At least that’s what I’ve told myself when pre-ordering the Cult Gaia Ark handbag. I had seen it online a few times and told myself it was overhyped and I shouldn’t spend the money. You are not a hip bag kind of girl, my subconscious told me. And so it was settled for a time…

Then, coming out of my favorite café two weeks ago, I saw an incredibly chic woman wearing it with a bright colored, tropical patterned dress and I nearly fell over. The texture and shape catches your eye and looks both fun, and aesthetically pleasing. I love the natural bamboo, the handles, and the fanned out panel design – a pattern that reminds me of a chair we had growing up.

And so, I caved…

Now, like I said, I am not a bag of the moment kind of girl, but this one screams summer, tropical islands, palm trees, and piña coladas, and if I stare at it long enough I actually feel like I’m on a vacation. Well, not really, but it sure gives me a reason to get out in the hot sun and wear it.

The ark bag feels like a vintage piece, harkening back to a time of old Hollywood glamour and high wasted bikini bottoms, without the Beverly Hills price. At $140 for the large size and $128 for the small – what I purchased – I could hardly feel guilty about it. Now let’s just hope I don’t put anything inside that can fall through the cracks!

What bag are you looking to wear for the summer? Share in the comments below!

The Cult Gaia Ark handbag is available for pre-order in small and large (don’t worry they ship quick!). It also comes in a few other colors like black. Flowers from my amazing friends over at Blooms in Hand!