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· February 27, 2008 1:51 AM by
Colleen Shirazi
· February 27, 2008 4:14 AM by
Dain
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Posted by Dain, Tuesday, February 26, 2008 6:42 PM (Eastern)
My sister asks, "Won't you get bored with one bag?" I shake my head, I am not like that. I find something I really like (it is usually quite plain, with minimal hardware, and with lots of nice leather) and wear it as long as I can. I had my first nice bag stolen in Bosnia, along with my passport, wallet, and first pipe, I'd had it for three years, a nice warm brown leather that had aged beautifully. And I was pissed because it was my only bag, and I had to get a new one. I finally found an even better one, immense enough to carry anthologies or function as a weekender. But now, I need something more modest in size. The Prada is simply too expensive. The Philip Lim intrigued me at first, but it looks cheaper than it is, like something designed by Banana Republic.
I really like Anya Hindmarch. She doesn't design bags that are intended to be displayed on the arms of starlets and those who emulate, but rather for real women. Consequently, as beautiful as they are (and delightfully anti-It), they are carefully organized for quotidian existence. The straps will fit easily over the shoulder (11 ½" drop) and will not slip off, and there are all sorts of useful pockets. I like the easy, saddlebag style of the Bess: smooth, voluptuous blond leather that is minimal enough for casual outfits, but just enough hardware to posh it up for ladylike outfits (you could wear this to work, for example, but not to a ball), but at heart, it is easygoing and very left-bank (I have a lot of hippie outfits too). It is lined in suede, a luxurious if somewhat impractical touch, plus a divider, a zip pocket, and an open pocket. The dimensions are 14" x 11" x 3", admittedly larger than I'd like but that is very respectable (I really wish they made the Alessandra still). At $1200 (at Saks), it is expensive enough for me to plan carefully, but I think it isn't so expensive that the utility is that much less in value, considering the following:
- I am largely disinterested in the "fashion is fickle" school. I am a serialist who loathes clutter. I have never found complaint over my wearing the same outfits so often, indeed, quite the opposite. I've always been deeply influenced by an article I read once, which opined, "the truly stylish rarely change their clothes", and I feel this is really true. It shows that you know what you like, and you have confidence that your taste is good.
- I don't collect clothes, I wear them. I think clothes look better when worn and worn in, it shows that they are part of your life, rather than statements about your life. Bags, I think, are notoriously the latter. I like a plain bag that shows aging and wear; that is much cooler than "Oh my god, that's Dior! Kate Hudson wore that to her last premiere! How much was it?!".
You know...Granted, this song is ironic. I like to obsess over my purchases before, but not after; to me, a bad purchase lingers in the mind. You have to think about it constantly: does this match? this strap chafes. is that a nick? are people noticing it? A good purchase, on the other hand, you can forget about.
Labels: anya hindmarch, bags, fashion notes
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February 27, 2008 1:51 AM,
Nice bag. I think the useful aspect of a handbag is often overlooked, in favor of the look of the bag.
The color, I'm not sure about. I suppose I'm prejudiced against a light-colored bag because I feel it would get dirty more easily. But does it? It may depend on how much you abuse your bag.
February 27, 2008 4:14 AM,
I've had white bags before without much trouble. I'm pretty good about keeping clean (it is part and parcel of being anal), except when I'm drunk, and I don't do that very often.
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