Kate Spade :: Contents
Almost a decade ago, Kate Spade published an unusual, limited-edition book devoted not to the handbags they'd made iconic, but to the contents of the bags themselves.
At the time, my mom tracked down a copy for me (numbered 259, and signed by Ms. Kate Spade herself), and I have treasured it ever since. Each spread features a photograph of ephemera and an accompanying list of the items, as well as a brief description of the bag owner's occupation. The end of the book reveals the identities of the participants, and asks some additional questions that help provide a clearer glimpse of who they are, based on what you've already learned by peeking into their handbags.
Some of my favorite pages included items that felt incredibly glamorous to me: the art dealer's matching green and yellow Hermes leather accessories and light blue Morgenthal-Frederics sunglasses (top); the ballerina's beautifully worn satin and canvas ballet slippers (above, left); the graphic designer's pink notebooks, Japanese candies and Smythson "Private and Confidential" book (top, right).
I decided to capture my own handbag "contents", and it's pretty descriptive of my current stage in life as a designer-blogger-mom (above). A listing of objects is in the comments...
Images taken by me.



i love this post...i have that kate spade book, used to pour over it...i love seeing what's in people's bags.
I love the diaper + the 1 sock!!
So I managed to find a copy on ebay and got the book for a steal of a price!
I can't wait to get it in the mail in a few days!!! Thanks again for introducing me to this book!
LJ- Is that THE Pope?!! I thought it was lost!
Very cool. There is a (Huge!) flickr group for this as well: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/whatsinmybag/
What an incredibly fun book! And the contents of your bag are, indeed, telling. Such fun baby gadgetry you're hauling around, lady.
what a cool book. great post.
I love this concept for a book and had not heard of it! Thanks for the introduction!
What a wonderful gift! and not surprisingly a great idea from kate spade.
love this. i remember that book, too :)
have you seen nathalie lecroc's handbag illustrations? they are my obsession. someday, her book will come out and i will snap it up.
leni, I am about to check out your post right now!
I found some used "Contents" books at Alibris...
I love this concept. I did a post similar to this:
http://leni.typepad.com/life/2009/01/whats-in-my-purse.html
Now I have to track down one of those books! (I LOVE Kate Spade!)
Clockwise from top left: Gap tote with smaller H&M cross-body handbag inside; Coach ivory and pink wallet; phone; Pope John Paul II medallion and Our Lady of Guadalupe medallion; Boon snack ball filled with Gerber Puffs and Cheerios; faux-snakeskin day planner; Moleskine Volant notebook with added gold silhouette decal; three dollar bills; 10 Macy dollars; Babybug issue; iPod; Kate Spade sunglasses; Bla Bla finger puppet; recycled wood pencil and gray LePen; two band-aids; one "green" plastic diaper sack; miscellaneous receipts and three Starbucks cards; Josh Jakus Om hold zip pouch; book of Forever stamps; Neutrogena blotting papers; bobby pin; Sephora snag-free hair bands; Origins Smileage Plus Liptint in 04Vintage; Tylenol sinus; Seventh Generation diaper; one Trumpette baby sock; two Wet Ones wipes; Seventh Generation wipes; Gerber dried banana-strawberry snacks; Kate Spade business card holder (need to refill with cards).