This is a follow up to my other thread.
*Long Post Alert + Lots of Pics*
This was an impulse buy. On my wishlist I was looking for a nice multi-purpose neutral bag: taupe or camel. I was also thinking about splurging for a b-day gift for myself.
I had on my wishlist, a Philip Lim 3.1 Pashli (that is another story). Was still pondering about it. On the way home (looking for lingerie) I stopped at Nordies, and noticed they had the Pashli. I was tempted to try it out again, and the Blake caught my eye.
This Blake. I thought it was pretty. Looked at it, and thought I would go home and check online for more details.
And it is a good time to note. There are two Blakes. I haven't been paying attention, so I don't know which one is older. But they are different. I have what I'll deem the slouchy Blake. The one above is the exotic Blake. The exotic one doesn't have the extra shoulder strap, but the drop is longer. The pockets are different than the bag I got.
And the I saw some Reed Krakoff bags on a table (another wishlist item). And the luggage/tan colored slouchy Blake caught my eye. The color was ideal. I love this shade from MK. The leather was lovely. Soft, but structured enough. Done!
When I got home, I started doing a little research. This bag is definitely a ghost. There were so few reviews out there. I found 1 mention on this blog (of the exotic one) and a couple of previews. 1-2 customer reviews. But none of my exact bag, so I thought it would be helpful to be more detailed. Even though it might be on its way to discontinuation.
I picked up today due to presale. Attached are pics, and some first impressions.
I'll call this an upmarket Hamilton or Selma. It is somewhere between.
Specs and Details
First Impressions:
This bag is a good mix of structure and easy. The shape is polished. The pebbled leather gives it a bit of slouchiness to make it more practical for the weekend. Easy to dress up and down (especially compared to my Selma in black).
Did I really need another bag? Of course not. But this one is going to work really well in my wardrobe. And I won't feel too "dressed" like I do when I carry my Selma on the weekend sometimes.
So back to the bag. I ended it up using it on the way home. I was going from work, and I knew I would need to walk to the bus. I didn't want to carry 3 bags (purse, laptop bag, new purse), so I downgraded to a tote for the day. In the my first 2 hours, I got 2 compliments (from strangers) on the bag!
Compared to the MMK bags, the collection bag feels much more luxurious and polished. The hardware is nicer and more substantial feeling. The branding is understated. It is a very nice bag.
Cons? The bag mostly holds its shape, but is unstable on soft surfaces. If that becomes an issue, I would consider getting a hard base. The clips for the shoulder strap are fixed, and not rotating, so you have to put the straps on right. Not sure how it will wear overall with the pebbled soft leather, but only time will tell.
Value: I got a great deal on this bag. The question is, is it worth $1200. This I am not sure. I am also not sure what I expect for $1k. This bag now ranks as my most expensive bag, in both MSRP and actual price paid. [The next one in MSRP is a Reed Krakoff cross body that retailed for $1000, and the a special edition Coach that retailed for $800. I secured those for about 75% for each one] I have a couple of bags I spent ~$400 for.
I am going to compare this one to my other $1K retail bag, the RK Kit. Both have similar craftsmanship and hardware quality. The RK bag is smaller, and is lined about 60% canvas and 40% leather. The MK bag is lined in 85% linen, 15% leather or suede. The similar sized RK bag retails for about the same and is lined in canvas. Somewhere around $1200 I expect bags to be lined in leather, but I could be optimistic. Not sure what I expect for a $1k bag yet, but I haven't shopped them either. It does feel significantly nicer than the bags I have seen of course in the under $800 range. It feel on par with the other bags in its class (I am thinking of Marc Jacobs collection)
Final thoughts? The Blake is making my Selma and Hamilton look really crappy in comparison. Love the bag so far. It is more practical than those 2 bags in particular with the exterior pockets. The organization is very good for a high end bag, and matches with the MMK touches, minus the key clip. I can't wait to carry it more! It is a perfect compliment to my bag wardrobe, and will definitely be in the regular rotation at work and weekend.
PS: it looks like almost all of the Blakes are on sale at Neimans and the MK site or Bloomies at about $800. That version looks more structured than mine, loses the back pocket and exchanges the extra strap for a longer regular one. It also has a satin lining, and feels less casual than the bag I got. In case you are interested.
*Long Post Alert + Lots of Pics*
This was an impulse buy. On my wishlist I was looking for a nice multi-purpose neutral bag: taupe or camel. I was also thinking about splurging for a b-day gift for myself.
I had on my wishlist, a Philip Lim 3.1 Pashli (that is another story). Was still pondering about it. On the way home (looking for lingerie) I stopped at Nordies, and noticed they had the Pashli. I was tempted to try it out again, and the Blake caught my eye.
This Blake. I thought it was pretty. Looked at it, and thought I would go home and check online for more details.
And it is a good time to note. There are two Blakes. I haven't been paying attention, so I don't know which one is older. But they are different. I have what I'll deem the slouchy Blake. The one above is the exotic Blake. The exotic one doesn't have the extra shoulder strap, but the drop is longer. The pockets are different than the bag I got.
And the I saw some Reed Krakoff bags on a table (another wishlist item). And the luggage/tan colored slouchy Blake caught my eye. The color was ideal. I love this shade from MK. The leather was lovely. Soft, but structured enough. Done!
When I got home, I started doing a little research. This bag is definitely a ghost. There were so few reviews out there. I found 1 mention on this blog (of the exotic one) and a couple of previews. 1-2 customer reviews. But none of my exact bag, so I thought it would be helpful to be more detailed. Even though it might be on its way to discontinuation.
I picked up today due to presale. Attached are pics, and some first impressions.
I'll call this an upmarket Hamilton or Selma. It is somewhere between.
Specs and Details
- Bag condition: mine is looking pretty good. It has a couple of small imperfections because of being the floor model. I found a little scratch on the leather. And a tiny bit of wear around the lock. But it was nearly perfect. Save the warranty/car card.
- Exterior Organization: 1 front pocket with a snap closure (big enough for a phone, keys or even ID wristlet), 1 back slip pocket (would fit almost any cell phone, possibly even a galaxy note).
- Interior organization: 1 zip pocket, 2 slip pockets
- Carrying options: handheld, crossbody (removable/adjustable strap), shoulder (if you have smaller arms than I, you can use the main straps. For me it was just a tiny bit too small). The handheld straps are longer than Selma and Hamilton for comparison.
- Branding: very minimalistic and understated. Michael Kors logo is on the key, lock, shoulder strap clips, and zipper. Compared to my Selma where there are also logos on the feet.
- Hardware: gold, the zipper is very substantial (about 3X thicker than the Selma, and about 1cm longer.
- Size: This bag is actually very equivalent in size to the Selma. Dimensions are almost exactly the same. Selma is wider, Blake is taller. It is a very good size and fits the day to day essentials. It is a little too small to hold my macbook. The computer fits, without a cover, and I cannot zip the bag with the computer in it. A Macbook air would likely fit. Or an full sized iPad. The Selma can hold the macbook in the slip case, but also doesn't zip. The Blake does a better job of swallowing the computer. The bag doesn't seem too heavy, and wasn't unwieldy during my 1 mi walk to the bus.
- Leather: Soft and supple, thicker than my MK pebbled bag. Feels more luxurious than the Michael Michael Kors bags.
- Lining: linen interior, back pocket. Front pocket is lined in suede
- Closure: zip top, not a break away
First Impressions:
This bag is a good mix of structure and easy. The shape is polished. The pebbled leather gives it a bit of slouchiness to make it more practical for the weekend. Easy to dress up and down (especially compared to my Selma in black).
Did I really need another bag? Of course not. But this one is going to work really well in my wardrobe. And I won't feel too "dressed" like I do when I carry my Selma on the weekend sometimes.
So back to the bag. I ended it up using it on the way home. I was going from work, and I knew I would need to walk to the bus. I didn't want to carry 3 bags (purse, laptop bag, new purse), so I downgraded to a tote for the day. In the my first 2 hours, I got 2 compliments (from strangers) on the bag!
Compared to the MMK bags, the collection bag feels much more luxurious and polished. The hardware is nicer and more substantial feeling. The branding is understated. It is a very nice bag.
Cons? The bag mostly holds its shape, but is unstable on soft surfaces. If that becomes an issue, I would consider getting a hard base. The clips for the shoulder strap are fixed, and not rotating, so you have to put the straps on right. Not sure how it will wear overall with the pebbled soft leather, but only time will tell.
Value: I got a great deal on this bag. The question is, is it worth $1200. This I am not sure. I am also not sure what I expect for $1k. This bag now ranks as my most expensive bag, in both MSRP and actual price paid. [The next one in MSRP is a Reed Krakoff cross body that retailed for $1000, and the a special edition Coach that retailed for $800. I secured those for about 75% for each one] I have a couple of bags I spent ~$400 for.
I am going to compare this one to my other $1K retail bag, the RK Kit. Both have similar craftsmanship and hardware quality. The RK bag is smaller, and is lined about 60% canvas and 40% leather. The MK bag is lined in 85% linen, 15% leather or suede. The similar sized RK bag retails for about the same and is lined in canvas. Somewhere around $1200 I expect bags to be lined in leather, but I could be optimistic. Not sure what I expect for a $1k bag yet, but I haven't shopped them either. It does feel significantly nicer than the bags I have seen of course in the under $800 range. It feel on par with the other bags in its class (I am thinking of Marc Jacobs collection)
Final thoughts? The Blake is making my Selma and Hamilton look really crappy in comparison. Love the bag so far. It is more practical than those 2 bags in particular with the exterior pockets. The organization is very good for a high end bag, and matches with the MMK touches, minus the key clip. I can't wait to carry it more! It is a perfect compliment to my bag wardrobe, and will definitely be in the regular rotation at work and weekend.
PS: it looks like almost all of the Blakes are on sale at Neimans and the MK site or Bloomies at about $800. That version looks more structured than mine, loses the back pocket and exchanges the extra strap for a longer regular one. It also has a satin lining, and feels less casual than the bag I got. In case you are interested.
