Fabulous Crocodile Bag or Too Horrid to Wear?

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MidlifeFashionPrincess

MidlifeFashionPrincess

Member
Nov 29, 2016
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#1
Haha! I acquired this vintage crocodile handbag. I'm not sure if I think it is super cool or hideous. I'm truly torn.

What do y'all think?

What kind of advice do you have for rehabbing it?

There seem to be no labels on it. I'm told it was likely purchased during travels in Florida. I will upload photos in a sec. Hang tight...
 
#10
katgoldatx said:
You got it right sisters! This crock looks so real it might scare me in the middle of the night.

It's too real for me too. I will rehab it and post updates, but I'm not sure what to do with it.
Click to expand...

hahahah This is because this bag used the back of the croc, which has these scaled/raised parts. The croc that is less real/more desired/pretty that we often see is the belly of the croc.

I suggest maybe flattening it out? also, perhaps dyeing it a dark uniform color like black would help make it look less scary.
 
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#11
Yoshi1296 said:
hahahah This is because this bag used the back of the croc, which has these scaled/raised parts. The croc that is less real/more desired/pretty that we often see is the belly of the croc.

I suggest maybe flattening it out? also, perhaps dyeing it a dark uniform color like black would help make it look less scary.
Click to expand...
Right. I have alligator belly cowboy boots that are amazing. Not scary af all.

How would i flatten it? Wouldnt that ruin it?
 
#13
Oh man I am having such a laugh reading this thread. Agree with everyone on this bag. I was obsessed with crocs and alligator bags long time ago and bought two vintage alligator bags. Then during a trip to Florida, visited Gator Land and I can't buy any more exotic bags anymore. They are such beautiful creatures. These two bags, I never used. I just stare at them.
 
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#15
If you want to "rehab" it, I would use a reptile conditioner, I recommend Saphir reptan (all natural french made product). Since this piece was made in the '60s that means it was made using the old tanning methods for exotic hides which makes the leather much drier and more susceptible to cracking between the scales, even this backstrap leather (the back hide of a crocodilian with the raised scales). I would first apply the conditioner, focusing on the edges where the round flank scales are, let it dry and brush it off with a horsehair brush as used in shoe shining. Make sure to never get the bag wet at all as crocodile leather (contrary to popular belief) is anything but water-resistant and is typically coloured with water-soluble agents. For the interior leather, I would use Saphir renovatuer to hydrate the calfskin. I would recommend trying to get minimal transfer of conditioners between the sides as they serve very different purposes to the different leathers (crocodile is less porous and needs a conditioner that does not actively penetrate the leather as much as a calfskin conditioner does.
 
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