In Spades

YSL Sac de Jour ($45 version here) // Club Monaco dress (on sale!) // Le Specs sunglasses
Marco de Vincenzo boots ($39 version here)

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There was once a time when I protected my clothes.  Like a squirrel hoarding a winter stash, my best pieces never saw the light of day.  They were treasures meant to be admired – but only from the view of my closet.  “Special occasion only” took on a whole new meaning.

Then I had a breakthrough.

I managed to score a runway item on sale.  It was a blush pink silk dress with floral chiffon applique and a cutout back.  Total stunner.  It made me look like an angel.

Despite being over the moon for it, it sat in my closet.  I was its sole admirer, staring at it through a clear plastic dust bag, perched on a velvet hanger.

Then one day I found an occasion worthy of its debut – a friend’s rehearsal dinner.  Twenty minutes into the cocktail hour, a guest tripped and used me to break her fall.

The action played out in slow motion.

First, the beaded strap on my satin handbag snapped.  Jewels burst in every direction spilling onto the floor.  Then, like a good Real Housewives moment, her glass of red wine poured down the front of my silk dress.  Not an ounce remained in her cup.

Drenched and damaged, I was speechless.  She never offered to pay for my dry cleaning or to repair my handbag.

My efforts to protect my sartorial treasures failed.

Since having a baby, I’ve observed how other mothers dress.  I’ve listened to their plights – many feel they can’t wear “nice things” because they will get ruined.  Little bebe will step on my suede shoes, rub sticky hands on my silk top, use my leather jacket as a Kleenex.

Well, guess what?  A perfectly composed grown woman can just as easily ruin your nice things.

The red wine incident taught me something.  No matter how hard I try to protect my fashion babies, I just can’t.

Shit happens.

So why keep my best pieces cooped up in a closet where no one can appreciate them?  Why not break them out of their sartorial prison and share them with the world?

Clothes are made to be worn.

It is this sentiment that fueled my choice of diaper bag.

There are tons of diaper bags on the market.  Some are even kind of decent.  But if I’m being honest, they all make me cringe.

So when it came time to make my selection, I went straight to the good stuff: the designer handbag section at Nordstrom.

I’ve long loved the Saint Laurent Sac de Jour.  When they came out with a softer, grained leather I knew it would be the perfect diaper bag.  The slouchy shape makes it much roomier than its structured counterpart without the added weight.  You can truly stuff it almost twice as full as the structured version without compromising shape.

It comes with a dual purpose zippered pouch that snaps in and out, so you can use it as a clutch or an interior divider.  Bonus points for versatility!

The key feature for me though was the shoulder strap.  As someone with bad shoulders, I need to carry a bag with crossbody functionality.  I highly considered a backpack, but at the end of the day, I’m a classic purse gal.  This bag gives me the ability to sling it over my shoulder, across my chest or rest it on my forearm.

To keep the inside organized, I got a ToteSavvy.  These dividers come in two sizes (I got the 6-pocket version but they also have an 11-pocket option) and a myriad of colors.  Mine comes with a washable changing pad and bottle holder.  The nylon fabric is so easy to keep clean and I love how it gives me the ability to use the handbag I want without compromising functionality.

So, if you are a mom or about to become a mom, know this… you don’t have to sacrifice function for style!

And for those of you not in need of a diaper bag… break out your special pieces.  Fashion is made to be worn!