CeeJay's BAL-a-palooza!! [Balenciaga Collection over time]

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#91
As I mentioned previously, I hunted down the '09 Mandarine .. thinking that it would be like the beloved '04 Pumpkin. First, I got the RH City, but as soon as I found a gorgeous '09 Mandarine RH PT, it became part of the collection!! Alas, it is no longer in my collection ...
BalMandarinePT.jpg
 
#96
Bravo:woohoo:Really enjoyed your thread-so creative!!!:presents
I loved how each bag had a history/story & your pics are amazing!
I feel like I just got to spend the evening watching the History Chanel!

Thanks
XO
 
#97
^^Oooooh .. the Bal "History" Channel .. how great would that be, huh?!?! The AtelierNaff blog site was pure gold; had tons of information and commentary that was superb. It was a really sad day when she closed that site (and unfortunately, there's a lot of missing information that isn't here on TPF).
 
#98
If you recall, I posted a pic of one of my Caramel Flat Brass Firsts. I actually have two of them .. and the difference in the leather is a classic example of the different 'seasons' of the Flat Brass line.

The FBF from 2001 - Season 2 .. is soft & buttery (like a babies bottom), see below:
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whereas, the FBF from 2001 - Season 3 .. has a much more distressed 'tougher' leather; a comparison of the two leathers is below [left=2001/Season2, right=2001/Season 3]:
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Another 'comparison' pic [left=2001 - Season 2, right=2001 - Season 3]:
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#100
Another FBF with soft babies bottom leather, is my 2001 - Season 2 Flat Brass First (again - soft leather!). Actually, I got this bag from a dear friend of mine out in LA .. who is lucky enough to be in contact with the Hollywood crowd who (on occasion) "give-up-the-goods"!! This baby is just an ooey-gooey-schlump of chocolate goodness (mmmmm - like Mousse a Chocolat!) - ** still in the collection **:
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#101
I believe that in 2006, Balenciaga came out with a new style .. called the Matelasse (which in French means - "cushioned" or "padded"). Well, you can certainly say that; look at the mirror on this 2007 Large Cafe Matelasse!! What I love about this bag is:
1) Looks (kinda) like a Chanel but with a rock-&-roll feel!
2) Love the Silver Hardware
3) Love the PADDED mirror; how cute, right??
4) This is one ROOMY bag; I can fit all my stuff in without any issue!!
** still in the collection **
IMG_1185.jpg

 
#102
To continue on the Matelasse theme, I actually had 3 at one time (the Cafe one above, the one below and a Medium Black one). I loved the leather on the Medium Black - scrumptious '06 Chevre; but alas - I sold it because I wanted the larger size.

Many different Matelasse styles were created - a small one (similar to the Shoulder style), a "pouch" (kind of like a padded Make-Up, just a tad bigger) and lastly .. yes, a "Weekender" version!! I had actually seen the WE version in Vogue Italia .. never thinking that I would actually find the bag IRL!

Well, on our annual Italian sojurn (in the Fall), 'lo and behold .. what do I find in the Balenciaga Outlet - the 2006 Rouge Vif Matelasse WE!!!! Okay - so what's different here:

  1. No outside pocket
  2. A Whistle (so - kind of a combo of the Matelasse & Whistle bags!)
  3. A long Shoulder Strap, interspersing the Silver HW with "mini" shoulder pads
This bag is AMAZING!!! Of course, Rouge Vif is one of my all-time favorite Bal Red's, but surprisingly enough .. it's actually quite a comfortable bag worn on the shoulder .. and it holds TONS of stuff!! I'm not sure how many of these bags were made; I've only seen one other besides mine .. still in the collection !!
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Here's a pic of the Whistle & Shoulder Strap (also notice the handles - no whip-stitching, just like the Whistle bags!):
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#103
Okay .. now for some "repeats" (aka = better pictures); all of these are still in my collection:

1) 2004/2005 Holiday Collection - Magenta Metallic City
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2) 2008 - Amethyst GSH PT (the leather is AMAZING on this bag!)
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3) 2010 Castagna RH PT
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#104
Don't know about you, but sometimes .. it takes me a few "viewings" to truly fall in love with something. Oftentimes, I'm not initially enamored by the item .. but something about it, seems to resonate .. such that I can't stop thinking about it.

Well, of course .. when that happens, I oftentimes MISS OUT (e.g., the item is gone by the time I realize I want it). That was the case with the '05 Apple Green. When I first saw it, I thought "Feh .. it's okay", but I started to like it more & more (every time I would pop into Barneys - which was fairly often back in the day).

So, my 'stupidity' in not grabbing it when I saw it .. caused me to wait 2 YEARS .. to finally get my wonderful, juicy, luscious & scrumptious 2005 Apple Green City (which of course - is still in the collection)!!!
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#105
As I've noted MANY times, Red is my favorite color!! However, Red (IMO) is to be used as an "accent" color (I once knew someone who had a full-on Red Suit that she also used to wear with Red Shoes & Handbag .. and sadly, the accessories didn't match - uggh!).

Anyhow, when I found out that another gorgeous Red would be introduced in 2008, ... well ... I JUST HAD TO HAVE IT!! Here's my 2008 Rubisse RH PT ... :heart::love::heart: this bag, so of course .. it's still in the collection:
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