1.
2.
I found this cutie at the Goodwill near Swarthmore 
College for $4. It is synthetic leather, with a snap 
            to close and cream stitching along the 
                seams. At first glance it was love; 
                  turquoise is one of my colors of 
                    the year, and it just looks like a 
                      happy purse. The straps aren’t 
                        long enough to hook over my 
                           shoulder, so I do have to carry
                                  it in the crook of my 
                                     elbow like an early 
                                     2000s high school 
                                     mean girl, but it’s 
                                     proved very useful for 
                                    brunches and nights out.
Norah and I found this purse 
in an overrun, cash-only, 
smoke-filled second-hand 
shop in Cape Cod. Norah 
managed to haggle the 
leather bag to $15 for 
me (pretty good for a 
first-timer). It fits 
comfortably over my 
shoulder and has a 
zillion pockets, which
makes it perfect for 
running errands or 
long outings. I like 
to think the red interior and 
matching stitching (and the fact 
that it still smells vaguely of 
smoke) make me seem pretty 
cool.
3.
The
Classic 
Red Purse 4.
Little 
Blue 
Purse
My 
Mom’s 
   Purse 
The geometric flowers give 
this purse a late 2000s
 look—probably because it’s
  from the late 
   2000s—and I like to
      pair it with an 
           understated outfit
             to spotlight it. 
            My mom used to 
                use this bag 
               all the time when
                I was younger, 
            which means not 
            only is it super 
girly and fun, it also 
reminds me of her. (But 
don’t tell her, she doesn’t 
know it’s missing). 
Purses!
Purses
Purses
By Squire Annelee Cole
Artwork by Norah Nijbroek
5.
Wrong 
Initial
Purse
is some leather/pleather situation, but the side pockets, 
rope straps and brown “buckles” give it just the right 
90s into 2000s feel. This purse is deceptively large, and 
can fit my computer, wallet, keys, overstuffed “emergen­
cy” pouch, and a book. A purse this size is perfect for 
doing homework on the fly and looking cute while doing 
it! I went a more maximalist route when accessorizing, 
and attatched keychains and pins from meaningful mo­
ments.
I’d been 
looking for a 
red purse for 
a while when 
I found this 
one for $8 at 
a thrift store 
in Alexandria, 
VA. Like most, it 
The Purse 
I Never 
Wear
I imagine wearing this with some chic black 
dress to some chic event with my hair in a 
chic updo, but I’m a college student and the 
fanciest event I went to this year was a Love 
Island themed party. One day… 
2

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