In the Bag: Shayna

Although she could easily be mistaken for an Upper East Side lady of leisure, Shayna Miller is Madison to the core. As Style Editor of Madison Magazine, she's an authority on all things retail, dishing about eclectic offerings and diverse shopping venues that make up this fair isthmus. An advocate of locally owned independents and champion of sartorial individualism, her voice is every bit as unique as her editorials.

Bag?
Aldo

What's in your bag?
Kleenex, phone, reporter’s notebook, digital camera, pouch full of lipglosses, giraffe-print pouch full of other essentials (Band-Aids, Bath & Body Works sanitizing hand gel, eye drops, etc) wallet, sunglasses, hand lotion, purse clip, iPod Shuffle, receipts (um, I shop a lot), coupons (I shop a lot), snack bar, business cards, gum, Listerine pocketpack strips and a mac and cheese recipe from the Old Fashioned (run last year in Madison Magazine, no less) that I’m dying to make. I’m actually quite organized and don’t like to carry around a lot of unnecessary things!

Where and when was it purchased?
Aldo in October

How much does it weigh?
No idea, maybe around 7 pounds? Ugh, that’s a lot. And to think I could fit even more in that bag...

Most & Least Expensive item in the bag?
The credit card can BUY the most stuff, but probably the digital camera. The least expensive is the 99 cent Suave hand lotion.

Any items not yours?
I have a greeting card I’m giving someone that I’m holding on to! I also have business cards from contacts that were given to me at various events.

Biggest thing ever in your bag?
I have this creepy cat umbrella I got at a rummage sale for $1. It even has this weird wooden handle in the shape of a cat face. So, I’ve stuffed it in the bag before.

When do you carry it?
Pretty much all of the time–though I’ll sometimes switch it up with a smaller clutch for night, like my favorite magenta one I bought from Atticus! I don’t like to lug around a large bag at night. It’s all about matching the outfit at that point.

Favorite spots in Madison to take it?
Shopping, out to dinner, the movies, the Comedy Club, anywhere I’ll be hanging out with friends.

Favorite places to shop for a bag in Madison?
Anywhere that’s locally owned—although mine is from Aldo—I couldn’t let it go once I spotted it; I had to have it because of the color! Locally, dependable handbag shops include: Patricia Shoppe, Dazzle, The Purple Goose, bop and Atticus.

Where would you never take it?
Sporting events like a UW football game or Brewer game, it’s too bulky and gets in the way—I guess it being seven pounds doesn’t help!

Oddest thing ever in the bag?
I don’t think this is odd but the people who haven’t seen it do: the purse clip I have unfolds and attaches to the edge of a table so you can hang your bag there! It’s fantastic—I highly recommend it. Another wacky thing: a photo on my camera of myself and Jamie Foxx. I met him this summer at his concert—I have a friend who knows him!

Farthest the bag has traveled with you?
Minneapolis, Minn., or Hayward, Wis.—that’s waaaaay up north (five hours)—I haven’t been on any trips since purchasing this bag since I just got it in October.

What do you wish you’d find in it?
Free money. A vacation gift certificate. Or, a gift certificate to any of the fine local retailers I write about all of the time! So fun.

How many other bags are currently in your rotation?
For work I have a brown patent shoulder bag by Loeffler Randall for Target. I love it. For nighttime I’ll carry a clutch. I have many iterations: snakeskin, a magenta one from Atticus, gold pyramid-studded, silver, black patent with a bow, Anya Hindmarch for Target nude and gold, a Coach wristlet, brown and red quilted patent, and I just bought a teal satin ruched one that goes perfectly with a teal necklace I own.

What’s your dream bag or the one you’re eyeing next?
I was reading InStyle the other night and spotted an Urban Expressions studded gray shoulder bag that I LOVE (it comes in turquoise too…beautiful). If money were no object I covet Marc Jacobs royal blue studded “Stam” handbag or any number of handbags from shopbop.com.

What’s the one piece of clothing you can’t live without?
You’re asking the wrong person: everything I have in my wardrobe has a purpose...but, I guess I’ll say for winter my skinny jeans because they go with everything including flats, heels and boots and for summer cute, floaty sundresses are my thing. They’re low maintenance. For accessories I can’t live without gold jewelry, including my gold boyfriend watch and gold hoops that I wear every day.