfect piece.  It fits my personality perfectly and looks good with Nicole (yes, I’m calling my handbag by her “given” name).

So even though I usually look like the picture on the left (don’t judge – I really am a Mets fan), every now and then its nice to look like the picture on the right.  :) Ladies, just because we’re moms doesn’t mean we shouldn’t treat ourselves a little bit.  We work hard taking care of our families, managing the house, finances, pets and whatever else crosses our path.  Knowing that Emilie M offers gorgeous and affordable bags means that I’ll be treating myself a little more often.  Happy birthday to me!

Glam up your look with an affordable & stylish #handbag from @EmilieM_Style bit.ly/KSZxeL #CBias #SocialFabric

— East 9th Street (@East9thStreet) June 26, 2012

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study only for Collective Bias™, not Emilie M. #CBias #SocialFabric