monochrome carryalls

i recently scored an amazing deal on a bag at tj maxx:

there she is, in all her glory!
(please pardon the very ugly chair in my office!)  

it is beyond perfect for work: its shoulder strap is long enough to go cross-body, but there is also a top handle, and it is exactly big enough to hold my essentials without being too gigantic. 

that said, j.crew HAD to send an email yesterday with the spotlight on this chic little number:

j.crew edie attaché bag - $288
ugh, it's adorable. retro office lady glam at its best! 

later, while perusing my blogroll i saw this sleek ombre tote from zara:

zara graded shopper - $169
i can see this working for the office, but also for running weekend errands.

i certainly do not need another bag at the moment, but it's nice to see what's out there! 

i also love the two-tone appeal of both of these options: the white/cream is great for the warmer months, but the black anchors the design into seasonless functionality.