I’m having a love affair…with my handbag. It stands by me and provides for so many of my needs throughout the day 😉 (It certainly does look well-loved in this picture!) But more than utility, it nourishes a need for artistic style. Don’t laugh!
Isn’t all fashion a form of expression? Whatever you choose to wear expresses your personal style, your values, who your peers are (intentional or no) and even more, your current mood. This is why I loathe the basic black handbag! Not really, of course…but it is, for me, so limiting. I’ve discovered that a big part of my personal expression is in my choice of handbag. This is by no means coincidentally related to my having owned and managed a fancy shmancy retail boutique for five years 🙂
I no longer need a bag to match my outfit. My main criteria is to love it! I want to carry around a gorgeous work of art or craftsmanship or style…and having this delicious item match my outfit of the day is secondary. How else do we get to flaunt an amazing piece of workmanship in our every day lives, and share it with others? I can’t imagine lugging around my favorite statue “Victory at Samothrace” ****http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winged_Victory_of_Samothrace**** , to Trader Joe’s even if I could afford it!
Take my current luscious leather lovely…actually, it flaunts colorful patches of retro chenille criss-crossed by intricate studded trim…sighhhh. It’s my first Isabella Fiore indulgence…though I peddled her wares in my store and dabbed my drool off the merchandise while wrapping it up for my customers for years. I almost passed on it, as I live in the mountains now and, really, I must tone it down! Or not. I call it “hippy chic” and it garners all sorts of compliments from women in every type of context. Grocery checkers, waitresses, elegant diners, even the occasional man who can detect a unique carry-all when he sees one!
Why did I finally splurge? Well, for the same reasons I shared with my customers…if you’re going to shell out the dough for a high-end handbag, or any other fine delectable…you should be able to see and experience the reason for the hefty price tag! This particular bag has Italian leather, hand crafted details and exquisite materials. One need not be an expert to see this. Other bags, by well-known designers (Nope! I shan’t name them! YOU know who they are!) command a high price merely for the name they carry. People pay just for the name so people will know they paid a lot. Excuse me? Where is the yummy-ness factor?! Ladies, please…make sure you LOVE the bag…rather than love the fact that people know you have money. It should be a love affair…and like any relationship, it cannot be bought.
(All photos by G. Stark)
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