One of my most fashion-forward friends recently unveiled her latest handbag purchase–and I immediately died of envy. Seriously, it’s a bag I totally covet and if hacking her style wasn’t off limits, I’d already have one of my own. Okay, so enough about my friend–let’s learn about the bag!

It’s from the Louis Vuitton Mahina line. Before you cringe, it’s NOT the classic brown monogram pattern that is so overplayed (even by me at times.) Mahina is a soft leather with the LV monogram perforated into it. And the bag I love is the XS. It’s a bit of a hobo but classic and tailored enough to wear for many years. My friend’s bag is a creme-taupe color (though she swears it’s grey), but it’s also available in black, burgandy, mahagony, chocolate, and white. And the hardware, THE HARDWARE! It’s gorgeous. Enough to be eye-catching but not enough to make it heavy. It’s simply incredible.

Now, let’s get down and dirty. This isn’t a cheap bag. But honestly, sometimes fabulous bags cost a few pennies. It’s more than my last bag purchase (a gorgeous Chanel) but less than an Hermes Victoria bag. But it’s an investment — and a solid, fashionable one at that.

God, I love handbags.