Kate Spade is selling a spacious $359 tote for just $89 — shoppers says it's 'perfect'
On the hunt for brag-worthy deals? They're not hard to find this weekend. Presidents' Day sales are in full swing, and the price drops are pretty impressive — everything from tempting mattress offers to celeb-approved cookware. But here's a discount that may have flown below your radar: a spacious Kate Spade tote made from textured Saffiano leather on sale for just $89. That's 75% off the original price, FYI.
Let me direct your attention back to the suggested retail price of this purse — $359! People who love luxury may be used to spending that much on a designer style, but the rest of us? Nearly $400 for a single bag is way beyond our budget. But slash the price to less than $100, and now we're talking. Add to that that this bag is big enough to actually hold all your everyday essentials, and it's timeless enough to carry for season after season, and this investment is a no-brainer.
What's the vibe you want to convey when you walk into a room? Hot mess? Then keep carrying that scuffed-up purse with fraying straps or, worse, multiple sacks that make you look like a bag lady. If, however, you want people to look at you and think, "Hmm, now there's a woman that has it together," then you deserve to treat yourself to this classic leather tote. It's a versatile pick that won't go out of style and will complement lots of different looks in your closet, whether a professional pencil skirt or your go-to jeans.
Inside, there's more than enough room for everything you'll need to keep you organized and on-task throughout the day. It's large enough for a tablet or planner, plus essentials like a wallet, keys, phone, makeup and more. The handles are long enough to sling over your shoulder, but you can also carry this tote in your hand or on your wrist, too.
And an extra special touch you'll appreciate when you need to set your bag down? Metal feet on the bottom to prevent scratches on the leather. That small touch combined with storing your purse in the included dust bag will ensure this piece looks as good as new for years to come.
Shoppers who've purchased this purse give it 4.7 out of 5 stars, with many praising the design and craftsmanship.
"Great size and nice quality," one commenter wrote. "Perfect-sized tote, can fit all the necessities plus an 11-inch iPad."
Another added, "Very good bag, well built and roomy. It is an elegant addition to my collection of bags."
While many found the size and materials just right, other wished the bag was slightly larger and more supple.
"Lovely purse, it's just a bit too stiff," one person explained in their review.
"Nice bag, however, it feels smaller and handles are shorter than they appear in the pictures," another noted.
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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For the past 15 years, the St. Marys Poetry Circle has been adding to the cultural fabric of the town while enriching the lives and creative output of its members. On May 30, the poetry circle members marked the group's 15 anniversary at the home of poetry circle founder Ione Grover. The meeting was special not only for the group as a whole, but also for Grover, who hasn't been able to make it out to regular poetry circle meetings lately because of her mobility issues. 'I was starting to write poetry when I moved to St. Marys, so I just got the idea of having a poetry circle for people who can just share their poetry,' Grover said. 'It was very inclusive for beginners – I was a beginner – and people who were a little more experienced. So, it was just wonderful and then Alizon (Sharun) joined the group and I was ready to pass the mantle on as I got older. Alizon has done a fantastic job (as chair). She is amazing. 'I think it was more for people to share their poetry and support one another. We didn't do a lot of critique or things like that. It was just encouraging people. A lot of people were rather shy at sharing their poetry at first, and some people brought other poems – poems they liked.' Having moved to St. Marys after raising her family in Aurora, Grover said she finds constant inspiration in the Stonetown, whether it be the nature outside her window along the banks of Fish Creek or the architecture of St. Marys' heritage landscape. Equipped with her iPad, Grover writes nearly every day. She has now published a total of three poetry books – The Books of Lessons, Beyond the Open Door and A Different Joy, the latter of which she is officially releasing on July 6 – as well as a couple non-poetry books focused on spirituality. 'I never actually intended to write another poetry book, but I had a number of poems where I had my iPad and I'd be sitting there and I would be in a meditative state, and I'd write a poem and I'd forget about it,' Grover said. 'And then I was just scrolling through one day and I was just amazed at the poems that were all about a similar theme, which was re-awakening to identity, to our divine identity or just to who we truly are without all the conditioning. … I called them transformation through poetry because I felt they were transformative. 'There are 26 poems in here and there are two questions after each poem, and I'm asking the reader, 'What is your experience? What do you think?' ' Though she writes mostly in solitude, Grover says the support and encouragement from her fellow poetry circle members really pushes her to keep writing, continue finding the joy and beauty in the world and to publish her work for others to appreciate. She will host an official book launch for A Different Joy on July 6 from 2-4 p.m. at Riverwalk Commons (84 Water St. S). Like Grover, longtime poetry circle member George Allan Tucker has found encouragement and support through his participation in the group. Having joined the poetry circle a little less than a decade ago, Tucker now lives in London, a move he made to be closer to family, but he still drives up to St. Marys whenever his health and his wife allows him to, just so he can continue meeting with the friends and fellow poets he's come to cherish. Tucker is no stranger to writing. A professional writer and journalist, Tucker has also written poetry in the form of music for about 40 years. When he joined the poetry circle, he turned his well-honed writing talent to the beauty of the natural world around him. 'The poetry sort of caught on to me and I was writing a lot,' he said. 'I would sit down and I'd write a poem every day – it's interesting how your mind works – and then I'd have these periods where I couldn't think of two words to put together. I try not to be too longwinded. I try not to pretend I'm some intellectual, educated writer. I finished high school, but I never studied writing in any capacity. I just picked it up on my own over the years. ' … I'm sort of a spiritual person at heart and I like to write poetry to create words to the images I have. When I was in St. Marys, particularly, I used to sit on my patio behind my house that overlooked St. Marys and be inspired by the activity that I could see from there, the birds and the flowers and the trees and the sky – those types of things would come to me.' Tucker says his time with the poetry circle has served to introduce him to likeminded people while encouraging him to continue putting pen to paper whenever the mood strikes. He wants others, especially young people who might be interested in exploring their creative sides, to understand appreciating poetry is not some unattainable pursuit for educated intellectuals. 'You don't necessarily have to read it. I like poetry that's spoken,' he said. ' … That allows the poem to take life because you're able to focus on the feelings you have while you're writing it, and you pass that along to the listener. Reading poetry out loud … gives people a whole different perspective on poetry. … It's all about feelings and creating images and expressing your spirituality.' While Tucker and Grover have benefitted from the support and encouragement of the poetry circle for years, one of the circle's newer members, Sharon Sinclair – already a celebrated poet with years of experience honing her craft – has found a group of people in her new community with which she can share and appreciate the power and beauty of the written word. 'I really just moved here in October. I knew there was a poetry circle and I had been in touch with Alizon a few weeks prior to that because, initially, I had hoped to come to St. Marys, but I had been living for a decade with a sister in-law before that who had Parkinson's disease,' Sinclair said. 'I was a live-in caretaker and she had a large, rural property, so I had many jobs. … Eventually, she had to relocate to a nursing home, so it was my time to relocate and a friend of mine … moved here about three years ago. She invited to come here and also to take the train from Belleville, and I just thought, 'This is a great community. I think I'll pick here to relocate,' but it didn't happen as early as I had anticipated because my sister in-law had to wait a long time for her placement.' Sinclair, who worked as a teacher before chasing her dreams as a poet, was appointed poet laureate as part of Grey Highlands' sesquicentennial celebrations in 2017. In that role, she edited a Canada 150 collection of stories, essays and poems by writers from that community called Grey With a Silver Lining. Sinclair was also appointed writer in residence at the Fairhope Center for the Writing Arts in Fairhope Ala., in 2019 where she wrote and published her collection, Sunrise Reflections, Fairhope, Alabama. In total, Sinclair has produced five CDs of her original poetry, she has been published in numerous publications, and she continues sharing her poetry through videos and photography on Facebook and her YouTube channel ( 'I'm so delighted to be in the poetry circle because they are truly very inspiring poets and they're really talented, and they are also very lighthearted,' Sinclair said. 'It's just a very fun, encouraging group, so I am very, very happy. … When I came here, I was quite exhausted. … It's one thing, as a poet, to write creative work, but it's another thing to actually live the philosophy of being sensitively attuned to your world, as poets are. ' … It's a pleasure for me now just to be able to have the time to focus more on my own needs, but when I came here, I explained to Alizon I just needed a few weeks to really have some solitary time. … I feel like I've finally seen the light of day again, and joining the poetry circle came at a perfect time because I was ready, then, to reach out to people again.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? 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