These Purses Merge Style With Feminism

Finally, an appropriately badass, politically charged way to tote around my birth control! Because buried at the bottom of my Kate Spade obviously wasn't cutting it. Michele Pred, a Swedish-American artist whose work has been shown everywhere from Stockholm to San Francisco, has turned vintage handbags into pro-choice works of art, on display at the Nancy Hoffman Gallery in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood from now until March 14th.

The collection, "Pred-à-Porter Pro-Choice," features revamped vintage bags, outfitted for 21st century feminism. Pred used bags from the '50's and '60's, juxtaposing their ladylike silhouettes and dainty clasps with tote neon lights boasting badass phrases like "My Body, My Business," "Access," and "Equality." One even comes filled to the brim with birth control pills, in case you forget what this display of eccentric accessories is really about — reproductive rights!

Best of all? These bags don't just demand equality. They're actually working towards it.

Five percent of the proceeds from her exhibition go directly to NARAL Pro-Choice New York, a non-profit reproductive rights charity. This awesome merging of politics and purses makes me want to go right out and glue my pills to my purse — even though that may end up being just a tad counterproductive.

Want a better way to fight the good fight? Head down to Pred's show if you're in the NYC area to help support NARAL and fashionably kick it to the politicians who want to limit your right to choose.