(ESPE Wallets at Vaguely Reminiscent)

I picked up this most excellent ESPE wallet at the most insanely funtastic boutique — in downtown Durham, North Carolina — called Vaguely Reminiscent. Holy guacamole, this petite place is chockablock with the coolest objet d’art, knickknacks, & doodads. They also have women’s clothing, shoes, purses, jewelry, and other accessories. I have bought every pair of sunglasses I have owned in the last six years there (and they are ONLY NINE BUCKS!). You walk in and you are instantly agog & overstimulated in the best possible way. If I died and went to heaven tomorrow, my cloud condo in the sky would look just like this brimful boutique. Alas, I digress… We’re all here so I can tell you about my absolutely fabuloso wallet!

So, this is my second ESPE wallet, and there will be a third and a fourth and a 125th (<—— I’m far too lazy to spell all that out) because I bloody love ’em! I am a smitten kitten over their spiffy, artistic, retro-inspired motifs, but this interfuses together puuurfectly with the polyurethane they use to make them. And here’s the most sparkletaclar part…(!) This synthetic leather is not only durable & delightful, but it is also 1OO% cruelty-free & animal-friendly — no animal lives are taken & no toxins from leather tanning are released into our want-to-be happy habitat. Schwing! Oh, and ESPE was born by a dream team of *only* creative women in Toronto, so it’s no secret as to why their products are so delicious. Sh’yeah! (Okay, okay, that was my last Wayne’s World reference, scout’s honor.)

ESPE doesn’t just have wallets, however — they also have handbags and all kinds of other fantasmo accessories like luggage tags, iPad cases, coin purses, cell phone holders, handbag charms, & even key holders that come with a chichi complimentary gift box. #FANCY! Rumor has it that they are adding messenger bags to their product line sometime in the fall, as well, so start saving your pocket change for Coinstar! My pocket change is going to go toward an ESPE pocketBOOK, but I just can’t make up my mind which… I have it narrowed down between the red Duo backpack with the owl, Impression Grey, Twiggy Blue, or Prom Green. Decisions, decisions… Delectable, delectable… Any beloved friends or family who are reading this right now, feel free to decide for me. (Note to self: Add Angelika Frangelico shipping address link to Dashboard.)

(KIIIDDING!)

(Sooorta.)

Oh yeah, and for all the Ravin’ Maven Mommies on board, ESPE has a really lovely, ladylike diaper bag. When my Mini Maven was a wee tot, the diaper bag selection made me break out in hives. Let me tell you, NOTHING goes well with hives but bees, queen or not! Contrariwise, a splendiferous beehive is fierce. There’s 1O% Kate Pierson in me and I like to bring her out to play any chance I get. (Please excuse me while A.D.D. disrupts this regularly scheduled program… Now, what were we talking about? Ah-ha, why yes, of course…!)

ESPE’s collections change with every season, so if you see something you like now, nab it! I did that with my first ESPE wallet — I found one with birds on it that I was just ravin’ mad about, but my previous one had a couple more months of life in it, so I waited and it wasn’t there anymore when I went back. So when I saw THIS one, I grabbed it and said, “MINE!” Wait, no… I said, “It will be mine. Oh, yes — It will be mine.” (Scout’s honor code revoked. I lied.)

My own personal Hoot Long Wallet in green by ESPE

Party… I mean… Purchase on, Mavens!

~ Angelika Frangelico *gros bisous*

*** Anyone passing through Durham, NC that would like to check out Vaguely Reminiscent, it is located at 728 9th Street, Durham, NC, 27705 — (919) 286-3911 — and you can also follow them on Facebook. You’ll be seeing a lot of things mentioned about Durham on What’s Ravin’, Maven? because it’s the best city on earth, and that’s a fact! No sense in arguing with me. ::grin::