Marc by Marc Jacobs Bombay Satchel

You’ve seen old reruns of Bewitched, right? Remember when Samantha would get some kind of weird witchy disease that affected her magic? She couldn’t go to a regular doctor, obviously, so she had to call the witch doctor. Get it? Witch doctor? Anyway, she’d say, “Dr. Bombay! Dr. Bombay! Emergency, come right away!” And Dr. Bombay would appear, and it would always be obvious he’d been in the middle of some sort of hedonistic activity. He’d be in a Hawaiian shirt with a lei around his neck, or be in mid-golf swing. Because, you know, he’s a doctor. Why am I telling you this? Well, it popped into my head when I was looking at handbags and ran across this Marc by Marc Jacobs Bombay Satchel. It even sort of looks like an old fashioned doctor’s bag, doesn’t it? Makes me wonder where Marc Jacobs got his inspiration.

This Bombay Satchel is much nicer than a plain ol’ doctor’s bag, though. For one thing, it’s not black. In fact, it’s not even brown. Supposedly. The description calls it deep plum. Sorry, but to me, that’s purple. I can see this bag has a sort of burgundy tinge to it, but I wouldn’t call it plum. It’s also available in black. The other reason it’s nicer than a doctor’s satchel is that instead of stiff, unyielding leather, the Bombay is made from soft, slouchy leather. And let’s not forget the cute little padlock charm dangling from the front. It adds a bit of whimsy to what would otherwise be a serious-looking bag. The lining is a great geometric print fabric, the top zips closed, and there are plenty of pockets inside and out for extra storage. It also comes with a dust bag. Try it out for $498 at Endless.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 1

If you really want to punch up your wardrobe in winter, add a bright accessory. The Sak Silverlake Convertible Satchel in, well, punch, is just what the witch doctor ordered. What makes it convertible? Well, you can either carry it as a satchel like it is in this photo, by the dual handles that give the bag a six-inch drop. Or, you can use the detachable shoulder strap and carry it as a hobo bag with a ten and a half-inch drop. Either way, the Silverlake offers plenty of storage at 16 inches wide and 10 inches high, not to mention the inner zip and slip pockets. I love how the dual handles are braided, too. The entire bag is made from one hundred percent leather, and the interior is lined in retro-print fabric. In addition to punch, it comes in twilight and teak. That’s navy and brown, in case you’re wondering. Get it for just $200 at Piperlime.com.

Budget Saving Alternative 2

Speaking of odd names for colors, this Etienne Aigner Vienna Satchel comes in this color, called vachetta. Seriously. I’m not even going to bother to look that word up to see if it actually means something in Italian or French or whatever. It’s cream, ok? Or beige, even. Vachetta? I’m not saying that. Complaining aside, it’s a gorgeous bag. I like Etienne Aigner stuff because it’s classically designed. Very sophisticated. Sometimes it’s fun to find off beat, unusual looking bags, but there are times when you need something that communicates class, like at a job interview. For those times, Aigner is the way to go. The Vienna has dual, rolled handles that give the bag a 7.5-inch drop. A platform bottom keeps the bag upright when it’s set down, and a top zip closure keeps your belongings secure. Inside, you’ll find fabric lining with a back wall zip pocket, and a few slip pockets. It also comes in a pretty maple color. And it’s on sale! Usually $142, you can get it now for only $102.24 at Zappos.com.