The Search for the 'IT' Bag

The story all began when I chanced upon a particular Agnes B. 'IT' bag on friday night.

Thereafter, I could not stop thinking about it.

Now, now, you must understand, I am certainly one of the most avid shoppers in the world-but never a complusive one though. Shopping (I am embarassed to admit) takes up a huge portion of my leisure time but that is really because I am one of the most calculated and exacting buyers you can ever meet in the mall. Being a scrooge at heart, it's never quite possible to nab me shopping impulsively and thoughtlessly. Truth is, I am one of those customers most dreaded by any salesperson. I mull over every purchase like it is a 300 grand house and not a 30 dollar lipstick that I am paying for.

But enough said of myself here. Let's go back to the bag.

The particular 'IT' bag that I was coveting would perhaps be deemed as a never-will-be by my counterparts' standards. First of all, in conventional fashionistic vocabulary, an IT bag must be priced rather extravagantly (if not, impossibly) as to accentuate its exclusivity and luxury. My IT Bag, on the other hand, cost a meagre $140 after discount. (I know, you are screaming cheap already.) And guess what? It was in the exact style, size and colour that I want; subtle in appearance but quirky in appeal- and yes- it totally radiates the vibe 'Me!'.

Of course I had to make a dash for the mall on saturday night to see and get it.

A problem was realised however, on the second sighting of the bag.

It was without a zip!!!

To cut the long story short, (I need to go for lunch soon) I did not get the bag despite all my love and disappointments towards it as I figured that it was perhaps too impractical, in spite of its cuteness, as all the contents could easily fall out without a secured cover.

My husband who has had to endure the entirely painful protracted wishing-cabbing-shopping-and-finally-not-buying process with me was amused.

"What? Give up an otherwise perfect thing just because it has no zip?"

With a look of dismay, I seriously pondered if I was being too anal-retentive.

"Do you think I should buy it then?"

"You won't."

"Why?"

"Because you are uncompromising. You will not be happy even if you bought it."

With a dose of epiphany brought upon by my husband's comments, I went through a mental checklist of all my shopping hits-and-misses. It's true. Case in point, I have been shopping for dessert plates since a year back and have bought nothing till today as the turqoise and gold Royal Albert plates I sighted 6 months ago and love until now was out of stock and could never be found again- in the whole Singapore.

It was not a conscious decision. But once I spotted my love, I could never get anything else again.

This uncompromising trait has served me both well and bad on many occasions in my life. I make decisions rather quickly and effortlessly as I generally know what I want and do not want. Because of that, I am also seldom afraid of hard decisions (even if it meant pain). I'll go ahead anyway and stick it out if I am convinced that it is right.

But precisely so, I have also been alienated on various accounts in my life because I refused to fit in. I have also been too unduly fixated with certain stances which may ultimately lend to unecessary inflexibility. May the Lord offer me wisdom to discern on this one.

But at the end of the day, I am thankful that I have been blessed with good friends and a husband who would support and accept me for who I am despite my failings. Sure, there will always be regrets and things we can't have in life, like my now not-so-IT bag, but at least these are things that I can live with as it's far better to spend time looking for the ONE right thing than to cheat ourselves to accept many second bests.

And, by the way, did I mention that I spotted more fabulous bags at Dior after a failed acquisition at Agnes B.?

*grin*