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How Much To Pay For a Bag?

I received an inquiry last night from a fellow blogger and reader (not a minister)* who wanted to know, “How much is too much to pay for a bag?”

What a wonderful question to get on the day the stock market crashed! PeaceBang has spent the last 24 hours wtih a dimply smile on her face, the kind of smile that says, “I’m trying really hard not to look at my pension account balance on the Fidelity website right now! Because although I have deep and profound fears of becoming a bag lady upon retirement, I am staying in the moment! And thanking God for the miracle of compounding interest!”

So let’s not think about the stock market… let’s think about bags. Deep, cleansing breaths.

Now, PeaceBang loves bags. Bags are easy to love. They don’t pinch your feet, they never get tight if you gain a few pounds, they’re always ready to go when you are, and if you get them really roomy like I do, you can fit your day planner, cosmetics case, a few books, a cell phone, gloves, hat, a water bottle, and the Louisiana Purchase in there and go about your day feeling so prepared.

PeaceBang buys most of her bags at TJ Maxx, Filene’s Basement or Macy’s, all of which have an excellent selection. Lately, I am thinking that Target has a fine selection, although many of their offerings are rather wrinkly and cotton-based, which is not very polished and professional.

The most I think I have ever spent on a bag is $75, and most often I spend closer to $20 (I’m telling you, TJ Maxx is your man here). But that’s just me. I rotate my bags so frequently none of them get much wear-and-tear, and for those who can’t be bothered switching bags, your one classic favorite will get quite a work-out.

All of which is my way of saying that
http://www.katespade.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2105628&cp=1863844.1863855.2117272&parentPage=family
this Kate Spade bag, the current lust-item of this reader, seems to me to be a pretty practical lust-item. After all, it’s not a poodle-shaped, diamante-encrusted clutch. It is a classic handbag. It is extremely handsome. Kate Spade is adored by millions of women not only for her elegant designs but I assume because she makes a durable, well-made product.

You have to know your outer limits. PeaceBang’s big ticket items are literally big tickets: I dearly love to travel and am willing to spend $400 on a plane ticket to a faraway land, but not on a bag. I lose sunglasses all the time, so I never spend more than $15 on them. A friend of mine loses sunglasses all the time but spends $100 on them. She loves the feel of a luxuriously heavy frame on her face. Some of us will splurge on a swanky perfume because we don’t feel complete without it, and I heard a seminarian today say that she gets facials a few times a year; something PeaceBang is pretty sure isn’t in many seminarians’ budgets. Self-care is exactly that. Self. As in yourself, not somebody else. Brava, I say.

Your money is yours by virtue of your hard work, bubelahs. It represents your life-force and your energy. We all have a unique relationship to money. The important thing is that you know what yours is, how you developed it, and how healthy you think it is. Before you spend big bucks on a bag or anything else, you should know how such purchases affect your sense of yourself, your values and your priorities, and factor in your desire there too, ’cause it matters.

If you want to expend $400 of your life force on a Kate Spade bag, PeaceBang affirms your decision and and hopes you will cherish that bag for many years to come. She hopes that it will give you a sense of joy and confidence every time you sling it over your shoulder and go out to rock the world at Georgetown Law School, or wherever life takes you.

* Madgebaby’s comment prompts me to say again that the woman who wrote in about the Kate Spade bag is not a minister, and that a Kate Spade bag does strike me as (a) beyond most pastor’s budget but (b) too “designer-y” for ministers. Agree? Disagree?
However, it was a great question and I was eager to ruminate on it with you.

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Her Name Was "Priestly"


miranda priestly
Originally uploaded by Peacebang.

Aloha, fabulous and darling ones.

I was just cruising through some Oscar commentaries and thinking about how much I admire Meryl Streep no matter what she wears to award shows, and remembering how much I adored her in “The Devil Wears Prada” as the steely fashion maven Miranda Priestly. And then it hit me: “priestly.” An absolutely fitting name!!

If you’ll permit PeaceBang to get a wee bit philosophical for a moment, it isn’t too far-fetched to point out that fashion, like religion, is all about ritual and worship.

If we believe that serious fashionistas are worshiping false idols, we certainly won’t get anywhere in a conversation with them — or anyone else who is taken by the popular message that Appearance Is Everything–by living a planet away from the beauty they are trying to be part of.

The deep desire for beauty isn’t shallow. Channeling that desire by spending your paycheck on Manolo Blahniks is. But darlings, why judge? Get out there and evangelize!
We are ministers in a culture where people earnestly prowl the cosmetics counters and the sports emporia seeking some kind of transcendence. Why not meet them there occasionally and start the conversation by bonding over the splendor of the latest Chanel lipgloss, or the rad coolness of the latest style of Nike shoes?
Throwing stones from a distance will certainly do no good.

Start a conversation with how much God loves us, or on the joys of tithing (and PeaceBang does tithe to charitable organizations, btw), and watch folks edge out the door. Compliment that shopper on her lovely necklace that belonged to her grandmother, and open the doors for something deeper to emerge. Do you begin every pastoral encounter by sonorously intoning “And how is it with your soul, my child?” No. You talk about the weather. You notice someone’s haircut, you find a comfortable way to sit. You make eye contact, you hone in. You attend to each other by paying attention. Before you get to the deep stuff, it’s just two descendants of monkeys sitting together on the same branch going hoo-ha, hoo-ha.

If we think that God made a beautiful creation, a natural religious response is to want to be as beautiful as possible within that creation. I haven’t met a minister yet who was so spiritual that they weren’t walking around in a body that needed to be groomed and clothed every day. When you get promoted to the job of Holy Spirit, you’re all set. For now, you’ve got incarnation to deal with. Sorry. I know it’s not easy.

I’ve been looking lately for a quote by the Jungian analyst James Hillman who made the startling comment in one of his books that American personal slovenliness was such an affront to the rest of the world’s aesthetic sense that it was actually a casus belli.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casus_belli

When I originally read that statement my blood ran cold with a combination of alarm, offense and denial. I wish I could find the quote to see how I’d react to it now, but so far, no luck. I really want to find it. If we have any Hillmanites out there, can you help?

I’m just gettin’ all philosophical because lots of people have been asking me deep questions about aesthetics and beauty and stuff lately. Cripes.

So to get back to business, let’s have a Product Review: I tried a sample of Kiehl’s Soothing Gel Masque last night which was lervly and yes, soothing!

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More on Vestments

I had to share this with you!

One of my parishioners told me the other day that there used to be a store in a neighboring town called “Heavenly Rounds – Religious Vestments & Square Dancing Clothing.”

Isn’t that delicious!!??

Speaking of vestments, this is the Rev. Dr. Kendra Vaughan Covey, Elder High Priestess and Metaphysician of the First Church of Wicca: http://www.firstchurchofwicca.org/AboutOurMinister.html
Rev. Dr. Kendra Vaughan Hovey

One of you saw Rev. Dr. Kendra on television and wrote to express curiosity her decision to wear a clerical collar. I thought it would be best to let Kendra speak for herself and sent her an e-mail inquiry, to which she responded,

“First, let me say that the collar – although it is most widely accepted in the Roman Catholic faith – is not a Christian item at all. It was brought to us in the 1700’s as a form of clothing worn by all clergy at the time. Since then it is very common to see a collar worn by Methodist ministers, Unitarian Universalist ministers, as well as Non-Denominational ministers.

Incidentally, Raymond Buckland (The Father of American Witchcraft) and Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, the founder of the Gray School of Wizardry, both wore a collar for several years while active in Pagan ministry.

My reasons for wearing the collar are quite simple:

1) I am first, a Non-Denominational minister that believes I should be available to all people at all times. You would be amazed at the number of people who actually stop me wherever I am to tell me their problems and ask for advice. I am thrilled that I can help.

2) I have a pentacle embroidered on the left cuff of every sleeve – so when people stop and ask me what type of minister I am I show them the pentacle – say Pagan, and look at it as an opportunity to educate one more person – emphasizing of course, that we do not proselytize.

3) Currently, I am making huge strides in being accepted into several Interfaith Councils and working as a hospital and prison Chaplain. The collar gives me instant recognition as clergy and of course, brings a level of much needed respect to the Pagan community from the Community at Large.

I hope that helps clarify things for you!”

Rev. Dr. Kendra also recommended to me this vestments glossary:
http://www.kencollins.com/glossary/vestments.htm

So there you have it. One non-Christian clergyperson’s explanation of why she wears clericals. (I think where she says early on that the collar is not Christian at all, she meant to say “Catholic,” corresponding to Collins’ explanation of the collar’s Protestant origins).

Thanks for allowing me to post this, Rev. Dr. Kendra. Blessings and kiss of Peace!

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Lipstick On The Communion Chalice

A lovely and cosmetically-conscientious reader says,

“Hello Peacebang!

Big problem for a chalice bearer and future Episcopal deacon. Lipstick on the chalice at communion is a nasty thing, and shouldn’t be put there by someone who has to wipe it off! What’s a good lipstick that will adhere to the lips and not come off on the chalice? I’ve been doing without on Sunday but now that I’m fiftysomething and rather white-haired, I could use a little more color.
Thanks from a fan.
peace,M.”

Dear M,

Oh, ewww! I hadn’t thought about the problem of lipstick residue on the Communion chalice, but you’re good to bring it to my attention.

PeaceBang is a huge fan of CoverGirl Outlast All Day Lip Color in Blush Pearl and wears it every Sunday to church. Any of the CoverGirl Outlast All Day colors are good, since the moisturizing topcoat is no very emollient but not gooey.

I often wear it with another lipcolor on top, but it works great on its own.

Let us know how it works!
Kiss of peace to you!

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No-Iron Shirts, And A Land’s End Catalog Review

Look, fellas!
I found you some nice no-iron shirts from Land’s End!
http://tinyurl.com/2jtwly

While the boys are off shopping, can we gals tawk?

PeaceBang was perusing the new Plus Size Collection of the Land’s End catalog, which she generally finds to be a source of affordable and well-made clothing. Land’s End seems to be deluging her mailbox lately, in fact.

But she was very unhappy with this latest offering and if there are any plus size designers out there, PeaceBang would like to HAVE A WORD WITH YOU. Through a MEGAPHONE, darling.

PLEASE STOP DESIGNING CLOTHES FOR SQUARE-SHAPED WOMEN. WE ARE NOT BOXES.
THANK YOU.

Now, PeaceBang has not noticed this problem on the on-line catalog — which has no models — but she notices it when looking at how the clothes fit one real-life women (if catalog models could be considered “real life,” and for the sake of argument we’ll say that they can).

These clothes, when worn by women, seem to PeaceBang to be mostly shapeless and on the edge of frumpy. Oh sure, the models look cute. That’s because they had their hair and make-up professionally done and they’re in fabulous lighting and smiling huge, well-rested smiles and standing around on beaches and porches without a care in the world. Wouldn’t you look adorable under similar circumstances? But PeaceBang is a shrewd little vixen and she is not fooled. Outside the magical Land Of Catalog, those clothes are mostly just not designed very well, especially the skirts which are really just a Long Column Of Fabric. We are not fooled, Land’s End! Your Long Print Bias Skirt on page 31 is just a sheet with a zipper and button closure, isn’t it? Isn’t it?
Thank you for not making your blazers similarly shapeless. You can fire your skirt and shirt designer and keep the blazer and pants designer.

This catalog also highlights the difficulty we have determining genres of clothing and whether or not they will work for us. In this particular case, PeaceBang is typically confused. Is this Land’s End clothing meant to be casual clothing women could ostensibly wear to work, or is it meant to be casual sportswear that would be especially nice for gardening in?

Hence, methinks, the crisis in dressing for many of us. There’s too much gray area out there. And that’s where YOU have to be discerning and wise, powder pigeons. Land’s End or Macy’s or Target or Kohl’s or Dayton’s are not going to make it clear to you in what context their offerings are acceptable or appropriate. YOU have to do the work of finding your own look and determining what’s appropriate for your work and your message.

While we’re on the subject, PeaceBang happens to think that the colors of many of Land’s End garments are puerile — too reminiscent of the nursery to adorn her 41-year old person. In fact, PeaceBang finds this problem with many manufacturers of sportswear for plus-sized women. All those complexion-killing greens and cheap saccharine pinks and horrible powdery blues…. eesh. PeaceBang likes colors with a bit more complexity and sophistication when she can find them, and by that she doesn’t mean “island turquoise” or “deep coral.” She does not work as a luau hostess, Land’s End. And I love pink — but that raspberry pink they’re calling “French pink,” well, non. That’s not French pink. PeaceBang has been to France and she can tell you that that’s not French pink. It’s more like Akron, Ohio Pink.

That said, the neutrals are quite nice. And you thought I never had anything nice to say.

My point is, darlings, that not only have I not finished my first coffee of the morning, but is to say that the clothier’s job is to sell you clothing, not to define your image for you or to work with your figure or your coloring. That’s up to you.

It’s hard work, but someone’s gotta do it, and you’re the best one for the job. In fact, when it comes right down to it, you’re the only one for the job.