Designer bags that will never be "démodé"

I like to think of bags as investment pieces. Of course, that doesn't mean that I'm planning on getting the money back! But if I ever decide to buy a bag is because I know it will become part of my everyday life. When I was younger, I couldn't afford to buy designer bags, so I would settle with a nice leather bag, vintage or from a medium quality brand like Massimo Dutti. I still wear them occasionally and even if they still look quite well, I must say that if you're planning on buying a designer piece to boost your wardrobe, a designer bag is something you certainly need.

Of course, the prices may vary a lot from one fashion brand to another, or even between different models from the same brand. The "it" bag phenomenon has become quite big, and each season new bags become "essential"; but sticking to the everlasting, classical ones, is my advice if your budget is a limited one –as is the case for most of us. Here is a list of my favorite bags.


Louis Vuitton:

Speedy: This is one of the most classic and versatile bags you'll ever find. It's also quite affordable. It comes in 4 different sizes and a huge variety of colors and textures. You can even personalize it with your initials. These one is the Speedy Monogram Bandoulière (with strap).

Alma: I absolutely adore this bag shape, and the Epi is definitely my favorite. I would buy it in the medium size in a very pop color. This one is called the "Amande Electric".

Sofia Coppola bag: It's my favorite bag from LV. It's a very expensive investment, but it is a completely timeless piece. It comes in different colors and leather types. My favorite are the black and the navy ones.

Fendi

Peekaboo: It is my favorite Fendi. I love the classic cut that reminds me of the Hermès Birkin.

2 jours: It's a more affordable Fendi and I would definitely buy it in the tri-color version. This one is owned by Sarah Jessica Parker and has her initials.

Chloé is one of my favorite fashion brands. The Paraty bag is one I personally own and can say that I don't regret the investment! I bought it in grey, and I'm planning on getting it in another color. My favorite is the black python version, but unfortunately it is also almost twice the price of the normal ones!

Céline: I love all Céline bags, but if I had to choose, I would buy these four:

Luggage: The tricolor Céline Luggage (this in particular) is a bag you'll never get tired of.

Luggage Phantom: It's another version of the Luggage, a bit more "décontracté". It's perfect for a weekend more laid-back look.

Mini Luggage: This one is a personal fancy, the size is not very practical, but I adore it!

Trapèze: This a very practical shape and size, and the tricolor one is to die for.

Alexander Wang: He is one of the most talented designers of our time, and his bags are still quite affordable. I love the contemporary feeling his designs inspire. He reminds me a bit of Yves Saint Laurent in the 60's in the way he manages to capture "l'esprit du temps".

Rocco: It's become one of his best known creations, I love the studded details and the leather treatment.

Diego: It's quite similar to the Rocco and at the same time completely different! The shape but also the way to wear it gives it a 90's allure...

Devere: It's one of his most recent creations. I absolutely love this bag, the shape, the finishing touches, everything.

Tory Burch: It's one of my favorite brands, the quality is amazing and the prices are quite affordable. I bought the 797 on sale in two versions, the black and the nude, both in large size.

Priscilla: It's a very classic shape, similar to a Kelly, and at a very reasonable price. My sister bought it in orange (same as in the picture) and I borrow it all the time!

Chanel 2.55: I think I will never get rid of this bag. It works with jeans and a parka or the chicest outfit for a night in town.

Prada Twin Bag: It's very similar to the Fendi 2 jours and comes it a very large range of colors. It's bag that looks great at any age.

Gucci:

Soho Disco bag: I love the size and the fact that it works for day and night.

Vintage Web Leather Boston Bag: This model is very similar to the LV Speedy, I love the classic shape. The black is my favorite color.

Vintage Web original GG canvas Boston Bag: The same bag but in canvas instead of leather. I love this color and the navy one.

10) Longchamp: Le Pliage/ Le Pliage Cuir: This is the perfect bag for traveling since is really light and you can fold it (that's why it's called Le Pliage). You can buy it in a classic color or in one of its many special editions. There's also the new version in leather that is a bit more expensive but lovely. I love it in neon yellow.

11) Hermès: I don't know if I will ever afford one, but if I had to choose, I would go for the black Birkin in large size and the Kelly in red croco, they are my favorite and I'm sure they'll never go out of style.

I'm not a personal fan of the Coach bags with the logo, with I love the leather ones. I have a very classic black one and I recently fell in love with the Legacy Leather Mini Tanner. Here are some of the colors I love the most (mine is pink and nude). The mint one is gorgeous as well...

Marc by Marc Jacobs Hillier Hobo Bag: This one has become a classic from Marc Jacobs. Each season brings new colors and sizes. I would buy it in a very special color, or in a basic one (black, grey nude) to use daily.

90 songs you'll never get sick of listening

To dance awkwardly in front of the mirror (or set the dancefloor on fire):
1) Dancing on my own - Robyn
2) Dancing with myself - Billy Idol
3) I don't feel like dancin' - Scissor Sisters
4) Baby I'm yours - Breakbot
5) You Wanted a Hit - LCD Soundsystem
6) This Charming Man - The Smiths
7) I Follow Rivers - Lykke Li
8) Close to me - The Cure
9) Ceremony - New Order
10) Get Lucky - Daft Punk ft. Pharrell
11) Listztomania - Phoenix
12) 1901 - Phoenix

To be happily in love:
13) Just like heaven - The Cure
14) Just like honey - The Jesus & Mary Chain
15) You are the girl - The Cars
16) Heres comes your man - Pixies
17) Le temps de l'amour - Françoise Hardy
18) Strangers - The Kinks
19) Mushaboom - Feist
20) True Love Leaves No Traces - Dead Famous People

To be unhappily in love:
21) Hey, That's no way to say goodbye - Leonard Cohen
22) Drive - The Cars
23) Love will tear us apart - Joy Division
24) Slave to Love - Bryan Ferry
25) The Last Of the Famous International Playboys - Morrissey
26) Unrequited Love - Lykke Li
27) Bang Bang - Dalida
28) Suedehead - Morrissey
29) Last night I dreamt that somebody loved me - The Smiths
30) Stop me - Mark Ronson ft. Daniel Merriweather

To feel as alive as ever:
31) More than this - Roxy Music
32) Just what I needed - The Cars
33) Head On - The Jesus & Mary Chain
34) There is a light that never goes out - The Smiths
35) Bruises - Chairlift
36) Atmosphere - Joy Division
37) What's so funny ('bout peace, love and understanding) - Elvis Costello
38) New York - Cat Power
39) Youth Knows No Pain - Lykke Li
40) The Bay - Metronomy

To feel as romantic as ever:
41) Sea of Love - Cat Power
42) Blue Jeans - Lana del Rey
43) Video Games - Lana del Rey
44) Sadness is a blessing - Lykke Li
45) The Look - Metronomy
46) Heart of Gold - Neil Young
47) There ain't no cure for love- Leonard Cohen
48) Be for real - Leonard Cohen
49) Please, please, please, let me get what I want - The Smiths
50) I'm your man - Leonard Cohen

To wait for the end of the world:
51) Waiting for the miracle - Leonard Cohen
52) The Future - Leonard Cohen
53) I'll love you 'til the end of the world - Nick Cave
54) High Hopes - Pink Floyd
55) Born to die - Lana del Rey
56) Closing Time - Leonard Cohen
57) Superstar - Sonic Youth
58) The Greatest - Cat Power
59) Iron (Gucci Vump Remix) - Woodkid
60) Everyday is Like Sunday - Morrissey

To feel the 80's nostalgia (whether you actually lived through the 80's or not):
61) Sara perche ti amo - Ricchi e poveri
62) Tarzan loves the summer nights - Italo Disco
63) Nightcall - Kavinsky
64) Into the Groove - Madonna
65) Shake it Up - The Cars
66) If you leave - OMD
67) Kiss - Prince
68) Tainted Love - Soft Cell
69) Jump - Van Halen
70) Pretty in Pink - Psychedelic Furs

To feel the parisian nostalgia (whether you actually lived in Paris or not):
71) Tous les garçons et les filles - Françoise Hardy
72) Que c'est triste Venise - Charles Aznavour
73) Les feuilles mortes - Yves Montand
74) Si tu n'existais pas - Joe Dassin
75) Les Champs Elysées - Joe Dassin
76) Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son - France Gall
77) Sophisticated Lady - Billie Holiday
78) Je suis venu te dire que je m'en vais - Serge Gainsbourg
79) Take this longing - Leonard Cohen
80) Laisse tomber les filles - France Gall

To feel infinite
81) But Not Tonight - Depeche Mode
82) Don't Forget To Dance - The Kinks
83) This Time Tomorrow - The Kinks
84) Hallelujah - Leonard Cohen
85) First we take Manhattan - Leonard Cohen
86) Heroes - David Bowie
87) Modern Love - David Bowie
88) Atomic - Blondie
89) This must be the place - Talking Heads
90) Bizarre Love Triangle - New Order

It Girl: Lolita Jacobs

If you are a regular reader of Garance Doré's blog, you must certainly be acquainted with Lolita Jacobs, one for her recurrent muses. With her I inaugurate a section of this blog, the "It Girl" section.

I guess the term has been over-used for several years now, but the thing is there's always been it girls even before they were given that name. Of course, each can have a personal interpretation of what the term actually refers to. For me, an "it girl" has certainly great personal style and usually good looks as well, but she also has to be talented in whatever she does. It girls are often associated to the slashers' phenomenon, and I'll write a whole other post concerning this latter.

The first time I saw Lolita (in Garance Doré's blog as previously mentioned) I fell head over heels in love with her style. For me, she is the perfect incarnation of parisian boho chic (The bourgeois-bohème or bobo, as they are lovingly called, are a whole urban species that inhabits mostly the 3ème, 4ème, 9ème, 10ème, 11ème, 18ème and 20ème districts or "arrondissements" of Paris).

What I love about her style is how she manages to mix the classic and and iconic bourgeois brands with just the right touch of subversion and contemporaneity. In the first picture she mixes a timeless Birkin bag (but with a military handle), Repetto ballerinas and a classic beige wool pullover with pink cropped pants, a military green ultra sheer trench and a hat that gives the whole ensemble a boyish allure.

On the second picture she's wearing Roger Vivier's iconic flats, but with a skirt that is too short to fit in with bourgeois fashion codes.

On the third and fourth one, she's wearing a perfect navy shirt and Ferragamo flats with denim overalls.

The fifth picture shows a more boyish allure, very rock & roll. Still, the navy long coat gives a bourgeois touch.

The sixth picture is a total bourgeois-boyish look in navy, which I absolutely love.

And the seventh, probably my favorite of them all, is a mix of 80's yuppie with white denim and white pull and black moccasins with  socks; with a 60's inspired ultra-feminine sexy leopard print coat à la Jane Birkin.

As young as 24, Lolita already has a very defined style. Muse of Alix Petit, designer of fashion house Heimstone, she's been the face of the brand for several seasons. Besides modeling, she works full-time in an artistic management agency.

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Si eres una lectora asidua del blog de Garance Doré, seguramente ya has escuchado hablar de Lolita Jacobs, una de sus musas recurrentes. Con ella inauguro una sección del blog, la sección “It Girl”.

Admito que el término ha sido sobre utilizado en tiempos recientes, pero me parece que en realidad las it girls siempre han existido, incluso antes de que se les llamara así. Por supuesto, cada quien puede tener una interpretación personal de lo que entiende por dicho término. Para mí, una “it girl” tiene gran estilo personal por supuesto, y usualmente un buen aspecto físico, pero también es alguien talentosa en lo que sea que haga. Las it girls están asociadas comúnmente al fenómeno de los slashers, y escribiré un post dedicado a este tema próximamente.

La primera vez que vi a Lolita (en el blog de Garance Doré, como mencioné con anterioridad), me enamoré completamente de su estilo. En mi opinión, ella es la encarnación perfecta del chic boho parisino (El burgués-bohemio o bobo, como se les llama cariñosamente, son una especie urbana a parte, que habita en su mayoría el tercer, cuarto, quinto, décimo, onceavo, decimoctavo y vigésimo distritos de París).  

Lo que amo de su estilo es cómo logra mezclar las marcas clásicas e icónicas burguesas con el toque justo de subversión y contemporaneidad. En la primera foto mezcla un bolso Birkin -un clásico atemporal (pero con un asa militar)- con zapatillas Repetto y un clásico suéter de lana beige, con pantalones cortos rosas, un trench ultra fino en verde militar y un sombrero que le da al conjunto un allure masculino.

En la segunda foto está usando flats icónicos Roger Vivier, pero con una falda demasiado corta como para encajar con los códigos de vestimenta burgueses.

En la tercera y cuarta imagen está usando una camisa azul marino impecable con flats Ferragamo y un mono de mezclilla.

La quinta foto muestra un aspecto más masculino, muy rock & roll. Aún así, el abrigo largo azul marino le da un toque burgués.

La sexta imagen es un total look masculino-burgués en azul marino, que me fascina.

Y la séptima, probablemente mi look favorito de todos, es una mezcla de yuppie ochentero, con jeans blancos y suéter blanco y mocasines negros con calcetines; con un abrigo ultra femenino inspiración 60’s de impreso leopardo, muy Jane Birkin.

A los 24, Lolita tiene ya un estilo muy definido. Musa de Alix Petit, diseñadora de la casa de moda Heimstone, ha sido la imagen de la marca por varias temporadas. Además del modelaje, ella trabaja tiempo completo en una agencia de dirección artística.

Today's Icons // Iconos de hoy: Lykke Li

I'm sure most of you have already heard about Lykke Li. She's one of the most talented young singers/composers of her generation and she also happens to have amazing personal style. I'm not sure if fashion just runs through nordic girls' veins or how they manage to do the flawless and effortless look so well...
Lykke is a clear example of this phenomenon, but for me, true style comes from the inside, and it's not just about wearing beautiful clothes and combining them correctly. I think that Lykke's style is closely linked to who she is, this enigmatic personality, so young and yet so wise, a girl that has travelled a lot, and has acquired knowledge from all of her life experiences. I got to get a glimpse at her inner life in some interviews I read, particularly one from Nylon magazine, and one that I found in youtube, where she talks about her music inspirations, creating process, and mostly about life and love.

I especially loved one of her quotes where you can see her humbleness: "I’m just feeling things and expressing myself as the only way to get through life almost", as much as her impressions on love and longing: "You can love an illusion and a lot of times when you’re really loving someone you are loving the whole projection, you know, of what could’ve been, what should’ve been […] If you would forget and move on, then you’ve got left with nothing, you know? Memory travels, memory is always changing, you’re always longing for something else, not what happened but what you felt, and I think a lot of great art is created from longing."

If you haven't heard of her or her music, you should really listen to her most recent album, "Wounded Rhymes" and her newest single featuring David Lynch, "I'm waiting here"

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Seguramente muchos de ustedes han escuchado hablar de Lykke Li. Es una de las cantantes/compositoras más talentosas de su generación y tiene además un gran estilo personal. No sé si la moda simplemente corra por las venas de las chicas nórdicas, o como es que consiguen un look tan effortless y sin fallas...

Lykke es un ejemplo claro de este fenómeno, pero para mí, el verdadero estilo viene de adentro, y no consiste únicamente en usar ropa hermosa y combinarla adecuadamente. Me parece que el estilo de Lykke está ligado estrechamente a quién es ella, a esta personalidad enigmática, tan joven y al mismo tiempo tan sabia, a una chica que ha viajado mucho y ha adquirido sabiduría de sus experiencias de vida. Pude echar un vistazo a su vida interior a través de algunas entrevistas, en particular una de la Nylon US, así como de un video que encontré en Youtube, en donde habla sobre sus inspiraciones musicales, su proceso creativo, y principalmente de la vida y el amor.

Aprecié particularmente una de sus frases en las que podemos notar su humildad: "Solo siento cosas y me expreso como la única manera de ir por la vida casi", así como sus impresiones sobre el amor y la nostalgia amorosa: "Puedes amar una ilusión, y muchas veces cuando amas a alguien amas en realidad toda la proyección, ¿sabes? de lo que pudo haber sido, de lo que debió haber sido [...] Si decides olvidar y continuar adelante, entonces te quedas sin nada, ¿sabes? La memoria viaja, la memoria es siempre cambiante, y siempre anhelas algo más, no lo que realmente sucedió, sino lo que tú sentiste, y creo que una buena parte del gran arte se ha creado a partir del anhelo".

Si aún no han escuchado nada de su música, les recomiendo que escuchen su álbum más reciente, "Wounded Rhymes", así como su single más nuevo en el que participa David Lynch, "I'm waiting here".