Never Thought I Would Go Kate Spade, But I Did! (Kate Spade Cedar Street Elissa Review)

Goooood day, Friends!

You might know from previous post that May is my birthday month. I wrote about my birthday weekend here, and how many surprises I got during my birthday week here. Now, I will tell you the last birthday present that came my way, almost at the end of May, from my dear husband. 

So on Saturday morning, a package with USPS stamp on it came. I, of course, am familiar with USPS, since I lived in the US for several years for college and work afterward. But never a USPS package got me so giddy and excited as this one, because I knew what was inside. My birthday present from Hubby that he specifically ordered from a friend of his who moved to New York, since the company that sells this thing doesn't ship to Indonesia. What is that? Kate Spade, that is, Friends. Hear that, Kate Spade? You should ship to Indonesia!

Here it is! Kate Spade's Cedar Street Elissa in red geranium! 

You can find it here if you are interested to own one!

Kate Spade Cedar Street Elissa (find it here)

Now, I never ever thought that I would buy any Kate Spade bag. I think they are cute and fun, with all those funky, cheerful colors and girlie girl designs. Still, I'm not a fan of spending big money on expensive bag that I cannot carry for a loooooooong time. Yes, a couple of hundreds dollar for a bag, for me, is a lot. If I'm going to spend money on a purse, real leather is needed to warrant such an extravagance. Saffiano, cowhide, suede, whatever, as long as it's real, genuine leather that will last year after year after year. I have bad experience with PU aka syntetic leather, they start ripping and peeling after only a year's usage. I expect more-expensive-than-usual-Target-bags will last longer, like my Mom's Aigner that just looks better with age after more than twenty years! And from what I had seen in the store, most of Kate Spade bags are not made of leather. They come in either canvas, nylon, PU, vynil or fabric. They are trendy and fun, they weren't made to be classic. And this girl loves classic!

However, I changed my mind after I saw this picture of Kileen, from Cute & Little, carrying a gooooorgeous reddish Kate Spade beauty some time ago. It was a structured shaped bag which I love, and prefer to floppy or hobo bags. What really made the tote extraordinary is definitely the unique color! Frankly it's not the color that I normally would be attracted to, but somehow I fell in love with this one. It's not red, it's not pink, it's not orange, it's not really neon either, it's like combination of all. Kate Spade's website called it red geranium, and I think it's a very suitable description. I looked it up online, and it said the tote is made of leather. Perfect! That nailed it. That really gave me an excuse, sort of a valid reason to justify this purchase!

It's very rarely that I covet something that I only see on the internet so bad. It's 

very rare that I would covet something, period. So, Hubby jumped in and offered to buy it for my birthday. Still, I hesitated. Then one day, we went to the mall and saw the real , Cedar Street Elissa, with all it's red geranium glory. I decided on the spot that it's worth the investment. Unfortunately, the store only carry it in medium size, and I always, always go for the large size. AND Kate Spade doesn't ship to Indonesia. So, how am I going to get one for my birthday? My Mom can carry it for me during her annual US trip, but that would be in September and my birthday is in May. What's a girl to do?

The answer is, she doesn't have to do anything. Hubby made contact with a friend who moved to New York and asked her to buy me one and ship it all the way to Indonesia. And here it is, a little bit late, but still in the month of May.

The bag is a nice size for my need. I love large purses that can carry all of my daily essentials. I also love the fact that the design is simple enough for work, classic enough to last for many years, but the fun, edgy, funky, cheerful, happy, unusual color is what made the purse really pop. You can dress it up for work, or to go to a cocktail party, you can dress it down with jeans and a T-shirt. I found it very versatile. 

My only dislike about this bag is, it doesn't have zipper on top of the main compartment. In Indonesia, it's a must to have your bag fully closed so pickpocket cannot reach inside and take your wallet or cell phone too easily! It's also one thing that I dislike about Prada Saffiano!

Another dislike, thr brand Kate Spade New York is debossed on the leather. I mean, they used hardware thing for the logo, why can't they do the same thing for the brand to make it look more elegant and classy? It's not a thirty dollar purse, they can add something extra, can't they? AND, in terms of quality, I think Michael Kors' is better, the leather is thicker and sturdier than Kate Spade's. Michael Kors feels heavier, too.

 

Despite my two dislikes, I really love this purse and cannot wait to create an ensemble adorned with it! Thank you, Hubby, for such a thoughtful gift!

I'm linking up to these wonderful Ladies:

Monday

• Taming Rapunzel: Hair Style Monday
• DC in Style: Monday Bloom
• Not Dead Yet Style: Visible Monday
• Mom's The Word: Make Your Home Sing Monday
• Happy Wives Club: Marriage Mondays
• The Better Mom: The Better Mom Mondays
• What Joy Is Mine: Monday Musings
• Color Blind: Thrifer Anonymous
• The Modest Mom
• Create With Joy: Inspire Me Monday
• The Beauty in His Grip: Sharing His Beauty Mondays
• A Pinch Of Joy: Busy Monday
• Tell Me A Story
• Still Being Molly: YOLO Monday
• Very Busy Mama: Real Mom Style
• Momma In Flip Flops: Real Mom Style
• Thrifty Chic Mom: Real Mom Style
• I Am Priiincess: Monday Madness
• Basic Training – Corporate Style: Fashionably Employed Link Up
• Glamamom: Mode Monday
• Bon Bon Rose Girls: Monday Mingle
• Mom Trend: Monday Mingle
• More Pieces of Me: Manic Monday
• On the Daily Express: Manic Monday
• Whitney Nic James: Personal Style Monday
• Fizz And Frosting: Mix It Monday
• The Style Record: Monday Must Haves
• A Proverbs 31 Wife: Matrimonial Monday Linkup
• I Should Be Mopping The Floor: Inspiration Monday
• Splashin Glory: Momma Notes
• Missional Call: M M and M Monday Linkup
• Chronicles of Grace: Unforced Rhythms
• The Wellspring: Playdates with God
• Rich Faith Rising: Unite
• Finding Heaven: Soli Deo Gloria
• Growing Home: Growing Homemaker
• Teaching What Is God: Women Helping Women
• Join The Gossip: Monday Morning Gossip
• Life of Meg: Mingle Monday

Tuesday

• Life’s a Party Dress Like it: Stylish Tuesday
• The Fashion Canvas: Trend Spin Linkup
• Corner Stone Confessions: Titus 2 Tuesday
• Time Warp Wife: Titus 2 Tuesday
• Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
• Keeping Life Simple: The Gathering Spot
• Sugar Bee Crafts: Take A Look Tuesday
• Style Elixir: Style Sessions Fashion Link Up
• Growing Home Blog: Teach Me Tuesday
• 100lb Countdown: Turn It Up Tuesday
• Greater Than Rubies: Remix, Rewear, Restyle
• Walking In Memphis In High Heels: Trend Spin Link Up
• Myriad Musings: Style Swap Tuesdays

Wednesday

• Transatlantic Blonde: What I Wore Wednesday
• Because Shanna Said So: Random Wednesday
• My Girlish Whims: My Whims Wednesday
• Juana Mikels: Wednesday's Prayer Girls
• Kimba Likes: Wardrobe Wednesday
• The Pleated Poppy: What I Wore Wednesday
• Messy Marriage: Wedded Wednesday
• Elizabeth & Co.: Be Inspired
• My Daily Walk In His Grace: Winsome Wednesday
• A Creative Princess
• Get Your Pretty On: I Feel Pretty
• A Wise Woman Builds Her Home
• Cute And Little: Color Brigade
• Redcliffe Style: 30 Plus Style and Beauty Linkup
• Adorned From Above
• Woman to Woman Ministries: Word Filled Wednesday
• Little R & R: Wednesday Link Party
• We Are That Family: Works For Me Wednesday
• Jennifer Dukes Lee: Tell His Story
• Fitness Blondie: The Hump Day Blog Hop

Thursday

• CLK Fashions: Fashion Boutique Favorites
• The Tiny Heart: Look What I Got
• Penniless Socialite: Look What I Got
• Rebecca Lately: Look What I Got
• Vodka-Infused Lemonade: Tres-Chic Thursday
• Mix and Match Fashion: What I Wore to Work
• 3-D Lessons For Life: Thought Provoking Thursday
• Katherines Corner: Thursday Favorite Blog Hop
• A Glimpse Inside: Catch A Glimpse Party
• Serving Joyfully: Thriving Thursday
• Glitz And Gold: All Things Thursday
• Maybe I Will: Be.You.Tiful
• Chic California: Be.You.Tiful
• The Happy Gal: Be.You.Tiful
• Fry Sauce And Grits: Be.You.Tiful
• Raising Mighty Arrows: Proverbs 31 Thursday
• All Things With Purpose: All Things Thursday
• Children Are A Blessing: Growing In Grace Link Up
• White Coat Wardrobe and Perfectly Coutured : Three Fer Thursday
• Simply Just Lovely: Working Girl With Style

Friday

• Mummy's Got Style: Fashion Friday
• Penniless Socialite and Delusions of Grandeur: Favorite Fashion Friday Link Up
• Two Thirty Five Designs: Casual Friday Link Up
• Serenity Now: Weekend Bloggy Reading Link Up
• Simply Lulu Style: What I’m Loving Fridays
• Style Elixir: Friday’s Fab Favorites
• Musings of a Housewife: Fashion Friday
• Rags to Stitches: Coffee Date Friday
• Womanhood With Purpose: Friday's Link Up
• Missional Women: Faith Filled Friday
• Spiritual Sundays
• Essential Thing Devotions: Essential Fridays
• Rachel The Hat: Passion For Fashion
• Simple Sequins: Fashion Item Friday
• Chantilly Songs: The Totally Awesome Blog Hop
• Christian Mommy Blogger: Fellowship Friday
• The Jenny Evolution: Friday Flash Blog
• Soul Survival: Faithful Friday Linkup
• Bacon Time With The Hungry Hypo: Anything Goes Linky Party
• Midwest Style Bloggers: Friday Favorites
• Lena B Actually: Passion For Fashion
• Blissful And Domestic: Feature Friday Link Up
• Sabby Style: Friday Frills

Saturday

• How Sweet The Sound: Pink Saturday
• Six Sisters' Stuff: Strut Your Stuff Saturday Linky Party
• Renewed Daily: Recommendation Saturday
• Fashionista Momma: Stylish Saturday
• Sincerely Paula: No Rules Weekend Blog Party
• Amanda's Books And More: Make My Saturday Sweet

Sunday

• Macdonald's Playland: Mommy Moments Blog Hop
• Watch Out For the Woestman: Watch What I'm Wearing
• All The Things, Etc. : Sunday Edition
• Let It Be Beautiful: Sunday Edition
• I Would So Rock This