Beautyholics Anonymous » Bags

Fridays’ List of Lusts are usually just about the pictures, but this week, I wanted to say little more about what I’m lusting after, which are Coach’s Original and Classic bags. My first designer bag was a Coach. My mother gave me one when I was about 17. It was a simple design, a tan shoulder bag with the signature toggle clasp to close and buttery-soft leather. That’s how I always think of Coach, and subsequently, purchased similar styled Coach bags. No monograms, odd designs, and no one knew they were Coach, which was what I wanted. As the years went by, Coach launched collection after collection, and they were simply abysmal. The clashing colours and cheap-looking canvas turned me off and I pretty much stopped looking at Coach.

To my delight, Coach has relaunched their classic designs, and though the designs and colours may be boring to some of you, I just couldn’t be more thrilled. The tan, mahagony and black bags are calling out to me, and I want them BAD.

Note: The ones in British Pounds are available at Net-a-Porter.com. The rest are from Coach.com.

What’s In My Makeup Bag (April 2011)

Tine — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 03:50:11 +0000

Every now and then, I like to update on what I have in my makeup bag, especially when the bag differs from my last makeup bag post. To be honest, I wouldn’t really call it a makeup bag, since I barely have any in it. It’s more of a “things I need with me on a daily basis” bag. LeGeeque said I’m crazy organised when it comes to putting stuff in my bag. I’d like to think so too

My current cosmetics pouch is from Tintamar. I really like their bags and pouches, which are perfect for traveling.

My essentials:
Tissues (in a tissues pouch I got from Etsy. Yep, even my TISSUES need a pouch. I’m weird like that)
Wet tissues (to wipe off makeup swatches )
Mirror (6 years old, bought from a 100yen shop in Japan)
Facial blotters
Contact lens drops
Pantyliner & tampon
Hair elastic
Spectacles cloth

More essentials:
Hand sanitiser (got this baby in Bangkok. Love that it comes in a pump)
Hand cream (I like to rotate amongst the goodness-knows-how-many handcreams I have)
Hairbrush/comb combo
BeautySnapz Cuticle Conditioner
Lipbalm (currently using my friend’s creation, Twotreehouse. Amazing stuff)
Lipsticks (currently Chanel Rouge Coco Shine lippies. I like to glam up my bag if I can )

That’s it! Not incredibly interesting, right? I don’t carry other forms of makeup with me if I can help it. I get along with these items just fine. Of course there’s always my wallet, keys, mace*, phone, etc in my bag, but that’s for another post.

What’s in yours?

*I’m kidding. Or am I?

They Call ‘Em Minaudières

Tine — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 21:29:43 +0000

minaudière (me’no dyer’) – A small ornamental case for a woman’s cosmetics, jewelry, or personal items that is often carried as a handbag.

Gucci

Alexander McQueen

Olympia Le-Tan

Sasha by Rafe New York

Yves Saint Laurent

And of course, the gorgeous Dior makeup minaudière.

I never knew these were called minaudières. They were always just boxy-clutch-thingies to me. I must remember to call them by their actual name now. Sounds so posh and la-di-dah, doesn’t it?

Splurge vs Steal: Proenza Schouler Leather Satchel

Tine — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:07:40 +0000

I had no idea when I bought the black Luk Satchel from Wittner that it was very darn similar to Proenza Schouler’s leather satchel until LeGeeque told me about it.

Whaddya know? Score!

A Bag Organiser Within A Bag Organiser

Tine — Tue, 25 May 2010 01:14:04 +0000

I’m loving my Borne Naked bag liner I bought last month.

It’s meant to be a, well, as the name puts it, a bag liner or organiser, but I’m using it as my makeup bag. It comes with 2 mesh compartments inside, and the B on the zipper is just adorable!

Oh, and this is what I meant about having a bag organiser within a bag organiser.

Talk about obsessive-compulsive and anal. Damn, am I turning into my mum?!

Guest Post: Bags, Bags, Bags! (Part 2)

Tine — Thu, 20 May 2010 23:32:09 +0000

Note: My apologies for the lateness of this post. It was supposed to be up ages ago. Blame it on my brain farts

Ahh the Hermes Birkin. Something so unattainable, but so beautiful. I’ve been lusting after a Birkin ever since I found out about it in 2002. I was a poor student then. Even so, I wanted one ever-so-badly, that I bought not one, but TWO replicas of the Birkin. Oh yeah. I was desperate. In hindsight, one of them was plain awful. It was a small one, in pink jelly PVC. Talk about a fashion disaster The other one was a lot better; it was a Jasper Conran from Debenhams, and I spent 60 pounds on it. May not seem like much now, but back then, it was the most expensive bag I’ve ever spent on (saved a great deal of my student life money on it). Full leather with pink fabric lining. It’s not a Birkin, but I was happy.

Now I’m not telling you that you have to go get a Birkin or a Kelly. Given that the former costs pretty much a downpayment for a house, it’s crazy. But a girl can always dream. I’m still dreaming about it.

I shall now hand the seat and mic over to Geekchic, who continues with her installment on bags. To be more precise, the Hermes Kelly. Do read her first installment on bags, bags, bags here.

Over to you!

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I thought I’ll end the bagroll with a bang. And what a better and bigger bang than one from the house of Hermès.

5. The Kelly by Hermès

I know, I’m odd, right? Any bagaholic would say the Birkin (Editor: That would be me ), why am I saying the Kelly? I’ll get to that.

First of all, I’m here to dispel any myth that there’s a 2-year waiting list for the Birkin. There is no waiting list. It’s a story cooked up by Hermès to maintain exclusivity for its bags. If you happen to walk past Hermès and see the Birkin in the window display, all you need to do is march in, request for the bag on display and whip out your plastic. You can then walk out with the bright orange paper bag in your hand. Nope, there’s no waiting list. If you require something that’s on special order, e.g. a fuschia croc skin Birkin with diamonds (I think they range from USD$100,000 because croc is rare, fuschia croc rarer AND studded with diamonds), then, yes, you might have to wait until Hermès finds the right crocodile to skin. (Even then, it should not be that long since Hermès has bought a crocodile farm over in Down Under to ensure its supply of croc skin) Finding the “right”croc skin is another fascinating story.

So, back to the Kelly. It shot to fame when Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco was photographed carrying it. You can tell it apart from the Birkin by its handles (there’s only 1 handle for the Kelly and 2 for the Birkin) and the shoulder strap. (The Kelly comes with a detachable shoulder strap and the Birkin is handheld).

As with the Birkin, your imagination is the limit to what you want your Kelly to be. My personal favourite one will be in Blue Jean with palladium hardware (shown above). The blue used in Blue Jean is very distinct and it’s such a bright, spring blue that it gives hope. Besides, it’s a very rare blue as well and I’ve never seen it in any bag.

Oh, to hell with it. I saw an olive green Kelly in the window of Hermès in Melbourne that I would love to have. And of course, an Hermès orange for an Hermès Kelly would be oh-so-perfect too.

The Birkin vs the Kelly

I’ve studied them. Yes, study would be the right word. In fact, I would use the word “research” to be more apt. I find the Birkin overhyped. Yep, there we go. I’ve said it. Sacrilegious, I hear you say. Hear me out.

30cm Birkin in Fuchsia Crocodile with palladium hardware

Stop for a moment and think why the Birkin is so desirable. Short of the exotic skin (which creeps me out) and precious studded diamonds, what is it about the Birkin that makes women willing to trade their first born for it? That’s right! We’re back to that dratted waiting list! Its unattainability makes it even more desirable to every bagaholic there is! So now that I’ve completely dispelled the waiting list myth, do you still want the Birkin?

30cm Orange Togo Birkin with palladium hardware

While every bagaholic in the world is scrambling at Hermès’ door to grab hold of the one last Birkin in ostrich skin (yuck! exotic skins creep me out!) studded with south african diamonds (I’m making this up) in bright mandarin orange, Birkin’s sister, the Kelly is left standing there quiet and serene. To the bagaholic in me, the Kelly will always be the quiet underdog, vastly underrated by a world who’s yearning only after the unattainable, not quite understanding why they want it! And, that, my friends is why I want the Kelly.

I shan’t bore you with my sob stories but the Kelly is a little more practical as well with its detachable shoulder strap. If I’m going to be spending $9000.00 on a handbag (I think that’s what we Aussies pay for a beginner/starter Kelly), I’d want something that I can get a lot of mileage from! Cost per use as what Tine, Paris and I always quote. The detachable strap is my answer. If I’m going to be running for the train and trying to grab a coffee, I want my hands free and the Kelly safe and sound on my shoulder! (Though one would and most definitely should question my sanity in wanting to bring a Kelly onto Melbourne’s grubby grimy trains!)

Personally, every one of my bags, not that there’s a lot of bags, tell a story. Each bag is carefully-researched and lovingly-procured. Every single cent spent on the bag is paid for by lines and lines of codes written. Every bag marks a milestone in my working life and while some see it as an investment, I see it as a celebration of my achievements. The first major bonus, turning 30 (gracefully, I hope), the completion of a major project and so on. Some have their shoes. Some have their jewelry.

For me, it’s a piece of leather slung either on my shoulder or off the crook of my arm. I don’t care if no one knows what bag it is. I don’t care if it’s not logo-splashed. It’s what I love, it’s what marks an important event in my life.

Birkin images courtesy of Createurs de Luxe.
Kelly image courtesy of Hihermes

Guest Post: Bags, Bags, Bags! (Part 1)

Tine — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 13:04:11 +0000

Being a bag junkie, even the subject itself sets my heart a-flutter. The love of bags was born when my mum gave me my very first leather handbag when I was 12 (a green and brown Bonia. In hindsight, it looked a bit “auntie”, but then again, it was my first leather piece, and I loved every bit of it). And my first Coach a few years later. The rest, as they say, is history.

Here, my dear friend, Geekchic, talks about her love of bags, and the ones that capture her heart. Enjoy!

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Makeup, the latest application servers, a new open source operating system, Metro trains running on time are some of the things that send my heart fluttering with excitement. Of late, however, nothing seem to be catching much of my attention. But, like everything else which comes and goes in your life, this one love of my life has consistently been there. Like a faithful old friend whom you’ve known all your life. You might not tell each other when you last went to the loo but you know she’s there and you can pick up the missing pieces the next time you meet.

My friends, I’m talking about bags. Yep, designer bags. Luxury bags. Call ém what you want, they never fail to excite me with each new seasonal releases.

But with so many bags out there, what do you buy? Which ones do you get? And what do you do when you get calls from MiuMiu, Dior and then Marc Jacobs all within the same day telling you the new collection’s in and it’s to-die-for and you simply MUST pay a visit to David Jones?

You do what I do. You make a list of the most classic bags and you bloody well stick with it (unless you’re one of those with unlimited funds and can buy whatever your heart desires). Oh, and then, you block all those calls from David Jones.

So, in no particular order, the following list sets my heart a-pitter-patter.

1. Speedy by Louis Vuitton

You’ll have to admit that the Speedy is one of the most recognisable shapes from the LV range. If you’re not a fan of the monogram, fear not, the Speedy comes in a multitude of sizes and leather and/or canvas. It ranges from the tiniest Speedy 25 to the humongous Speedy 40.

Geekchic says: A bag, like a good pair of shoes, can make or break your outfit. Imagine you’re all dressed in grey and black for a cold wintry day. A splash of bright red hung off the crook of your arm instantly updates your outfit and changes your entire look.

2. Alma by Louis Vuitton

You cannot be a bag lover and not contemplate on the Alma. The shape is very distinctively-LV and for those who are wary of yet another hand-held bag, fear not. A strap is sold separately if you wish to have this slung on your shoulders.

Geekchic says: Have it without the shoulder strap. I’ve seen women hang this off their shoulders and it’s not the right shape to act as a satchel. Hand-carry or off the crook of your arm, it’s classy without being show-offy. Again, this comes in a multitude of materials. Canvas, patent leather, epi leather, you’re spoilt for choice.

3. The classic flap by Chanel

The ubiquitous quilting. The double interlocking C. The chain strap with a strip of leather locked in. Wear the strap long. Wear the strap short. Wear it with your skinny jeans, ankle boots and a simple tee. Wear it with your favourite LBD. That’s right, no bagaholic can say her bag collection is complete without this.

Geekchic says: Getting the Classic Flap is a momentous occassion in any bagaholic’s journey. If you’re getting your very first Classic Flap, get it in a staple colour. I’m thinking of a black caviar (pebbled calf leather) with gold hardware. Then, as you build your collection, you can get the seasonal releases in different colours and skins. Chanel did a lovely navy blue in the past season in both the lambskin as well caviar. From observation, Chanel sometimes does re-release the colours in future seasons so, if you didn’t manage to get the mandarin orange one you’ve been hankering after, fear not, good things come to those who wait.

When Karl Lagerfield entered Chanel, he brought back the 2.55 alongside the Chanel Classic Flap (for more information on the difference between these 2 bags, please head on to the The Purse Blog). This is another one to add to your collection but my personal take on this is, do the classic flap then the 2.55.

4. Lady Dior by Dior

The Lady Dior was first designed for Princess Diana, Lady Diana. The original one designed for her was medium in size in black lambskin and silver palladium hardware. This also comes with a detachable shoulder strap. The one in medium hangs off my 5’3″ frame very comfortably. The one in large can be slung across the body. As with the Chanel bags, this also has seasonal releases. The most recent one I’ve seen comes in Amethyst and there are only 5 available in Australia. 2 in Melbourne, 2 in Sydney and 1 in Gold Coast. If you hurry, there’s one last one available in David Jones.

With the Lady Dior, it also comes in both regular lambskin and patent leather. The patent leather feels much lighter than the lambskin even though staff at Dior in David Jones said I was the first one to ever say that. Like the Chanel Classic Flap too, you can dress it up (carrying it without the strap) or dress it down (slung off the shoulder). I like to wear a strand of pearls with a v-neck sweater, skinny jeans and ballet flats to pull off a preppy yet casual look. On a night out for dinner and drinks with my favourite people, I hand carry this with my LBD.

I’ll bring you my next lot of Geekchic’s must-have classic bags in my next post. Stay tuned!

Rootote.com.au Is Closing Down

Tine — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:17:43 +0000

Rootote.com.au is shutting down its retail operation on February 28. During the next few weeks, they will be having a storewide sale of 40% off everything. A lot of the items are already sold out, but you can still pick up a few goodies if you hurry. Just enter promo code ROOSALE upon checkout.

It’s sad news, really. All of my Roototes were purchased from Rootote.com.au, and it’s sad to see them go.

Thank goodness for Tiny Tapir, where I can still get my Rootote fix