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Posted by Dain, Friday, November 02, 2007 2:23 PM (Eastern)
You can never tell when an epiphany may strike. Take the example of my friend Cathy, who came to visit me at school early 2004 and came away with her Ideal Bag. It was largish, approximately hobo-ish, in a pebbled periwinkle leather, a very unique piece. Though it was love at first sight, Cathy prevaricated, because it was well over $300, which may seem small in the context of the glossies, but no one's accusing magazines of representing real life here. To make an unnecessarily long story short, she bought it, and three years later, she informs me she has yet to buy another.
What is The Ideal Bag? It must be well-constructed enough to last you ages, large enough to hold your daily essentials, and most importantly, individual, because then you'd just buy whatever from Coach (ew) and that'd be the end of it. Clean lines, minimal hardware, and quality materials are more important than any designer label, and certainly you want to avoid anything that reeks of "It", which will not take you past the season. In fact, avoid anything "identifiable" in general, unless they are redoubtable classics, such as the Chanel 2.55 above. Hermès is even better, as the design is classic if incredibly costly, but I hate the sight of Louis Vuitton—ugly, expensive, and poor quality. Develop an eye for high-quality leather, the most cost-effective and durable option, and you will seldom go wrong. I love suede, and fabrics have more imaginative capacity, but both are prone to show wear, and animal skins are not only delicate but very dear—it is seldom you will find crocodile or snakeskin under $1000. Know what your handbag will demand from you in terms of care before you commit to a purchase.
As before, I have endeavored to find examples that are not only beautiful, but demonstrate a diversity of styles, which I admit is somewhat limited given that I am only one woman. From your basic brown leather (the most versatile of all, you cannot go wrong here) to quirky offerings such as the crackled silver satchel (metallics are bold but neutral) or the aggressively rock 'n' roll zebra saddlebag, to a subtler approach in the olive leather doctor's bag with the mod details (a traditionally fussy style made much more laidback). My favorite is the shimmery black snakeskin in an incredibly refined shape: in beige croc, that would indeed be my Ideal Bag, I would need no other save perhaps an evening clutch. Overall, it is more important that what you buy, be it blush or handbag, matches you and your style, rather than the other things you own, or to heed the glossies' expositions of celebrity style. Dress like a celebrity, and it is called trendy. Dress like yourself, and that is just style.
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