IS A BAG JUST A BAG?
My Bottomless Pit
Every year, around July, the world's top fashion designers unveil their Fall/Winter collections at exclusive, invitation-only shows. High-profile celebrities and “people of note” arrive in chauffeured Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and sleek limousines, scurrying into the venue to confirm their seating assignments. Of course, their PAs (personal assistants) have already been briefed on the placement, but there's always the lingering possibility that a bigger name, or a bigger wallet, might make a last-minute appearance, bumping someone’s coveted front-row seat to the dreaded (gasp!) second row, end of the aisle.
Beyond showcasing the season's fresh color palette and innovative fabric textures, these events also unveil the latest shifts in hemlines and spotlight the must-have accessories of the moment. The powers that be have curated the perfect shoes, belts, jewels, and handbags to complement the season’s aesthetic, making certain every detail sets the tone for the collection.
Well, for heaven’s sake, none of us is Carrie Bradshaw! We regular folk can’t justify dropping thousands of dollars on a simple daytime outfit, let alone splurge on the perfect pair of Louboutins that cost more than our mortgage payment.
Designers know this. They also know that if a woman is going to indulge in one standout accessory, it will be her handbag.
Theoretically, the more you invest in a handbag, the longer it should last. A well-chosen neutral will carry you through multiple seasons and outfits. Matching your purse to your shoes and belt? Those days are long gone, right?
These days, and for quite a few years now, the most coveted handbag of choice has been a Louis Vuitton, or “Louie” in girl-speak.
Next in line is Chanel, followed by Gucci. And every woman knows that a Hermès bag, especially the iconic Kelly, is to die for. Literally. You would have to die, and the insurance payout might cover it. For your daughter. Not. For. You.
Here is a current list, pre-tariff, of the least expensive and most expensive pricing for the coveted, wanted, wished-for handbags:
Louis Vuitton
Neverfull PM - $ 1,960
Capucines- $ 25,000-$50,000
Ltd. Editions- $100,000 +
Chanel
Micro-Mini $ 3,000
Small Classic $ 10,400
Large Classic $ 11,700
Ltd. Edition $100,000
Gucci
Small Shoulder $ 2,600
Sm. Top Handle $ 4,700
The Diana $ 29,000
And then, ladies, there are the rest of the brands. Prada, Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Valentino, Dior, and Hermes, etc.
An entry-level Hermes SilkyCity 33 will set you back a mere $2,750.00. The Weekender $9,050. The elusive, exclusive Birkin can run as high as $450,000.00. To die for, remember?
All these brands have many in-between prices, this is just a sample of big, bigger, biggest.
My dream bag is a Dior. A pretty lady-like handbag with jingly jangley thingys hanging from the handles. But that’s reserved for when I grow up, or in my next life.
And you? What do you think your bag says about you? My current bag is usually a tote. A big, wide, gaping tote I sometimes refer to as “the bottomless pit”. Not always pretty, but it gets the job done. It says, “I have a life, I’m a busy woman, I don’t want to be careful with my bag, and at this stage in my life, my own initials are the only initials that matter, thank you very much”.
What’s your dream bag?