The Scarlet Lippy Satchel

My Taiwanese aunt once told me that a little red lipstick made her feel as confident as a queen, and when I saw this cute, buckled satchel, it immediately conjured memories of seeing her wearing this very shade of scarlet. My mother has always preferred more neutral tones, but I seem to have taken a style cue from my aunt, and am personally most fond of a red, red lip. In high school I bought my first tube from the local drugstore, moved on to purchase something called Russian Red from the mall, and have finally settled on a grown-up brand of the stuff that smells like flowers and always comes crisp out of its glamorous-looking package. I wore this last lipstick this year to all sorts of places - to my writer’s residency on a Canadian island, to meetings with literary agents, and even to my interview at ModCloth. Though I can’t entirely attribute my up-and-at-'em confidence to having a crimson lip, there’s something ineffably delightful about the color. When I carry this satchel in my hand or slung over my shoulder, it offers the same pop to my ensembles that a good red lipstick does. With two brassy buckles, a zip pocket at the back, and a trio of pockets inside, as well as a fanciful houndstooth lining, this bag is a perfect companion to a black wool pencil skirt and a white silk blouse - and, of course, a little bit of lippy. - Meggy, Fashion Writer