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Weekend Update

1. The latest fabulous summer bag to catch my eye is this great straw bag, from Muun.

I always want to find the perfect straw bag, but there are always a few elements which throw me off. The handles might get too dirty (from sweat, gross!). The size is too huge! The price too high! And the biggest annoyance of all – they look super cute with short handles, but it’s not practical!

I feel that these Muun bags solve all of the problems above – they come with black handles, so that they won’t stain (there are also of course white options), are reasonably priced, and also come with an optional shoulder strap. Perfect! I’d been holding out to see if any of these would go on sale at Net-A-Porter (which by the way, just had more reductions), but it doesn’t seem the case.  If you’re looking for a sweet summer bag, I’d recommend checking out the entire line, here (also love the removable pouch inside).

2. For some reason, I’ve been slightly obsessed with this NY Times article about concierge medicine – The Doctor Is In. Co-pay? $40,000. I sent it to all my friends in the medical profession and nagged them endlessly for their opinions. I extrapolated how much this will all cost by the time we retire. I thought about how much it might cost by the time my children retire, and then fretted. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

3. A great article, via The Washington Post, about the effort to save Anne Klein. When was the last time you bought something from AK? Interesting tidbit about it still having some remnant cache in South Korea.

4. Another fun article via The NY Times – Don’t Dress Your Age.

5. This week, I’m reading The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Faber.

This is the sort of book that’s a bit of a “genre bender”, and the best way I could describe it as “extremely well written, kind of science fiction”. I’m not necessarily a sci-fi fan, but I so enjoyed Faber’s other work I read, The Crimson Petal and the White, that I added this to my Kindle and finally got around to reading it. There’s also the fact that he has said this will be his last novel.

So far I’m enjoying it, although it moves a little slower than the sci-fi I’m used to. Would love to hear any recommendations for what you’ve all been reading lately!

7 Comments

  • Reply
    Christine
    June 9, 2017 at 10:48 am

    Hi Kat,

    I purchased a Muun straw bag from MaiTai. She carries a few styles on her website.
    I like the bag very much, and it is comfortable to use.

    I just finished the article on Anne Klein. I used to wear the label when Donna Karan and Louis Dell’Olio were the designers. The new designs look interesting, but the quality has to be there.

    Thanks for the reading list!

    • Reply
      Katherine
      June 10, 2017 at 9:00 pm

      I didn’t realize MT carried them! Or that DK was once the designer at AK 🙂

  • Reply
    Amy
    June 9, 2017 at 12:34 pm

    Katherine, I’m so glad you posted this Muun bag! I’ve loved the style of “basket” bags for a long time, but they never seemed practical for those of us that don’t love to hand-carry bags. I love the long strap option on this bag, as well as the details. So cute. What do you think of the Cult Gaia bags? Again, for me, I know hand-carrying won’t work. I think they’re darling though!
    Just picked up the Gucci Disco in red, and your review was super helpful. There has been much conflicting info on PF about this bag being discontinued in favor of the Marmont. My SA said it wasn’t, but I didn’t want to wait in case she was wrong. Great little bag!
    Have read the Faber book, though not Crimson Petal. I felt it was ambitious in plot, but he pulled it off. I enjoyed it.

    Have a great weekend!

    • Reply
      Katherine
      June 10, 2017 at 8:59 pm

      I love the Cult Gaia bags and they’re a great price especially for the classic style. I agree with you on the hand carrying – maybe later in our life. So glad you are liking the Disco and thanks for the vote of confidence on the Faber!

  • Reply
    Ava
    June 10, 2017 at 11:34 am

    Dear Katherine,

    Wow, what a post! So much to chew on – and really think about. I forwarded the information about Concierge Medicine to many friends and family who are in the field for their thoughts. Naturally, those in the medical field felt this was already happening with concierge medicine where you can speak to virtual health care providers if you are part of certain select networks, much like this concierge medicine article’s privileged-access. It is true that if you happen to be in the, e.g. ER, and you happen to be w a family member who is in the field, you do “jump the line,” or at least you seem to receive preferential treatment. A sort of fellow-doctor-to-doctor courtesy if you will. Some of them have said it was due to the fact that they had to struggle so much just to get there (academically and financially, etc. but really, who doesn’t struggle whatever the field) that they think they are owed it (entitled to it). I don’t know that I agree but it is what it is. Another friend who is part of some similarly exclusive network gets instant appointments all over the city at one of many locations and if that is a hassle, they can face time an appointment (usually with a Nurse Practitioner or Physician’s Asst) who can call in prescriptions if need be.

    What do I think of it all? Well, it’s another scenario of the haves vs the have-nots. If you have the ability to afford it (which puts you, lets be frank, in the minority) then you do. If you don’t you don’t and you, like the masses would have gone to the generic local ER and had been seen likely by some newbie resident who’d have set your leg instead of a seasoned orthopaedist. It’s no different than than, for the sake of argument, having access to the best and first choice at say the Chanel Private Sale. Your access (via good relationship w your SA due to your spending a good deal there) gets you privileged access. Sigh, at the end of the day it’s all about “access” isn’t it? You’d think that our country would have free, QUALITY health care for all by now, huh? 😉 And education for that matter!

    Dressing your age – if you can wear it and it makes you happy, wear it. That’s my motto! 😀

    Not going to lie, I am really feeling that AK boot! If Lombardo succeeds, which I hope she does, AK could really shine. It seems from the images so far that they are something of a mash up of Ann Taylor, LOFT with a dash of Eileen Fisher and dab of the ROW – they just need to market themselves well and really make themselves at an accessible price point to really turn things around.

    What I’m “reading” now:
    http://jackswifefreda.com/cookbook/
    I like to fancy myself that I might actually COOK one of these recipes, but I “read” it for the pretty pictures. 😉 ha!

    Hope you and your family have a great weekend! Oh and as for wearing your dress inside out – I bet everyone thought it was the style and had no clue it was inside out! 🙂

    xx
    Ava

    • Reply
      Katherine
      June 10, 2017 at 9:01 pm

      Thanks Ava for such a thoughtful and insightful comment as always. I’m not personally opposed to concierge medicine but like you say, I think the starting point is free, good quality health care for all…from that point on, I think if the rich want to pay more for even better, I’m not opposed…much like the system in many countries in Europe (which I know has its own flaws)

  • Reply
    Wendy
    June 11, 2017 at 6:39 pm

    HI Katherine! The Munn bag is a great choice. What an awesome price
    Point. I hate to spend a lot of money on bags unless they are leather.
    I found a Mark Cross Manray bag super cheap. It’s the one with the orange alligator trim. I Hope to use it this summer!

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