Purse Purge: Ilana Kohn Carries Cat Toys, Cover Girl Lip Stain

A Thread NY "One to Watch" for  2012, Ilana Kohn creates punchy ready-to-wear collections characterized by bold colors and unusual patterns. Not surprisingly, the quirky NYC designer keeps her Rennes handbag stuffed with a few irreverent keepsakes (a cat toy found in her boyfriend's shoe, for example) along with the everyday necessities (Band-Aids are handy for late-night scissor accidents—which, sadly, Kohn is very familiar with).

1. Band-Aids – "I need a bunch of these today because I cut myself pretty badly making patterns last night. I hope the factory's not too squeamish cause there's definitely blood on one of the patterns."

2. Keys – "Ironically, the 'I Heart NY' key is to my parents house in Virginia. I really do need a new keychain, though."

3. Baggu tote – "I always always keep at least one of these with me."

4. Cat Toy – "The boyfriend found this in his shoe once and I decided to carry it around with me since it reminds me of my beloved fur baby."

5. Daily Essentials – "My Comme des Garçons change purse, trusty Ray Bans, brush and mirror, [lip balm], lip stain (Cover Girl, the best), business cards, notebook and pen."

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Purse Purge: Geren Ford Carries Goyard Envelopes, Berocca Vitamins

Purse Purge: Geren Ford Carries Goyard Envelopes, Berocca Vitamins

Geren Ford's funky, feminine womenswear line as well as her QVC capsule collection often take inspiration from her travels around the world. So it was hardly surprising that the designer's handbag was ready to hit the road, complete with a much-loved Moleskine journal (festooned with baggage claim ticket stickers), vitamins and classic Goyard envelopes. 

1. Bottega Veneta Make-up Case - "Loaded with all the bits that a make-up artist friend told me I needed."

2.?Goyard Envelope - "I actually put cash into this and keep it out of the wallet. I think I have a tiny problem with Goyard and small leather goods in general??."

3. Sugar Lip Balm by Fresh - "No matter what day or what country I have to have this with me."

4. iPhone in ExoVault Case - "I adore this amazing heavy metal case."

5. Berocca - "Life-saving vitamins. Not unlike the Fresh [lip balm], these are always with me."

6. Moleskine - "I love that these are navy rather than black. I picked them up at a great little bookstore on Broadway Market in London earlier this year. I have taken to putting my baggage claim ticket stickers on the outside—think of it as a modern day steamer trunk. I use these to collect my inspiration and have logged them for years; now I'll know where I was as well.??

7. Three Key Rings - "I travel so much that I keep my home, car and office keys on separate rings. It's just easier to separate them that way."

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Purse Purge: Dusen Dusen Stashes Bright Pink Shades and Printed Fabric Pieces

Considering that mega-bright prints and geometric graphics have become her design signatures, it's no surprise Ellen Van Dusen stores scraps of her punchy fabric treatments in her cool, woven handbag.

We're also keen on Dusen's circular Karen Walker sunnies, which, in a candy shade of bright pink, feel exactly right for summertime.

1. Random fabric swatches - "Always! I don't know how or why they are in there, but I am bound to find at least a few fabric swatches deep in my bag."

2. Sunglasses - "I love my Karen Walker sunnies. They brighten up every outfit."

3. Everyday essentials - "Wallet, keys, cellphone, chapstick, and Band-Aids in case some shoes rub me the wrong way."

4. Notepad - "I always have a pad of paper on me for notes, to-do lists and sketching on the go. I always have a pencil and a good pen; I am obsessed with good pens."