TPF may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, and others
I am admiring your work not these light color bags, especially the basic bag because it is so old. What color is that basic would you say? Bone?
Thank you for sharing and making me feel like it’s not just me . I think you are absolutely right about these bags discoloring where they are most touched, etc. My favorite thing about anything vintage is it has a story, you can see that it’s had a life, been used and loved. I got this bag for a low price at a thrift store so I felt / feel like I don’t have anything to loose. As a result, I’ve done some things I’m not proud of (and to embarrassed to admit) to try to fade the stains and pull out as much of the overall color as possible. Now, pretty much every time I walk past it, I apply more conditioner and / or recoloring balm. It seems to keep getting better and better or I could just be imagining things . I’m resisting the urge to dunk a third time. I probably should stash it away and leave it be for a while. I suspect ultimately it will always have a patina to it and isn’t that what makes these bags beautiful?I feel you on this bag, it reminds me of my BT large Plaza. Regarding the City I have a quirky theory of my own, from looking at lots of listings and using my City that one will often naturally rest the hand on the top flap area while carrying, creating a subtle discoloration from hand oils. Also a bit of discoloration around the turn lock. I have this on my Plaza. I also have this random stain on my Plaza below the turn lock similar to yours!
Overall my City was way more distressed than my Plaza. When I conditioned the daylights out of my City, it came out with a distressed to perfection patina that appeals to me. I have not been satisfied with my Plaza and am on a pause with further work.
I will dunk the Plaza again. I have seen recommendations in another group on using an enzyme stain remover on bags in a dunk as well as pinching the leather and rolling it between your fingers while dunking to help lift out stains. And it could stand reshaping. I was not diligent with that when I dried it and it’s lurch-y.
BT and lighter neutrals imo are always a crap shoot. I have just been extremely lucky
Other opinions are welcome.
Thank you! I love the idea of adding some camouflage to distract the eye. Right now it might be the best thing for me and this bag is for me to give it the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech and take a break.
I wont take the chance on dunking it - it's just too risky! I am looking into @pammbw's suggestion of Preservation Solutions products. For the moment I have used Leather World Technologies Hydrating Cream, which I had on hand, followed by CPR. it looks and feels a lot better but I would like to do more.
I'm pretty sure the color is stone. Bone is white on the interior. The Basic's color is not very even, and it didn't clean up as well as I'd hoped. It's the best I could do without damaging the leather though. Even as much as I did left the leather so very dry. I had to put on numerous cotes of CPR and even a couple cotes of Blackrocks after I washed it. I'm not super happy with it, but I think after I finish some modifications, I won't be so bothered by the distressed look, I hope.
Wow. Thanks for the advice. (Which I am jumping on!) I'm also thinking about finding estate sales...which I have not explored yet.
Yes to patina and yes, time is often our friend in rehabbing!
Estate sales can be jackpots!
I've noticed the same thing. It was in May last year I stopped buying bags because I was in grad school. When I started back up about a month ago, I started looking again. Omg, so expensive! Even for bags that are in terrible condition. I have a stockpile to start hammering away on, which is good, because I can't afford the jacked up prices.
Quote my own post to share how I made this strap. I recently posted it on instagram.( I am still just learning about how to use instagram).
