Of Rouge, Receipts, and Michael Kors: A Handbag Story 

I had my worst-ever rummaging experience in the early 2000s, when I was a teenager. My mother had this handbag she carried to work every day, a small, square, and perpetually overstuffed black bag that I wasn’t supposed to touch. 

But the temptation was too great. Somewhere inside, I knew, was her rouge.

Getting to it, however, was an ordeal. The bag was like a magician’s hat. Everything came out of it except what you were looking for. First came a green silk scarf, then her very masculine wallet, followed by a packet of wet wipes, a comb that was missing a few of its teeth, her office photo ID, a few receipts folded neatly into cryptic rectangles, and a half-empty water bottle. And always a black pen and a pocket-sized notebook.

By the time I reached the bottom of the bag, I was surrounded by her entire daily inventory, and still, somehow, no rouge. Though it would eventually appear—that small circular compact, slightly cracked, smelling faintly of talcum powder and something floral. It was the greatest joy, akin to what  I imagine archaeologists experience when uncovering relics.

What has stayed with me as an adult, more than the rouge, is the bag itself: how much a good quality bag can hold and what it represents. That ordinary black handbag, stretched beyond its limits, seemed to contain a big part of her daily routine—her work, her care, her small preparedness for everything the day might throw at her.

The same way mine has slowly begun to fill up — keys, phone, receipts, cables, lip balm, ambition. But unlike her bag, mine doesn’t have to hide its chaos. 

These days, I reach for the Hamilton Moderne Small Signature Logo Satchel, a Michael Kors bag that feels like an inheritance of that lesson. It is “a perfect classic (that) never goes out of style,” as Michael Kors once said. 

A timeless but modern, structured yet soft, carryall bag, Hamilton fits everything from my tablet to my nostalgia. Its smooth belted trim that’s finished with a polished padlock pendant makes me think of how my mother always added a small touch of ornament even to her workdays. While thanks to its extra-long shoulder straps, I can carry on with my on-the-go lifestyle carefree.

On days when I want a sleeker, more minimal look, I switch to the Nolita Medium Nubuck Shoulder Bag, compact and quietly confident. Its adjustable strap turns it effortlessly from shoulder to crossbody. Complete with gilded hardware and a bubble charm for added character, this top-zip bag opens to an array of pockets sized to safely hold a day’s worth of essentials and more.

It is true what they say about bags. They’re keepers of our daily lives, our routines, our versions of preparedness. And if, like me, you’ve grown to appreciate a well-made bag that works as hard as you do, it’s worth investing in pieces that do more than carry your belongings. They’re companions for the day’s tasks, holders of small rituals, and reminders that elegance and luxury can coexist with utility.

Certainly, Michael Kors bags, along with their structure and fabulous design, carry the confidence we hope to bring into every day. In the end, a great bag does more than hold your things — it holds a part of your story.