Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Mama's Got a Brand New (Almost) Bag: Modalu Pippa Grab



Whee! Last Thursday I purchased a Modalu Pippa Medium Grab Handbag in Chili red off of eBay, and it arrived this afternoon! I LUUURRRRVVVEE IT. It's only been used a few times by the previous owner and is in practically perfect condition - just a scratch or two on the name plate and a small scuff on the leather in front. I got a great deal on the bag, much less than if I had purchased it online from the UK with the exchange rate, shipping, etc. The lady I bought it from also re-packaged it super carefully and included all of the original tags, dust bag, etc. Truly great purchasing experience.


Soft, supple leather...it smells so great!

I don't own a lot of handbags. I have a black Coach tote, a Louis Vuitton monogram tote, an olive green J.Crew quilted satchel, and a brown leather and canvas Men's J.Crew cross-body messenger bag that doubles as a laptop case. I also have a black evening clutch, a gold metallic evening clutch, and a small raffia handbag for summer events. This is normal for me with a lot of things - I buy one item of the best quality that I can afford and use it until it falls apart - and I'm VERY picky about the bags that I carry. Size, shape, hardware, etc.



Front zip pockets, great for keys and i.d. or transit cards.

I first read about the Pippa bag (yes, named for a certain princess's pretty sister after she was seen carrying it post-Royal Wedding) in a review on Capitol Hill Style. Belle raved about it's quality and utility, as did all of the commenters, so I have had Modalu's website bookmarked for months while I thought about what color I might want to buy. I knew I would want either gray or a great color since I have my other handbag basics covered.


Three zipped compartments, two large on the outside and a smaller one in the middle.

I liked the Shark and the Oyster colors (which sold out super quickly), and also the Sunrise Orange...but I'm always drawn to red in the end. Imagine how excited I was to see the Pippa bag in Chili on eBay, lightly used and up for bid. I'm an eBay newbie, so the BF helped me with the bidding basics and...I won!


Little gold feet on the bottom. This bag should wear really well.

It's been reviewed a bunch online (here and by Gigi here), so I won't go into a ton of detail other than to say that the bag is well-made, well-designed, and the perfect size for me. I usually don't buy a handbag unless it can fit a magazine or manilla folder so that I can use it for business trips and appointments.


Little seashells on the zipper pulls! I prefer gold or brass hardware since I mostly wear gold jewelry.

I cannot wait to find a home for all of my daily essentials in this gorgeous bag, and I know I'll love it for years to come!

What's your most favorite handbag? Do you like/own the Pippa bag?

14 comments:

  1. I found you through the JCA blog, and I'm glad I did. I, too, LOVE that handbag! :) How did I miss it before?! I just looked on ebay, and the only one I could find in the same color as yours was almost $400. Does that sound about right for the price--or too high? Thanks!

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    1. Hi Leah! Honestly $400 sounds a bit high for the Chili Pippa since you can still buy it from Modalu's website and get it for less than that, even including the exchange rate and shipping fees. Now, if somebody on eBay was asking $400 for the Shark color, which has sold out twice and is now waitlisted, then I'd tell you to go for it.

      Thanks for stopping by :)

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  2. How fun!!!! That's a really pretty color. I am happy w/all of the pockets, etc... on mine. I was bummed that it came w/that little flaw, but they rectified the situation, so that was nice. Welcome to ebay!

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  3. Thanks Gigi! I don't know how much eBay-ing I'll actually do since I don't have much to sell, but it looks like a great place to pick up J.Crew's classics from seasons past, according to the comments on The Mothership. I'm just starting to collect Victorian Jet mourning jewelry, too, and have purchased two great brooches from eBay.

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  4. Great score, it's a gorgeous bag! It's always fun when you find that perfect piece. My favorite bag is Burberry's mini manor in black. I always come back to it because the size and shape is perfect for me.

    I buy and sell on ebay quite a bit and it has been great for the most part, only the occasionally issue. Hope your experience is positive.

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    1. Thanks! My fantasy bag is a Chanel 2.55 in black. It looks fairly impractical but I imagine that, if I ever do own one, I will mostly just look at it and pet it occasionally ;) That Mini Manor is great, and I like that it has some attitude.

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  5. I have that bag in Shark. Enjoy it:)

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  6. i just bought a new bag too and it took me weeks to decide on the brand.i finally decided on the chloe marcie satchel and love it too!
    this was a great review for the pippa bag and i think i would love to own one too.

    ina-wonderland.blogspot.com

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    1. Ooh, I love the curves on that Marcie bag! I can never tell if it's an oversized bag or a more normal size since the people that I've seen carrying it (pics of Reese Witherspoon and Rachel Bilson) are so very wee, haha. I'll bet the leather feels gorgeous.

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  7. I lover this bag, the size the color, the shape, everything! Everytime I see an item like that I wonder why we even bother with jcrew?

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    1. Ditto, at least when it comes to handbags. Even shoes. But I still haven't found a brand of clothing that I like better in a price range that I can afford. *sigh*

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  8. Ouuu nice bag - especially the color. I've been longing for a red purse (the red Edie is calling my name :P) but I have to say my recent purchase of the Marc Jacobs Hillier hobo was the best descision :) I'm so happy with it! Hope you enjoy this bag as much as I love my MJ!

    Tasia

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  9. Thank you, I know I will! Your MJ bag is awesome, and I can't wait to see it pop up in your OOTD posts :).

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