Bottega Veneta Newbie!

[karman]

Hellow fellow PFers!

I usually hang out in the LV and Chanel forums, but for some ODD reason I am really lusting over BV bags right now. The weaving is unique and I don't have one single hobo bag and I think a BV would be a perfect first hobo, don't you think?

I live in Canada, and where I live we don't have BV boutiques and my Holt Renfrew doesn't carry BV. I believe the HRs in Vancouver and Toronto do, but what abou their selection?

I am really attracted to the Pyramid and the Veneta hobo. What are the retail prices of these two? (in CAD if possible, but USD works too!)

I would also appreciate it if someone could go over some quick BV facts with this newbie. Ie, some of the classic BV hobos, classic colours, this year's seasonal colours, etc.

I apologize in advance if any of the above questions have already been answered before, but we are all having a hard time (Vlad included!) with the search function down, I guess!

Thank you in advance!!

[Kathy K]

Hey, Karman. Welcome to BV. I too am a newbie. Most of my collection is Balenciaga, but my husband bought me a BV wallet, and I just had to have a hobo to go with it. If you check out the style reference threads, you can see pictures of most of the current styles. You can also go to www.bottegaveneta.com and get a pretty good idea of the range of woven hobos, with dimensions and prices (and note that there is a sale going on!). There have also been a few recent threads (main page -- you don't need the search function) comparing the hobo styles in terms of style and comfort. I just got the BV new ball, and LOVE it.

Let us know what you decide!

[boxermom]

Hi Karman! good to see you here.

The classic bags (BV calls them Icon bags) are the Veneta (hobo), Cabat (market tote), Ball bag, Campana (hobo with 2 straps and a hook closure). I'm doing this from memory, so maybe the Knot clutch is an Icon also. You can see them all on www.bottegaveneta.com. Some of the other popular styles are Sloane, Julie, Montaigne, Pyramid.

Classic colors are Nero (black), Ebano (dark brown), Noce (nut brown), and I think Bianco (white). This summer's seasonal colors include a pale pink (Lotus), blue (Glacier), light grey (Ciment), deep rose-red (Cassis), a creamy tan (Aurora), a greyish white (Colonial). I know there are others. Check out our reference section.

They design for 3 seasons, Spring/summer, Fall/Winter, and Resort. The leathers used most often are Nappa, Nappa Umbria, and Cervo. Some fabrics are also used.

The medium Veneta is about $1500 USD, the large $1850USD. We hear a price increase is coming soon.

My info is not exact, 'cause I'm doing it without a catalog for reference. Once you have a BV the soft leather spoils you!

[Brandless]

Welcome aboard Karman! I'm no expert having just discovered the brand a few weeks ago so I'll let the resident experts tell you more about it. However, I can attest to the quality and beauty, not to mention addicting property, of the BV. In a span of a month, I was able to acquire two Venetas. I think now is the best time to buy one because of the sales and while the prices haven't gone up. Although I've learned from here that the classic colors never go on sale.

[karman]

Thank you Kathy, boxermom and Brandless!! I have lots to learn here

[bertrell]

hello karman! you're not odd at all to be lusting after Bottegas - in fact it's natural for any hot-blooded woman and man to be drooling for them. They are cool, hot, and totally exquisite! *sorry, I tend to get carried away by my lust, lol*

I'm pretty new to BV myself, having acquired my first bag early this year, but I'll just share what I know.
The most classic and iconic designs are the Cabat (tote n shoulder, basket-style) and the Veneta (a hobo), IMO. Coming in at a close second is the Campana (hobo with 2 handles). Classic colours are black aka nero in BV speak, dark brown/ebano, brown/noce, white/bianco. Seasonal colours from SS08 are light green/colonial, light apricot/aurora, and light pink/lotus and some others, can't remember.

Prices for the Pyramid and Veneta (medium) are about USD1980 and USD1490 respectively. There will soon be a price increase worldwide though.

Other Canadian-based BV lusters (such as Montaigne queen BookerMoose! Montaigne is a dreamy hand-carried satchel btw) might know more about the selection in Canada. From what I've read though, it's limited and more expensive compared to the US.
US BV stores accept phone orders though, so you might wanna try them. But hurry if you're lusting after one of the Venetas in the seasonal colours. The sale started on June 1st and bags are going fast!
and hope this helps!

[karman]

Thanks so much bertrell!! I have no doubt that BV is much more expensive in Canada!

[tiramisu]

You are always so cute, karman! I am a newbie, too, and still in love with Balenciaga. Lusting over a BV wallet right now and hope to get one soon! I would love to own a hobo one day!!!

[Everlong]

Hi Karman!

Im a new LV to BV convert also. The leather smell is something intoxicating to the senses and I find myself petting the silky soft leather. Its just a whole new realm from LV.

Here is where I go to look at BV eye candy. I remember looking at LV items from here:

http://www.rakuten.co.jp/s-musee/790264/

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/iltelaio/c/0000000489/

http://www.rakuten.ne.jp/gold/kameya/bottega-veneta.htm

[Mid-]

karman!! Lovely to see you here, I've always enjoyed your posts at the LV forum. Welcome to the BV world!!

I agree that a BV would be a perfect first hobo. I myself never considered a hobo style until I saw some of the BV classics. You'd love the leather, the weave, the colour, and the slouchiness. We all can't help but keep cuddling our BVs.

I can't add any more info to what have already been posted, but I'm sure our Canadian members will chime in soon.

Have fun hunting for your perfect first BV!!

[boxermom]

Correcting the way I described Colonial--it is indeed a very light green(as bertrell said). I was thinking of a color I saw in Hawaii called Burro that was an off-white, but not Pergamina(the cream color).

[karman]

Hehe you guys are all so kind! THanks for the eye candy links! I think it'll take me awhile to buy my first BV since I still have so many LV and Chanel wants...but it's definitely there on my list!!!

[BookerMoose]

Sorry - I've been at a conference all day and couldn't really find a way to check tPF on my BlackBerry without it being rather obvious (as much as I wanted to)!

Welcome to the world of BV karman - and I don't think it is at all ODD that you are lusting over BV... That is a common affliction around here!!

Although the BEST BV style IMHO is the Montaigne, they do make beautiful hobos and I definitely think BV is the way to go if you want a hobo.

You've already gotten great information about BV styles, colours etc. - so I'll stick to the issue of BV in Canada - and unfortunately both the selection and the prices are horrible here. Holts in Vancouver and Toronto (and I think Montreal although I don't know that for sure - and there may be other locations I just don't know) do carry BV but for the most part they carry very few styles and not necessarily the most exciting ones and basically no small leather accessories (the Vancouver store told me they had one wallet "a few years ago"). The real problem, however, is that their BV prices are INSANELY high. The Montaigne, which is the only bag I know for sure, is $1980 in the US, and more than $2700 at Holts - when the dollars are essentially at par! I believe all of the styles are similarly marked up, so even when the bags are really discounted on sale it only tends to bring their prices down to the regular US prices.

Leone in Vancouver also carries BV but has a much better selection. I don't know what their prices are like, however, as I've never checked. There is supposedly another boutique in Montreal that is going to start carrying BV at some point this year, but I don't remember the name (and without the search function can't really easily find it out). I don't believe there is anywhere in Toronto other than Holts that carries BV.

So, in Canada our only really viable options are to pick up BV when we travel to the States or elsewhere where it is available (although I believe the prices in the US are among the lowest worldwide - again there is a thread somewhere that compares but again I can't find it), order through a BV boutique (the boutiques will ship to Canada for a $55 shipping cost, but the website and outlets will not) or else go online. I've bought a couple of BV bags and accessories from eBay (all good experiences except one, but if you are careful it is a way to get items you otherwise couldn't get in Canada, or items for a lot less than Canada). BlueFly also ships to Canada (shipping cost for a bag is $45) and usually has a relatively good selection of BV at 20% off the (US) prices or more. I've also purchased a BV from jomashop, which ships to Canada for an exhorbitant fee based on the value of the bag (it cost me over $100 for a $1000 bag) and there have been a number of customer service problems reported here with them - but it is another option. There may be other online retailers that will ship to Canada (I think Neiman Marcus does now too?) but those are the only ones I have experience with.

Of course when shipping to Canada from the US you will have to pay duties, PST and GST and the courier company's exhorbitant "processing fees" - which in my experience tend to run in the $300-$400 range total for a $1000-$1500 bag. In comparing the price to what I would have paid in Canada, I don't really count the GST and PST because I would have paid those anyway if I had bought here - so in the end I do think it is still worthwhile to buy in the US and ship to Canada - even with the additional shipping and other charges - and especially when there is a sale on in the US (like now at the BV boutiques)!

Hope this helps!

[karman]

Thanks for the massive amount of info Booker!! Wow, I expected BV to be expensive in Canada...but that's almost $1000 more!! Ridiculous!! I guess I WILL have to purchase from the US. Yes, I was thinking Neiman Marcus but maybe eBay will work out too! THanks again!

[jane]

Hi Karman! I own a Pyramid hobo and it is one of my favorite bags. I think it is the perfect slouchy hobo. If you need to see pics I have a ton.

I also have a medium Campana in ebano, which is one of the most beautiful chocolate browns I have ever seen in a handbag. I love this bag for its two handles and magnetic closure, which makes it easy to get things into and out of.

These are my only two BVs and I hardly need another, for now. They are such classic pieces. And where I live, I almost NEVER see anyone else carrying them!