Today is all about my flowers. My one-of-a-kind Peter Som x CFDA tote bag arrived earlier in the week and I thought I’d take it out for a spin today.

“It’s me, basically.”

The idea of showing the contents of your purse to spectators online is nothing new. It’s been done since the early days of the internet through discussion forums, blogs, websites, flickr groups and what have you. I used to run a little blog many years ago when I had spare time but I gradually lost interest. Anyway, there’s something very hypnotic and addictive watching these girls on YouTube share the contents of their bags. Some of them get hundreds and hundreds of thousands of views, if not MILLIONS of views. After a few videos, they all look the same, talk the same and sound the same. I just want to pull my hair, slap both sides of my face really hard and slam my head against the wall.

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CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg’s invasion of my subconscious started a couple of days ago when I saw her ostrich-embossed leather tote on the pages of the Bergdorf Goodman pre-fall catalog.

It’s beautiful, isn’t it? The colour, a deep shade of blackberry, is so rich. At $495, the price point isn’t bad either. Very reasonable as a matter of fact. The one thing that stops me from buying it are the ends of the handles (with two screws on each side) that are very prominent on the bag. They instantly gave a utilitarian feel to what looks like a luxe classic.

How can I not be obsessed when it keeps on popping up everywhere I go? While doing a round of online stores yesterday, I saw Diane’s tote at Shopbop where they have it in two colours, blackberry and saffron. Net-a-Porter is also carrying the bag only in saffron.

It’s strange that I’m suddenly curious with this piece because I’m not one of them tote or clutch bag people. I like to keep my hands-free. If memory serves me right, the only time I used a tote was a couple of weeks ago when I was running late for the airport. I had very little time to properly pack my hand luggage so I dumped my sundries and what have you in one big canvas bag. Other than that, totes are, for the most part, a Chernobylesque no-go zone for me. Why do you think I’ve never tasted a slice of this so-called manbag trend over the years? Because 99% of these manbags are tote bags! I’m no fool – no amount of publicity spinning or word-changing can masculinify (is that even a word) what essentially is a frigging tote bag!

I’m not really in the mood nor do I have the desire to buy a new bag as of late because my very reliable black Mark Cross bag has been fulfilling its purpose. Diane von Furstenberg’s Addison tote is gorgeous though but I’m gonna hold out on this one. For now.

Click HERE to buy the bag from Shopbop.

I love the size and the shape of Daphne and Ingrid’s iconic D bag by Tod’s.

Princess Diana loved (and used) the bag so much that Tod’s renamed the bag in her honor.

I’ve been obsessed with Tod’s as of late. Remember the blue suede Gommini loafers I bought in January? Well, I bought another pair of suede loafers (they really make comfiest shoes on Earth), this time in olive green, when I went to Milan for the menswear shows last month. Can’t wait to use it.

I know I touched the subject of canvas tote bags (oh no, not again) in my previous post but here’s something worth checking out.

To raise awareness against counterfeit goods and to celebrate original design within the fashion industry, the world’s biggest auction site, eBay and the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) produced one-of-a-kind tote bags customized by fifty CFDA designers.

Here’s the full list of fashion designers and brands participating: Adam, Anna Sui, Badgley Mischka, Band of Outsiders, Betsey Johnson, Billy Reid, Botkier, Brian Atwood, Calvin Klein Collection, Catherine Malandrino, Chaiken, Coach, Cynthia Rowley, Cynthia Steffe, Diane von Furstenberg, DKNY, Donna Karan, Foley + Corinna, Helmut Lang, Jason Wu, Jill Stuart, Judith Leiber, Kenneth Cole, Libertine, Lilly Pulitzer, Loeffler Randall, Marchesa, Milly, Naeem Khan, Nanette Lepore, Narciso Rodriguez, Nicole Miller, Peter Som, Phillip Lim, Rachel Roy, Rebecca Minkoff, Rebecca Taylor, Reed Krakoff, Rodarte, Stuart Weitzman, Tahari, Theory, The Row, Tommy Hilfiger, Tory Burch, Tracy Reese, Vena Cava, Vivienne Tam, Yigal Azrouel, Zero + Maria Cornejo

Someone bought the one designed by Reed Krakoff so I bought the bag made by my beloved Peter Som.

Click HERE to browse the eBay + CFDA auction before it’s too late.

It’s not every day I blog about things I saw from Twitter but when Janet of Graey NY sent me a link to her flask-inspired purse video, I must say I was enamored. See for yourself.

Cool purse aside, I thought it was a well-made video. After Janet introducing herself and her company briefly, she provided details about the flask purse such as what it can fit, what it’s made of and why you should buy it. Best of all, it was capped at exactly sixty seconds. I love this direct but personal and intimate approach that doesn’t sound forced or overt.

Visit http://www.graeyny.com/shop to learn more.

When it comes to road rules, in India, there are no rules. As our driver said, you need three things: a good horn, a good break and lastly, the most important of all, good luck. During the road trip from New Delhi to Agra, I saw four accidents over the span of five hours. Traffic lights are very rare here. Also, everyone honks like mad. They use their horns to communicate to one another. Even trucks have signs “Blow Horn Please” painted on the back. I’ve been using the ear plugs I got from the plane whenever I’m inside the car and let me tell you, they’re a godsend!

Three necklaces (one used as a headband) from New Delhi, sunglasses from Miu Miu, black top from Uniqlo, belt from Kenzo, trousers from a market in Jaipur, bracelets from Hermes and Morocco, shoes from Morocco, bag from Mark Cross

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I don’t obsess about handbags like I used to (I tend to love shoes and clothes these days) but I must say I love the mini Miss Wu (by Jason Wu) bag for Pre-Fall 2011. They come in various shades and leathers but how can I resist the eye-popping colours of these python bags? Very nice. From what I’ve seen, the bag is very small — just enough space to carry the most basic essentials: phone, lip gloss, cigarettes and a lighter. It’s perfect for people like me. I’m on a mission to de-clutter and simplify my life. More on that later.

Photo credit: TheWStudio

And the backpack obsession continues. I fell in love with this Alexander Wang leather and canvas backpack the first time I saw it when Rumi and I went to the Opening Ceremony store in LA. We both weren’t in shopping mode at that time so I held off for a few days before buying it on Shopbop. It’s been years, no decades, since I last used a backpack heavily. It feels so good and liberating to be able to walk around the city streets with free hands and free arms, no wonder this bag is now my day-to-day bag. Cue ‘rolling with my homies’…

Click HERE to buy or for more information. Turns out the Alexander Wang backpack is now on sale! Shopbop ships anywhere in the world for free, just a FYI.

Kenzo had a sample sale in Paris last week and I got quite a number of amazing things. This floral canvas bucket bag is very very cute. I love the jolt of colorful flowers against the hard, gladiatoresque leather details.

Sunglasses from Miu Miu, t-shirt from APC, necklace and bag from Kenzo, jeans from Rag & Bone, shoes from Jil Sander