Rainy Days and a reflection on today’s bags + Starstruck!!

So I’m seriously loving the weather right now. I love the cooler weather, although I feel terrible for those who have to wade through floodwaters to get out of their homes to go to work 🙁 Rains and strong gusts of winds have painted this lovely town green and black– green for all those ecological debris– fallen leaves and black for the oozing gutter water which stemmed from years of littering everywhere. Yes, our gutters are now clogged big time and no amount of Drain-o can unclog it. Ahh the beauty *and the stench haha* of living in the third world:) No worries, I still love this country, flood and all, and also even if there aren’t many designer bag choices readily available.

Look at the upside–I’m not harping because I have internet haha– it had opened a world of endless shopping possibilities (and with it, a trail of non- ending credit card bills not to mention running the risk of burning a black hole through your savings account and your kids’ college fund haha..Oh yeah and did I mention unpaid debt? *dies* ). But oye, without the internet, I wouldn’t have been able to see this beautiful Valentino leather rosettes frame bag. It’s gorgeous and it’s priced at US$1,950. I know Valentino is not really too known (meaning mainstream) for bags anymore in our generation *cough feeling young*, but honestly, Valentino has a good bag design streak lately in my opinion. This bag is actually nothing extraordinary, but then again when you are tired of the overly detailed and embellished bags, you always go back to the basics. And this bag exemplifies it. Get it at bergdorfgoodman.com

Another Valentino bag that clearly exemplifies that back-to-the-basic appeal is this Nuage Bow Shopping Hobo in a beautiful bronze color. Again, the use of bows in a bag are nothing new. You’ve probably seen it so many times ( YSL for one). But it all comes down to this– which designer makes it better and who executes the style best. I think Valentino comes out as a winner this time with this bag. It’s really such a basic, rather nondescript bag. But it’s painfully beautiful. Price is a bit high (that’s why it’s painfully beautiful haha) at US$1,895, but if you want to pay for quality and not brand recognition, then this is something worth considering.

Sadly, the lack of an “it” designer bag (meaning one that is literally so earth shattering that it induces mass-hoarding *well the Anya Hindmarch “I’m not a Plastic bag” is hot (this bag is the HK version, thanks to Mrs.C for allowing me to photograph it)… but that’s ‘coz it was cheap! The cost and hype of it being cheap overshadowed the main purpose of the bag!!! Haha*) this season makes you want to rethink all those bag choices available out there. Oh and let’s not even mention how prices have jocked up threefold nowadays– think Chanel— everything nice now has its price! Sigh, designers are getting greeeedy!

But again it all boils down to this– are you paying the price because you just love well- made bags, or are you paying for the social recognition that comes with being seen carrying something “luxurious” (aka expensive),* it’s really an inevitable association*?

If it’s the former, then you will love these Valentino bags. But if it’s the latter, then there’s always Chanel 🙂

Have a good night and stay dry!!! Oh before I forget, here are some answers to your comments:

1. What do I think of Fino? I think they produce fairly good local leather bags (at least you know it’s leather, unlike other local brands who probably falsely advertise) although I’ve never bought any bags from them. I did get an organizer though, but long time ago.

2. Re: How to tell if the Anya I’m not a Plastic Bag is real or not? Can’t really help in that department. The bag is actually pretty cheap for it to still have markings that would deem it authentic. So really, if a reseller offers the bag to you, it’s more a case of buyer beware. I don’t sell these bags because I can’t even get a hold of a 2nd bag for my baghag friend. So I’d naturally be inclined to think twice if someone were to offer me this bag in different versions. Again, buyer beware– buy at your own risk.

3. The R&Y Augousti snakeskin clutch can be purchased at ronherman.com

4. Singapore–I’m not really aware of second hand designer bag shops there. I know though that you need to have a license to operate such a shop in the Lion City!

And this just in!!! OH MY GAWD I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Quentin Tarantino in the FLESH tonight at the Edsa Shangrila Hotel! I had dinner with my family and a very old family friend from NY and we were at the lobby about to go to the car when Quentin walked in–no escorts, no bodyguards, just him and a lady (who was probably part of Cinemanila). He was clutching an award of some sort and wore a traditional Barong Tagalog. I was carrying my baby in my arms when I saw him. I swear I was so tempted to just drop my kid and whip out my camera to get a photo, but haha my mother instincts were in place and I didn’t. I was too starstruck to move anyway! That’s Mrs.T’s little brush with the Hollywood A-Lister with sadly nothing to prove such an event occurred 🙁 But of course me being Mrs. I-hafta-document-everything, I had to post the momentuous event here 😀 Quentin Tarantino was tall and a big guy! *whistle whistle!!!* That’s all 🙂

xx
Mrs.T