Determined to discover my dream tote, I wandered into Pucci's narrow Fifth Avenue shop. Scanning the inventory, I saw a bag perched on the highest shelf. I couldn’t get enough of its plush cotton—it could double as a pillow for catnaps on the sand. And the swirling mix of plum, periwinkle, and sea foam made it look more like an abstract painting than a purse. It was just begging to be taken from the ocean to boardwalk cocktails. 701 Fifth Ave., nr. 54th St.; 212-230-1135.