Why Vera Bradley?

I’m probably what you could call a ‘retail nerd’.  As I travel and shop, I’m always admiring clever ads or beautiful displays, but overwhelmingly I zero in on what I see people repeatedly using.   At my core, I’m really practical.   I want the items I purchase to be useful.  I want them to be durable.   And, I want them to be beautiful.   Because if they are beautiful, I’ll enjoy using them even more.   And that my friend, is the genius behind Vera Bradley’s travel collection.
 
My husband laughs, but while I wait at the airport I count how many Vera Bradley totes, duffles and suitcases I spot.   Two weeks ago I spotted my personal favorite, a Java Blue Vera Tote.  For those of you ‘yet to become Vera people’, that tote was made in 2006.  2006! It is still so well-loved by its owner, that she’s taking it with to Mexico.   I was carrying my classic black microfiber tote, and as I longingly looked at the Java Blue walking by, my husband asked if I had gotten a new bag.   My ten year old tote still looked new.   It’s been stuffed with innumerable catalogs from a decade’s worth of markets.  It’s been packed full of tourist guide books, water bottles, umbrellas, scarves & mittens, raincoats, bottles of wine and baguettes, and my husband still thinks it looks new.    Funny.   So if I got a new tote, he might not even notice… :)
 
Seriously though, Vera Bradley’s travel collection is masterful.   I’ve used the ditty bags to pack my shoes, wet swimsuit or dirty laundry.   The hanging travel organizer keeps my cosmetics  neatly organized and protected.   The lunch bags work great for sunscreen and larger hair care bottles.  The Miller bag is the roomiest tote with pockets.   The large duffle easily accommodates bulky sweatshirts, jeans, travel blankets, and coats.  The Weekender holds everything I need for a weekend or it’s awesome as my carryon.  The mini hipster crossbody is perfect for keeping your passport near, and it has a built-in wallet reducing bulk.  In my airport tallies, it’s a tie between the Vera Tote and the Backpacks for the ‘most frequently spotted’ award.
 
I’m a Vera fan to my core.   For my practical, beauty-loving nature, nothing makes more sense.   Retail nerd? Likely.   At least it’s clever, pretty things about which I obsess!    

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