What arrived at my doorstep last night was a sackful of goodies. It certainly felt like I had just ransacked a trove, ending up with treasure in the form of bags. This is the reason why I love surprises.

It’s been a while since I shopped online. I guess I’ve been having too much fun hitting the malls and such for this sort of activity the past few months to even consider it. However, I just couldn’t resist the urge to get one of them Trove Bags that I recently featured.

Nestled in the black sack is the structured handbag that I had purchased, a Varna in Black (I hear they’re coming out with a White version set to be released this week). I had opted for it for its ultra-mod and, at the same time, a bit of a retro-feel bag design. I love the zippers (all four of them!) and the rivet details down the front. And I enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of the bag, finding pockets (zipped or not) and tiny compartments in and outside the bag. I can see myself using Varna a lot from now on. I love, love, love it!

What I hadn’t expected was an “extra” bag. It’s the Sassanian II in Red. Andrea and Elaine said it’s a their way of saying thanks. OMG. I had planned on getting this very bag had Varna not weighed more when I was making the decision. Now, I ended up with both! I thank my lucky stars! LOL. No, thank YOU Andrea and Elaine! I love this precious, precious gift!

The Sassanian II is a handbag that doubles as a clutch, a big clutch, mind you. I, now, have 2 big clutches. Hahaha! Good thing this one adds variety since it’s a little more casual than the one from Miss Co plus it’s in a different colour. I happen to think this handbag is perfect for all you working women esp if you’re a bit of an OC when it comes to keeping your documents crease-free.

Varna, Php 1,395.00 (plus shipping)
Sassanian II, Php 1,095.00 (plus shipping)

Anyway, if you folks are looking into getting yourself a new bag, I’d recommend checking out Trove Bags. Apart from patronising one of our own (materials are imported but bags are all manufactured locally), the sellers are easy to talk to and you can guarantee a prompt response to emails, PMs, or text messages. If you end up buying one, do let me know! I’d love to see what Trove bag you ended up getting.

Photo © 2009 Sasha Manuel