i had a tomato purse before loewe
a timeline
My friend Isabelle spotted it first. “You should get that tomato purse,” she said. We were at Three Turtle Doves in Woodstock, NY, on what was becoming an annual girls’ trip. I was weeks away from quitting my job without having another one lined up, and I was about to move. Needless to say, I did not need a $200 vintage tomato purse that would fit two cards, keys, and a small lipstick. But I looked at that tomato, and I imagined a lifetime of regret if I didn’t buy it. So I did.
The moral of this story: Let your friends peer pressure you into buying things you can’t afford every once in a while! You never know when a seemingly quirky purchase will turn into a viral sensation. I won’t pretend to have started a trend (“Tomato Girl Summer” first appeared in 2023), but the timeline below will prove that I can claim to have beaten the current “world’s hottest brand” to the tomato purse.
March 24, 2024
I buy my tomato purse. Please note the timestamped photo below, which I took later that evening.
May 6, 2024
I wear my tomato out in public for the first time to a few Met Gala after parties Tim was covering for a magazine piece. The dress code that year was “Garden of Time.”
June 3, 2024
(AKA @homocowboi) tweets his response to a particularly sculptural tomato, which goes viral in certain corners of the fashion internet. 
June 6, 2024
Jonathan Anderson, Loewe’s then–Creative Director, responds with this Instagram post of what appears to be a prototype of a clutch inspired by the tweet.
April 10, 2025
Loewe offers a first glimpse of the finished product in this campaign video.
May 4, 2025
Loewe releases a process video of the making of the tomato purse, priced at $3,950. It sold out immediately.
There you have it. I had a tomato purse before Loewe. And it turns out $200 was a steal. I’d estimate I’ve worn it 15 times over the past year, which breaks down to a $13.13 cost per wear. You’d need to wear Loewe’s 301 times before you got that kind of return. Plus, without fail, a stranger stops me to tell me how much they love it every time I wear it. That feeling is priceless.
I can’t find out much about my tomato purse beyond that it was made in Italy likely in the 60s or 70s. I’ve searched things like “gold hardshell tomato purse” and “vintage tomato minaudière,” but I’ve only found sold-out options. I do know someone who saw mine, set some alerts, and managed to snag one on Poshmark. Here are some alternatives, including a Loewe neck pouch for $850 that looks to be coming back in stock.
shop talk
On the heels of a two-week trip to Paris/Marrakech followed by an out-of-state-wedding, I’m not shopping much right now, but here are a few things on my mind.
This woven tote, this diaphanous Issey Miyaki number, and this chic little crossbody. will give you a tomato vibe if not a literal tomato.
I’ll do a full rundown of what we did and bought in Paris, but for now I can vouch for these jelly sandals Tim and I both picked up from Landline, an excellent shoppy shop in the 11th arrondissement. They’ll be familiar to the Salter House set, but I found it much easier to swallow spending €20 than $54. If you want a full rundown on the history and material, I recommend Emilia Petrarca’s interview with the founder of Plasticana.
I will eventually need some new non-jelly sandals for this summer, having worn out my go-to black leather pair by the end of last summer. When I pull the trigger, it will be these.
While we’re on the subject of food-based trends, I’ve been unconvinced of butter yellow. However, this Alex Mill cami from their new silk capsule is tempting.
book talk
As expected, I am still making my way through Middlemarch. And, as promised, here is a roundup of a few lighter, more devour-able books for your summer.
Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter: To me, this is the ultimate beach read. Much of it is set in coastal Italy, though it jumps across timelines and timezones to Hollywood, Edinburgh, Seattle, etc. It’s a love story, but it’s not cliched. It’s escapist, but it’s not mindless. And it has a dose of Old Hollywood drama. Just read it!
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton: I don’t know if this is the popular opinion, but I like Dolly Alderton’s fiction better than her essays. Ghosts is about a successful 30-something food writer in London (dream life situation!). It’s funny and unfortunately relatable if you’ve ever been on a dating app. In true Alderton fashion, it’s as much about female friendships as it is about romantic love.
Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin: Stick around here long enough, and you’ll hear much more about Laurie Colwin. I love all of her books, but I always recommend Happy All the Time to start. If you’ve watched Nora Ephron’s oeuvre more times than you can count, you will likely love it too. Set in Manhattan in the 1970s, it’s about two cousins, Guido and Vincent, and the extremely independent women they fall in love with.
The Girls’ Guide To Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank: One could argue this is a novel or a collection of interconnected short stories. Either way, it’s very easy to read in bite-size chunks on a commute, on a plane, at the beach, etc. It follows Jane Rosenal from her teens to late thirties. It is very funny, and the title doesn’t do it justice. I insisted my boyfriend read it, and he loved it. Also, news to me, the latest edition has a forward written by the next author on this list…
Funny Girl by Nick Hornby: Nick Hornby has written many very funny books. Though, despite its title, Funny Girl is not the funniest, I think it’s the most fun. It tells the story of how Barbara Parker becomes Sophie Straw, a Lucile-Ball-like comedian in 1960s London. Messy, unlikable female characters have become de rigueur, and I so enjoy reading those stories. But it’s refreshing that Barbara/Sophie is extremely lovable.
I love Melissa Bank and Laurie Colwin so I will have to investigate the others on your list! But I am also slogging through Middlemarch…
Love that 🍅 bag!