3 Best Bargains

I was in hysterics reading your confessions or should I say incredibly "original" excuses about the size of your shoe collection. It seems to me that only expensive shoes are included in the total count. Just in case if you're wondering what happened to the Pass It Forward series, I decided to jazz it up a bit today and have some fun. I've probably inundated you with enough new blogs and e-magazines to read so I thought I'd give you guys a break for a change.

I've always loved a good bargain. I've been rather fortunate to get incredible deals over the years. Unfortunately, I didn't bother taking photos and some of the least used items were recycled (given away or sold) to make way for new goodies. This included a Chanel 2.55 flap in pristine condition that I'd mentioned here on a couple of occasions. I'd nabbed it while I was in Hong Kong shopping with my friend S of Latkes and Dim Sum about 8 years or so ago. I hemmed and hawed over the "difficult" decision until S threatened to skewer me. It had cost me an equivalent of £135 in those days. Hard to believe the very same bag now retails for more than £3000!





Many many years ago, I came across a new Hermes Kelly 25cm at a consignment store. The owner of the handbag was going through a mid life crisis and dumped her Hermes collection which was enough to fill an entire store. I was rather obsessed with the chevre mysore leather (goatskin) and picked up the Kelly for £1500. Yes, I kid you not (pun intended). I loved the bag even if it was one of the most impractical item I've ever owned. I'm one of those individuals that lug around a bag large enough to put a baby in it. I finally sold it last year to get a much bigger bag but the Kelly still tugs at my heartstrings.

I think one of the best ways to try out a bag is to buy it secondhand. I spent the better part of a year researching for a Chanel medallion tote on the Purse Forum. I snagged one at a local New Zealand auction site for a mere £100 because the photos were so awful and the bag looked like it had been dragged in the mud. It took an hour to sanitize, remove dog/human hair/dirt and polish the bag (which was rather therapeutic). It was enough to convince me that the Chanel caviar leather was incredibly durable because the spa treatment revived it and made the bag look like new. Unfortunately, I've also learned that narrow shoulders don't go hand in hand with double straps.


What are your best bargains to date?