Thursday, September 13, 2012

trendy vs. timeless



Hey ESB,

I have a family wedding this fall and need some accessory guidance. This is the dress (though I'll be wrapping it a bit differently). I'm pairing it with some sleek pewter pumps I already own and some raw smoky quartz baubles.

The issue is, I'll be toting a rather large vintage camera, phone, yadda yadda yadda -- a clutch isn't going to cut it. Can I rock this bag or am I totally mixing genres?

Sort of unrelated, but I don't have lots of dollars to work with.  For me, this is kind of an investment piece. Wondering where you and your readers would rank it on the trendy/timeless spectrum.

Thanks for your wisdom!

-The Bag Lady

*****

On a scale of trendy (1) to timeless (10), that bag rates a 3. Maybe a 4.

I recently spotted the new Coach "Legacy" Leather Duffle on because im addicted....



which sent me into a 30-minute tailspin searching vintage Coach bucket bags on ebay and etsy.

There are QUITE A FEW. And they are excellent.


This one from Bel Modo is $115, and looks to be in pristine condition.

But shop around, they come in a bunch of different sizes. (And if the seller says "BEST OFFER TAKES IT HOME!!!!" don't be afraid to offer half the list price.)

20 comments:

  1. hit the nail on the head esb! Coach all the way, those styles will never go out of style and if it's an investment piece, well you can't go wrong with a real leather bag.

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  2. If you're truly looking for an investment piece/something timeless, I'd go for something much more basic and versatile.

    What about Clare Vivier's oversize clutch?

    Etsy might also be a place to go for a basic but well-made leather bag...

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  3. What about making these Camera Straps, you'll need to have your camera ready to go at any moment anyway so maybe then this will give you more options for your purse.

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  4. Is a little camera bag not an option? Then you could have your clutch and eat it!

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  5. As someone old enough to have a perspective on "timeless," I'm with Rob.

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  6. Whether it's a 1 or a 10 doesn't matter if it's that ugly.

    Definitely on the vintage Coach team. I collect them and they never, ever fail the timeless test.

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  7. Unlike today's headpiece, the bag is totally made for renewing your vows in Machu Picchu. I support the Coach buckets. Another absolutely timeless + high quality option is Charles et Charlus (<a href="http://www.etsy.com/search?q=Charles%20et%20Charlus&view_type=gallery&ship_to=ZZ&min=0&max=0>etsy</a>. It's some kind of secretive ancient French handbag company.

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  8. i'd give it a 3, but that doesn't mean i don't think you should get it; i actually prefer it to the coach bags, which kind of bore the crap out of me. investment pieces should have personality, and if you like this one, go for it.

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    1. yes. The Coach bags are as boring as boring bags come. An investment is something that you will love forever. I can only imagine someone loving the Coach bag forever out of fear of loving anything more interesting.

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    2. let the record show: lauren has been searching for her statement bag for 5+ years

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    3. pretty much true. vegan bags are ugly as sin.

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  9. "investment piece," i should add, should never equal "mom purse."

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  10. I'm not feeling your choice, but I agree with Lauren in that Coach is a total yawn. Shop around.

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  11. I used to be horrified by my Mom's classic Coach purses. Now though, love 'em. The leather stewardess bag or field bag will be forever awesome.

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  12. ursa minor makes some amazing stuff

    http://ursaminorstudio.bigcartel.com/product/leather-cubist-tote

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  14. I never thought of myself as a Coach girl, but I do kind of adore your picks ESB (ok, more than I'd like to admit). That quick dive into Ebay opened up a whole new world of tasseled cuteness. Thanks for the input, ladies and gents!

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