The year was 2014. The job was the first out of college. The shopper was yours truly – not the most typical Prada clientele, to put it mildly… Walking into Bloomingdale’s ready to leave a savings account in exchange for one dream bag. my attitude reflected 2010s: probably the era of peak influencer culture, when fascination hasn’t worn off and every Insta-recommendation wasn’t nearly as questioned as it is today. No “#ad”!? No problem! I was the typical influencer promo victim marching towards the Prada logo thinking I’ll never regret the investment. And against all odds, I never did.

A little while ago, I wrote a post about my shopping formula – a few basic steps a shopper can follow and questions they can answer before swiping that card. I adapted this methodology when switching to sustainable shopping habits but I subconsciously used it my whole life. Making this investment into Prada Milano wasn’t just influenced by a trend, it wasn’t impulsive – I thought about this purchase for years. That might sound silly to some consumers, but sometimes an impeccably crafted item can captivate. This was an investment of my work, my time, my research – end result is an accessory I’ve been wearing for a decade, one that perfectly defines my personal style. Every time I take it out of a duster bag and loop the strap across a shoulder, I’m confident the bag is practical, durable, versatile.