Today is a smaverage, windy kinda Wellington day - so the perfect occasion for ruminating on material possessions which can’t really help me in life but feel good in the short-medium term. Hence, we travel into the world of my reviewing my new handbag from Chloe, which costs QUITE a pretty penny and I utterly adore.
I thought it would be a fun thing to set the questions out like I was interviewing myself about it, Q&A style. I know it is going to be somewhat tiresome but hey, it is almost the end of 2018 so you get what you’re given at this point. A few people had asked me about this bag, and where it was from, so it only felt right to pay homage to it on the blog. Please note, I bought this bag mindfully, because I had been thinking about getting a proper bag for a very long while, since before we had our overseas adventure. I do not recommend blowing your money on a bag just to impress someone unless you have that money in your account somewhere, and can access it to pay it off.
Lucy - WTF did you do!?
I bought a very expensive handbag. A Chloe bag. It is a new season bag and was a really good price buying it from David Jones (where I saw it in person) vs online. The bag is called ‘The Tess Camera Bag’.
Lucy, you know that’s like a months rent???
Close, but not quite.
Why on earth did you spend that much? Did you buy it on holiday?
I spent that much because I had been wanting to buy a really good gown-up fuck-off handbag for about 2 years. I had procrastinated because I couldn’t find anything I liked and didn’t have the money to buy it. I did not buy it overseas, nor did I see it overseas. After looking at bags while I was away, I realised that they were no cheaper in Europe than in New Zealand, and actually were more expensive in many cases. I bought this bag from David Jones in Wellington, after seeing it, getting good customer service where someone approached me about it, offered 20% off if I bought it that day and knowing I had the savings so that if the world fell apart, I could afford it, and still pay rent. Incidentally, Matt and I had pre-paid rent in case we hadn’t had enough before arriving back in New Zealand. We also got a rent rebate. So I could afford to buy it without actually touching my savings.
I bought it because while travelling around the Greek Islands, I was talking to a lovely Danish woman called Annette and we were discussing being an independent woman. At 50, Annette doesn’t have children, and inspired me with a story about how when she went to Paris she saw a bag she liked (Celine) and bought it while on holiday with her sister. Her sister was shocked and protested to which Annettes cool answer was “I asked the boss; she said yes”.
This discussion made me realise that I am the CEO boss of my finances, especially at this time where I have no mortgage, not children and no obligations. So I decided that if I saw anything and knew I could actually afford it, I should YOLO and do it now. So it was inspired by holiday, purchased in Wellington - top trick. I think prices here are better because it is harder to move expensive stock with our small population so shop staff will negotiate more.
I see. Why did you choose it?
It honestly just caught my eye on the shelf one afternoon when I went to renew my drivers licence. I’d walked through David Jones many times before. The olive green was particularly to my liking; it was nice to pick something that wasn’t black. I also knew I would need something big(ish) because I carry lots of things around with me, like sunglasses, hairbrushes etc. While I have never owned anything Chloe, and haven’t obsessed over the brand, I like that the ‘Chloe Girl’ is a free-spirited character, much like how I see myself. I also wanted gold hardward and thought this had the right look of being a bit outdoorsy while still modern.
Can you fit enough stuff in it?
Yes, absolutely. I have the medium-sized bag. I think if you’re going to pay that much, pay a bit more and make sure you’ll actually use it. It has a lovely cream lining inside. Pens are banned forever from the interior.
How much have you used it?
Almost every day.
Has it scratched?
Yes, but my friends tell me it will get a ‘Patina’ and that will make it more beautiful as it ages.
Has it got a suitable strap?
Yes, you can use it long or the short strap. I love that.
In 10 words or less?
The perfect mix of Chloe Faye and Drew bags.
Was it worth it?
For a girl who is almost 30 and wants to tell the world to shove it because she’s worked hard enough studying and then in law and government/policy for her own money as a one-off conscious purchase? Absolutely. Now I’m off to read ‘The Barefoot Investor’. Because Handbags are fun - and hopefully forever - but let’s be real ladies - NOT an investment.
