2022 Resolution: Shopping my own bag and SLG collection. Anyone else?

[Katinahat]

2 Aug - brand showcase: A-F
4 Sept - brand showcase: G-L
11 Sept - brand showcase: M-R
18 Sept - brand showcase: S-Z
25 Sept - totes
2 Oct - satchels
9 Oct - crossbodies inc WOCS
16 Oct - shoulder bags
23 Oct - bucket bags
30 Oct - clutches
6 Nov - backpacks
13 Nov - bags that don’t count
20 Nov - pairing bags with shoes
27 Nov - pairing bags with other accessories
4 Dec - bag storage
11 Dec - SLGs
18 Dec - charms

Challenges:
Sept - bags in different locations
Oct - Halloween: wear orange or black bags
Nov - International Merlot Day: wear wine coloured bags or pair bags with wine.
Dec - use the bag.

 

[Vintage Leather]

JAR? Please translate…

JAR is short for Joel Arthur Rosenthal, an American-French jewelry designer who is known for making very OAK or very small batches of jewelry. He refuses to make things for people he doesn’t like, but will also spontaneously gift jewelry to people he does.
He pushed the boundaries on micropave and materials in the 90s

 

[BowieFan1971]

JAR is short for Joel Arthur Rosenthal, an American-French jewelry designer who is known for making very OAK or very small batches of jewelry. He refuses to make things for people he doesn’t like, but will also spontaneously gift jewelry to people he does.
He pushed the boundaries on micropave and materials in the 90sView attachment 5435799View attachment 5435800

Love the second one!

 

[Vintage Leather]

Love the second one!

That was one of my dream pieces. It’s a bracelet made of silver with diamond briolets. It sold at auction last winter for 1.2 million.

 

[whateve]

Versace! Not sure why, but I feel like I don’t see this brand much out and about. I feel like it takes a certain strong personality to pull it off. Love some of what they do, but I’m not cool enough to pull it off.

I almost bought one once. I loved the intricate quilting. I like the bags now but not with that huge Medusa head on them.

 

[papertiger]

Please, someone tell me who makes quality underpinnings. Agree with you and @papertiger that prices are insane and options aren’t great. I’ve been struggling with this for years... I’m happy for a couple of wears, but then the items seem to fall apart, lose shape, etc. There must be something good out there. Right?

I'm sure you know these already but Eres (Chanel owned) and Woolford are still very good. Hanro not too bad either, and better price.

 

[880]

JAR is short for Joel Arthur Rosenthal, an American-French jewelry designer who is known for making very OAK or very small batches of jewelry. He refuses to make things for people he doesn’t like, but will also spontaneously gift jewelry to people he does.

That was one of my dream pieces. It’s a bracelet made of silver with diamond briolets. It sold at auction last winter for 1.2 million.

Only 250 women in the world are reputed to own a piece of JAR. And, apparently, he has been known to refuse to sell a piece if he doesn’t like your perfume or your vibe, so auction may be the only other way. The JAR perfumes are also considered masterpieces by numerous perfume afficionados and bloggers. I have no idea how IFRA regs have caused their composition to change. I went to the JAR perfume salon at Bergdorfs many years ago, and it was an amazing experience. At the time, I absolutely could not think of purchasing the fragrance, but they definitely had a POV. I believe by then, the prospective client was allowed to try the fragrance, but I’m not sure. I recall something vague about Bolt of Lightning, but mainly that DH hated all of them, BoL the most. No perhaps he hated Close your eyes more, I don’t remember. I think it was Gardenia that had a famous blue cheese note. I also vaguely recall that Bergdorfs either sold or displayed his aluminum rose petal earrings, but since they were not in my realm of reality, I didn’t bother to find out more.

JAR: The Experience, The Perfumes & The Philosophy – Kafkaesque

Sometimes, you just have to experience something, and forget about all practical considerations. That was the thought that drove me to the

kafkaesqueblog.com

 

[papertiger]

Hmmmm… I'll have to think about what a complex pink might look like. You always have such interesting thoughts about fashion.

In my little universe I think about colour all the time

What I mean by complex pinks is, for example, a white-blue-pink or a blackened red-pink, both will still be bright even though the white (lighter) and black (darker) have taken the 'pop' down a notch or two. Other versions of complex pinks: grey pinks (dusky/dusty pinks) and brown-pinks, which are usually created by adding a little green (opposition) to the pink, and then white to soften (green is already a secondary colour, but the green will be bluer not yellower otherwise it'll be a dusky salmon) or in the case of brown-pink, a mix where 2 opposite colours are introduced but the red predominates, which can make a neutral from the colour. The second two examples are more neutral pinks, completely different to 'pop' pinks.

I could see you in a cool, dusty pink like Hermes Glycine from a few seasons ago as a neutral, or a blackened magenta (which I think would suit you too) a sultry, but still clear pink-purple.

Like all colours, it's about finding your shade. The problem with fashion and (bl**dy) Pantone is that many brands follow suit (look at mid-bright-green and pastel lilac now). We often have to wait until our shade comes around.

Complex colours are very difficult to photograph but I've tried to find accurate renditions. light-type changes colours.

Glycine (the back view of tis B was the closest to true IMO) without making it more grey or 'fleshy'





Blackened magenta (AA are calling it 'Royal Magenta'). Apparently it reads 'berry' in direct sunlight because bright sunlight always adds (reflects back) yellow. If you like this, you are in luck because it's Axaltas;automotive colour of the year ('22) (they make paints not handbags though)

 

[papertiger]

Question- are there any brands that demand a buyer/wearer of a certain personality? What are some brands and the “types” that fit their feel/esthetic? EG- what is a Gucci girl/woman like in your mind based on the bags? What do you think about a woman’s personality based on what she carries strictly by brand (not style)? Do you fit the esthetic for your favorite brand/s?

I was inspired to ask by @cowgirlsboots’ affinity for Dior.

I am the Gucci Girl in my mind

 

[880]

In my little universe I think about colour all the time

What I mean by complex pinks is, for example, a white-blue-pink or a blackened red-pink, both will still be bright even though the white (lighter) and black (darker) have taken the 'pop' down a notch or two. Other versions of complex pinks: grey pinks (dusky/dusty pinks) and brown-pinks, which are usually created by adding a little green (opposition) to the pink, and then white to soften (green is already a secondary colour, but the green will be bluer not yellower otherwise it'll be a dusky salmon) or in the case of brown-pink, a mix where 2 opposite colours are introduced but the red predominates, which can make a neutral from the colour. The second two examples are more neutral pinks, completely different to 'pop' pinks.

I could see you in a cool, dusty pink like Hermes Glycine from a few seasons ago as a neutral, or a blackened magenta (which a think would suit you) a sultry, but still clear pink-purple.

Like all colours, it's about finding your shade. The problem with fashion and (bl**dy) Patone is that many brands follow suit (look at mid-bright-green and pastel lilac now). We often have to wait until our shade comes around.

Complex colours are very difficult to photograph but I've tried to find accurate renditions. light-type changes colours.

Glycine (the back view of tis B was the closest to true IMO) without making it more grey or 'fleshy'

View attachment 5435951



Blackened magenta (AA are calling it 'Royal Magenta'). Apparently it reads 'berry' in direct sunlight because bright sunlight always adds (reflects back) yellow. If you like this, you are in luck because it's Axaltas;automotive colour of the year ('22) (they make paints not handbags though)


View attachment 5435954

Love this post. I spent years looking for the perfect pink brown lip color

it sounds like you had an amazing sunday: laduree; performance; cos; dinner
fingers crossed you can engage a roofer

i think of Tom Ford when I think of Quintessential Gucci. My Gucci SA in those days is now the manager.
prior to Tom Ford, my Gucci memories are of my mothers shoes: chunky block heels with gold hardware encased inside. Fabulous leather with exposed seams, almost like a mens shoe blucher detail on the vamp
I also bought some YSL Tom Ford era

@whateve , I also hate the Versace Medusa head

sadly bc I am an Anglophile, designers that are not for me include: temperley; erdem; and I thought Zimmerman, but I was mistaken and didn’t realize the latter was Australian. i thought Tuleh was another one, but it was US based.

but my bridal shoes from 1991 were Emma Hope

 

[coffee2go]

Meet Daria, a new sister to my mini Chloe C bag, both croc-embossed, but one is bright and shiny and the other is more muted and less shiny, but both look gorgeous! Best part, Daria fits my ebook reader!

 

[papertiger]

A brand or style I was never that crazy about until I bought one:

Gosh so many thoughts and brands/bags are similar - but some I have gone the other way..


My mother had a Lady Dior, I either think one has to be very grown-up and sophisticated or quite young to carry it off. There are so many in the West-end of London too - so a 'type' springs to mind.

I had (still have) the original Dior Saddle in plain black with matte brass hw. John Galliano stole the idea from an early 1970s Gucci saddle bag. To me it was already a copy, he shouldn't get the credit. Dior's bags were not made well then at all, this is one brand that has actually improved their quality since the '00s. All Dior bags seem to have CD or Dior featured prominently, the Saddle I think incorporates them well so I don't mind. I actually think people see the 'saddle' first and the then the logo.

Chanel bags I have 5- and hardly ever wear any. One was my grandmother's (the best made) but most were my mother's in her black/gold heyday (early '90s). Of those I still like the large backpack. I was into grunge and hated Chanel in the '90s but now I think it was Karl's heyday, I cannot stop watching the fashion shows from then. I really enjoy Chanel, all depts, but it just reminds me of my mother (and her friends) and living in the S France and I can only 'go there' stylistically if I'm completely in the mood. I don't have caviar, I've never liked in comparison to lamb or calf.

The only Chanel I've bought myself was an off-white and python Cambon med tote because I needed a bag for 4 separate weddings mid '00s and didn't like to ruin my clothes with chain-straps or feel the that hold sting that chains give on bare skin. In that way this little mag was perfect.

Loewe has completely changed. It looks like a contemporary design house to me now. All my Loewe are inherited and old school, some from my mother and some my father. I have some amazing, amazing RTW from my mother (and that she never wore). Their suede and leather coats, evening wear, everything was the stuff of dreams. The quality is out of this world. Loewe means nothing to me now other than I carry my father's blue suede pouch inside my Hermes Evelyne every day and I use his tan Loewe convertible document case/soft briefcase.

I've always like the same style bags, I just now know why. Chain bags have to be light and small (Gucci Small Interlocking or Chanel) and I usually use them for evening only. I hate it when the chain touches my skin.

I used to hate Hermes Evelyne (like you say totally thought they looked 'mumsy') then I once saw a really cool urbanite wearing black/phw and chawed my mind. Once they launched the ghw I had to have one, the rest is history. Bolides are my thing, I love Art Deco and for me this bag sums-up the Modern age. Never liked Bs as the 'raw'-edge stitched to the top-flap annoys me and doesn't look well thought out. In that way I actually prefer the Mulberry Bayswater or SL's SDJ. I also think it's too coupe, the HAC seems so much more well-proportioned. My only Kelly is the only one I always, always wanted and there seems little point in getting any more.

I love all my Gucci bags, no mistakes there, but my Babushka is very heavy with all that hardware. The sig-print Leather Hearts Boston DH bought me would look fashionable now but it's very in yer face Gucci. I am the Bamboo Top-handle girl. At their best, they rival any leather goods specialist, but AM's creative vision needs to stop trying to please everyone.


I still love my BV hobos and TM era, in fact I think I'm creeping back to soft minimalism, just with Brutalist tendencies. I cannot imagine buying anything 'pretty' or structured from BV.

All my Prada has gone (apart from a suede, dark-olive belt bag) I never found them well made, all LV is gone aside from a suitcase.

I still have my Judith Leiber bags but I only have 2 and a change purse, and none are typical. I would not be into a 'crystallised' clutch. I mostly carry Hermes or Gucci evening bags.

I still love my one and only Balenciaga bag, I was always more into the RTW (NG-era)

I don't have any Fendi and never have had, but the Fendi Firsts are amazing and beautiful, maybe to sleek and lady-like for me. I have no Goyard (nor ever had) either. I think Goyard is more popular in the US.

I am slightly obsessed by Saint Laurent, past, present and future atm. I have to NOT spend anymore money in that shop. So far, I've kept away from their bags but I did like a tweed one last year and it was hard not to succumb to temptation.


Underwires are awful!!!

 

[papertiger]

Love this post. I spent years looking for the perfect pink brown lip color

it sounds like you had an amazing sunday: laduree; performance; cos; dinner
fingers crossed you can engage a roofer

i think of Tom Ford when I think of Quintessential Gucci. My Gucci SA in those days is now the manager.
prior to Tom Ford, my Gucci memories are of my mothers shoes: chunky block heels with gold hardware encased inside. Fabulous leather with exposed seams, almost like a mens shoe blucher detail on the vamp
I also bought some YSL Tom Ford era

@whateve , I also hate the Versace Medusa head

sadly bc I am an Anglophile, designers that are not for me include: temperley; erdem; and I thought Zimmerman, but I was mistaken and didn’t realize the latter was Australian. i thought Tuleh was another one, but it was US based.

but my bridal shoes from 1991 were Emma Hope

Thank you, it was such a lovely day.

Gucci usually make good shoes, especially when they are made by the same makers that make for the men (like your mother's shoes by all accounts). Even though Gucci make all their own shoes now (or again) their 'men's' styles (or trad.) are made at different factories. This is why I'll buy loafers and lace-ups rom Gucci, they are really worth it. Otherwise I'll 'just' get DMs.

Alice Temperley makes well for long (waisted) and/or tall people. Often I find women designers design for themselves, whereas men for the opposite (animus) (i.e. tall when they're short, curvy when they're tubby etc)

 

[coffee2go]

Meet Daria, a new sister to my mini Chloe C bag, both croc-embossed, but one is bright and shiny and the other is more muted and less shiny, but both look gorgeous! Best part, Daria fits my ebook reader!

View attachment 5435971

A brand or style I was never that crazy about until I bought one:

For me it’s definitely Chloe! I never was into their bags until I got my two Chloe C bags, one in small and one in mini size and now there is this third new addition to my little Chloe collection. The leather and hardware quality is amazing, taking into consideration Chloe loves to use lots of hardware. Also the price/quality relation is great too, considering constant price increases at other brands, I feel like I get a pretty good deal with Chloe, which do discount their styles. Some bags maybe too trendy, but the styles I got I waited for the trend to pass off and got them cause I genuinely liked the bags, not because of a trend. Like Daria bag caught my attention once it hit the runway, but the original style had too many handles in my opinion, I’m glad they released the mini version with just one top handle, it has much a cleaner look

 

[papertiger]

JAR is short for Joel Arthur Rosenthal, an American-French jewelry designer who is known for making very OAK or very small batches of jewelry. He refuses to make things for people he doesn’t like, but will also spontaneously gift jewelry to people he does.
He pushed the boundaries on micropave and materials in the 90sView attachment 5435799View attachment 5435800

Amazing!

 

[Katinahat]

It turns out I don’t have Covid Teflon after all!

I was one of a very small group of staff (about 5/80) who had remained Covid free despite being key workers mixing with loads of people. Now having fought hard to get myself into a better place with MH and back to work a few weeks ago, I came down with a nasty virus on Sunday evening and I’ve just tested positive for Covid. I’m having to miss my last week of work before the 6 week vacation! I’m feeling rotten with a high temperature and terrible cough but trying to deal with some email remotely as this is such a busy time.

My France flight is a week tomorrow. We think DD1 gave it to us and DH probably had it from Friday, but only tested positive today, so are very much hoping that we will all be well and able to go. I’ll be gutted if we have to cancel!! Why can’t the run up to holidays ever be relaxing anymore!