Purses, not diamonds, are this girl's best friend!  I absolutely LOVE purses and have way more of them than I probably should.  A great looking handbag can easily jazz up even the most dull and boring of outfits.  If there's one thing I've known about myself for a long time, it's that I just cannot carry a small purse!

Believe me, I've tried to cram all of my stuff into one of those cute, tiny purses, but it is just not for me.  I love large purses!  They make such a bold statement and can actually carry all of my essentials with ease.  Especially now that I'm a mom and need to be ready for the unexpected when I leave the house, I will forever tote the big, beautiful handbag!

So color me thrilled when I was given the chance to review the Monroe handbag in red from Namaste Inc.!  Keep reading to find out what I thought about this handbag.

I must admit that I was in love with this purse from the moment I saw it.  I think the bright "lipstick red" color is beautiful and knowing that it is made from animal-friendly faux leather makes me feel great too.  There are so many wonderful design ideas and "extras" to this purse which really make it stand apart from others I've carried before.  For instance, the Monroe has a unique 3-compartment storage design with zippered and magnetic closures.

The very front and center pockets have both a zipper and a magnetic closure for extra security.  The last of the three compartments only uses a magnetic closure.  This last compartment is where I would store my most used items, such as car keys, sunglasses, lipstick, etc.  With only the magnetic closure on this compartment, it is super easy and convenient to access your frequently used items. There are plenty of high quality accents to the Monroe handbag as well.

I like the silver square buckles used to attach the shoulder straps onto the purse itself.  The Monroe also has this same silver buckle accent on the sides of the purse too, which really pulls everything together and makes the buckles more of a fashion statement instead of just a functional element.

 

I also think it's a wonderful idea to put a large flat pocket on the outside of this purse.  Because it is flat, the pocket remains discreet and doesn't make the purse appear bulky, but it also serves as a perfect place to store that magazine or newspaper you were reading while drinking your morning coffee!  The Monroe also has five small silver guards which will protect the bottom of your purse from getting dirty or scuffed up, should you have to set it on the ground.

One of the coolest features of the Monroe handbag however, is the strap buddy shown in the bottom right picture.  It's a small loop that snaps around both handles of your purse to prevent one from sliding off your shoulder.  I don't know how many times that happens to me when I am trying to load something into the car or pick up Riley, etc.  Now, with the strap buddy, both straps are secured together and they stay put on my shoulder.

 

If you love carrying big purses like I do, just check out all of the pictures below to see how much this baby will hold!  There is plenty of room to carry your water bottle, book, hairbrush, makeup, knitting project, toys and snacks for the kids, etc.  Now, you will never have to worry about not having enough room to be truly prepared for any situation when you leave the house!

Namaste Inc. has definitely designed a winner with the Monroe handbag.  It is super stylish, with plenty of fashionable details that make this handbag look great.  It is also well-designed and super functional too!  From the strap buddy to the 3 unique compartments to the literature pocket to the five silver purse protectors on the bottom of this bag, the Monroe does it all!  It also comes in a wide variety of colors (Black, Eggplant, Hollywood Pink, Red, Lime and Peacock) to suit any fashion statement you want to make!

Disclosure:  I received the Monroe handbag from Namaste Inc. in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my own personal experiences with this item and is completely honest and objective.