When I grow up, I will buy myself a Kelly

My holy grail (for now, at least) is a Hermes Kelly. I look forward to the day I can finally afford it (here's wishful thinking for you). If I sell all the bags I own, along with my first born, I can probably buy one. Throw in my soul into the package, I might be able to get one in an exotic leather!


Makes you think Grace Kelly had it all, huh? Imagine meeting a prince, marrying him, and a designer naming a bag after you.

One of my style icons, Kelly Rutherford of Gossip Girl, toting another Kelly. I'm probably one of the few GG fans who isn't into Serena or Blair. I am into Lily!

And lest not we forget the Queen of Hermes herself, Madame Vicky Beckham.

See how classy the Kelly is? And see how classy the women carrying it are? So what to do if you want to feign classiness, but cannot afford it? You look for alternatives!


Here is my "Kelly" bag from a not-so-mainstream designer from Italy - Gianfranco Lotti. The quality is impeccable. Those Italians really know how to make their purses. Too bad they don't have store in Manila.

The design house has other pretty purses, such as:

 
Another alternative is the Louis Vuitton Malesherbes. I especially like it in Epi, it is ten more times prettier than the usual monogram.

And of course for the quilt lovers, we have a transmutation of the Kelly from Chanel.

Now excuse me while I find someone interested to buy my soul.

I adore...

My Dior.

Have I told you lately that I love tapestry? Oh. Well, I'll tell you again.

In my book, Christian Dior bag ladies are much more cooler than Vuitton or Gucci ladies. Why? Well, aside from the fact that vintage Dior is much harder to find, it feels as if Dior ladies are much more romantic. While everybody else is toting the more "mainstream" brands, I salute Dior fans for appreciating this underrated brand.

Other brands are more popular, and are thus heavily faked. Don't get me wrong, I've seen fake Diors being toted around, but not as much as your LVs and Guccis.

The tapestry collection was released in the 70s. Finding these in good condition is difficult, but absolutely worth it.

And here is a fellow baghag, Hilary Duff, toting a Dior vintage tapestry boston.

My chest hurts just by looking at this

For sale (or was for sale, not sure if someone already grabbed it, but I wouldn't be surprised if this was gone) at rabbits NYC, a vintage shop at Brooklyn. The bag is huge, size is listed as 16.25" (width) x 14.25 (height). I saw this listed at www.marketpublique.com and I felt like throwing up from the sheer beauty of this purse. Kiss lock! Tapestry! Giant coin purse shape! I'm dying.

Our mothers used to carry these!

One of the reasons I started this blog is the lack of information on vintage designer bags on the net. The ladies at the Purse Forum are very helpful, but there are only a few members there who can truly authenticate (or appreciate) vintage goods. I guess not everyone likes old things. They want their bags fresh and shiny and new. I like my bags musty, "historical", and well, old. Maybe I am strange.

Gucci is an iconic brand. Growing up in the 80s, I used to see these interlocked GG's around. I didn't care for them then, but the logos somehow ended up etched in my mind. How's that for subtle brainwashing?

The Gucci Anniversary Collection was popular in the late 80s. There are some floating around on eBay and other vintage resellers, and for a bunch of 20-year old bags, they still look great. Just goes to show how good the quality is. However, the usual problem would be the lining flaking off. I don't mind actually, as long as the exterior looks good.

Apparently, there are also some celebrities who like old stuff  (see, I am not that strange).

Sarah Michelle Gellar (aka Buffy) carrying a vintage Gucci Boston from the Anniversary Collection

Lindsay Lohan with the same, but more beat up looking, vintage boston. (Note to self: vintage doesn't mean abused and beat up).

Kerry Washington with the navy boston.

So they say that you grow old to be like your mother? Well if it means carrying vintage Gucci, then I don't mind. Not at all.

Somewhere in time...

I like vintage and vintage-looking luggage. Hat boxes, tapestry material, train cases -- anything and everything Audrey Hepburn (or Carrie Bradshaw for that matter) would have carried.

The Samsonite Black Label Vintage Collection makes my heart beat fast. People do not normally see Samsonite as a fashion brand - when you say Samsonite, we think of boring black luggage. Durable, yes, but  definitely unexciting.

This collection completely changes my perception. Released years ago, in 2006 I think, but looks timeless. Isabella Rosellini was the spokesperson for this collection.

Like they say -  the devil is in the details. I love the studs. Note that the lining of these luggage items are made of the same material as the matching pouch. Each item also comes with leather luggage tag and a clochette to hold the keys. Perfect.

What about French1946? Every baghag well-versed in vintage Vuitton knows that the French Company (based in the USA, not France!) used to produce bags for LV back in the day. The company still produces luggage and small items. And the quality is still superb. And oh yes, tapestry! Love, love, love.

Here is the 12 inch sacoche in my favorite pattern, Grey Rose. Does the shape look familiar?

Weekender Duffle in Paradise.

Cosmetics Case in Classique Noir

Now if only I had the money to travel.

Be still my heart

The first time heart pitter-pattered over a purse I felt so strongly about was back in 2003 (this is coming from someone who used to carry Jansport backpacks to school). And yes, like a true baghag, it was a Vuitton. And as a fan of a-lot-of-things-Japanese, you guessed it, it was a Murakami.

I couldn't afford LV when this came out. When I finally could, this limited-edition papillon was difficult to get a hold of. So I tried to satiate my craving with an Ellipse PM (my first LV!).

It's true what they say, "once you pop, you can't stop". After getting that Ellipse, and finally finding a Cherry Blossom papillon through a reseller in Hong Kong, the love story continues.