Latest Outfit: Metallics

J. Crew necklace (c/o) and cashmere sweatshirt | Gap 1969 Always Skinny jeans | Roots 'Shirley' bag (c/o) | 3.1 Phillip Lim loafers (from The Room at The Bay) | Lipstick: Dior Rouge 999

When I clapped eyes on the 'Shirley' bag at the Roots Autumn/Winter 2013 preview back in July, I knew it was the bag I had to have for the colder months. At the time, I was so bewildered by the myriad wonderful items I was seeing that I mistakenly thought the bag was available in gold saffiano leather. I was pretty bummed when I later realized it was available in black, navy, and oxblood, but my disappointment was shortlived when I learned something else: Roots offers full customization on most of their leather items for a small fee. Do I want a one-of-a-kind custom 'Shirley' in gold saffiano leather, the folks at Roots asked? Yes! I was thrilled to be getting my dream bag, but my happiness truly brimmed over when they told me it would be a gift.

The bag arrived at the Robson store this weekend, and it's just as wonderful as I imagined it would be. The gold saffiano leather, which looks like a burnished bronze in some lights and is sourced from Italy, is durable and surprisingly neutral. The pockets (including a large exterior zip pocket) keep all my work essentials organized. The main compartment is even big enough for an umbrella—which, thankfully, I haven't had to use too much this October. And there's a detachable shoulder strap for added comfort when I'm lugging around more things.

I'm going to be using this as my main work bag in the months to come and relying on its metallic hue to add visual interest to dark outerwear pieces. But for its first outing, I paired the 'Shirley' with neutral basics and silver and sparkly accents. The gold saffiano leather lent the whole outfit a much needed dose of warmth.

Thanks, Roots!

P.S. In case you missed it, here are my top 5 autumn/winter picks from Roots's new collections. And keep your eyes peeled for gold saffiano leather items this winter!