For the Love of Bags

Ah! In my search for a Bottega Veneta woven bag lookalike, I came across the Cole Haan Genevieve Collection.

I like the leather on Cole Haan bags. They are of excellent quality and very soft and supple. Very nice for an everyday bag that will take some abuse.

I’m partial towards the Genevieve Small Triangle Tote (First in the picture) (US$395). Its got a nice shape and size. I can only imagine one problem with it - there is no zip. True, there is a clasp, but still, I’m wary about bags without zips.

For a zippered bag, the Genevieve Hobo (2nd in picture)(US$425) would be a better choice. It reminds me a little of the Coach Ergo Hobo though.

I guess I’ll have to check out Cole Haan’s stores here in Malaysia and see how the Genevieve Collection feels. But from previous experience with Cole Haan, prices here are marked up quite high compared to the US prices - pity really. I think they are pretty under-rated and definitely worth a look.

I had a reader leave a comment in a previous post about carrying a bag with confidence without having it being mistaken for a fake. I must say I fully agree with her thoughts on carrying any bag with confidence; which has crystalised in my thoughts today.

The key to pulling off any outfit or bag or look is self-confidence. If you think you look good, everyone else would think so too! Its like The Secret or the Law of Attraction - good feelings attract good feelings.

It isn’t only about carrying a branded bag. I’ve noticed that most people who carry the real thing tend to have that confidence anyway, no matter how the bag looks. They are confident that no one can call their bluff because its the real deal.

Its also about the confidence to carry a certain style and design of a bag. You might like a certain style or design that no one else likes. I’ve seen many bags I don’t like either, since its all to do with personal preference. However, I’ve seen the same or similar bags on some people and instantly, it looks good on them because they project an image of being comfortable with what they are carrying. (Photo courtesy of swanky)

However, I know of people who carry knock-offs of popular branded bags with just as much confidence as they carry the real thing. With all that confidence oozing out of them, you’d be hard pressed to call their bluff anyway. Sometimes, it isn’t even possible to tell a knock off or a fake from the real deal.

Taking LV as an example (since its at the centre of such controversy here ) I’ve since discovered that LV can customise your bag for you, if you want a specific design in a particular material which they don’t carry in their regular line. So, its not necessary that a bag design that you see on someone’s arm is a fake if it isn’t in the regular catalog. And if that person is carrying it with the confidence that it is the real deal, you wouldn’t dare call it out for being a fake anyway (even if it is).

In a discussion about bags once, I was told by someone that some local celebrities or high society don’t even carry real branded bags, because of the prohibitive costs in keeping up with the new designs that come out every season. So, (I was told) they carry (high quality) fakes. If true, I think its shocking. But you see, most of the high society ladies carry their bags with such aplomp and confidence, you couldn’t even tell that it isn’t real!

So, the reader has a good tip for all bag lovers. Carry your bags with confidence that you look good carrying it and everyone will believe you!

It looks like Marc Jacobs isn’t stopping at the awful designs he has come up with for Louis Vuitton’s Summer 2008 collection. He’s come up with a really horrendous bag (in my opinion) in this one too!

This is the Marc by Marc Jacobs Party Girl Starburst Tote. Here are the specifications:-

Smoked-vinyl tote with stud and faceted-jewel detail at front and patent trim throughout. Adjustable patent-leather straps.

15″H x 15″L.
7″ strap drop.

The “faceted-jewel detail” at the front look like holes to me.  In fact, it looks like you could take a sheet of stiff plastic, hammer some holes in it and turn it into a bag that sells for US$198.

Yes, MJ it IS a plastic bag!