When my grandmother passed away, amidst the poignant sorting of her belongings, I inherited something unexpected: her Vera Bradley tote bag. In the days following the funeral, as family gathered, this seemingly simple quilted bag became an emblem of shared memories and practical inheritance. My grandfather, in his wisdom, understood that distributing her cherished items amongst us, her grandchildren, would be a comforting process for all. This collective rummage through her life’s possessions was less about vying for prized possessions and more about sharing a piece of her spirit.
My grandmother, a petite woman with a vibrant personality, was known for her impeccable style. Her closet was a treasure trove of beautifully made garments, though many were too small for most of us. While elegant dresses and tailored suits might have been coveted, it was the unassuming tote bag that proved universally accessible. Unlike clothing with restrictive sizes, a tote bag, especially a Vera Bradley Travel Bag, fits anyone and any lifestyle.
Initially, my selection of the Vera Bradley bag felt somewhat like a consolation prize. Amongst a sea of stylish clothes, the quilted tote seemed like a default choice, a way to ensure I left with something tangible. Part of a set destined for my sister, including a matching makeup kit, the bag accompanied me from Connecticut to New York City but remained largely unused for years. In my younger, perhaps more cynical days, Vera Bradley was synonymous with a certain kind of “girly garishness.” The bold, clashing patterns, while recognizable, were often perceived as unfashionable. Mentioning the brand might elicit a scoff, a relic of a bygone preppy era that didn’t quite translate into modern chic. What place did Vera Bradley have in the style landscape of the 2020s?
Then came March, and the prospect of a trip to Italy. As I packed for a seven-night journey across four Italian cities, my usual canvas tote felt inadequate, too mundane for such an adventure. I needed something more substantial, more organized, something with pockets – a proper personal item. And there it was, perched on the top shelf of my closet: the Vera Bradley travel bag. This particular bag, with its cornflower blue base reminiscent of denim, adorned with a delicate teardrop motif in white, yellow, and red, was far from the loud patterns I once associated with the brand. Red stripes framed the top and bottom, intertwined with a floral pattern of sage green vines and yellow and blue blossoms. Inside, a mustard yellow lining with its own subtle floral print revealed an array of practical pockets.
Grabbing the Vera Bradley travel bag, I filled it with essentials and embarked on my Italian journey. And then, something unexpected happened. Vera, once relegated to the back of my closet, became the star of the show. Fellow travelers, locals, everyone seemed captivated by it. “Is that Vera Bradley?” and “I love your bag!” became recurring phrases, so frequent that I jokingly wondered if I was merely an accessory to the bag itself. The bag’s joyful maximalism, its vibrant colors and prints, resonated perfectly with the spirit of Italy. It was as if the bag embodied the essence of Italy, and Italy, in turn, amplified the bag’s charm. In Perugia, as I journaled on the steps of the Cattedrale San Lorenzo during a moment of respite, a fellow tourist discreetly captured a photo. The image, later shared with me, perfectly encapsulates the scene: the grandeur of Gothic architecture, myself immersed in my thoughts, but undeniably, the focal point is the Vera Bradley travel bag, a testament to its unexpected allure and its perfect harmony with the vibrant backdrop of Italy. What began as a hand-me-down had transformed into a cherished and stylish travel companion, proving that sometimes, the most delightful discoveries are found in the most unexpected places.
