Always love to read you Helena.. Loved how you remember the way you've become a bag lover... I believe this starts from the early years..reminded me of me...with my first paycheck... Always something fashion related even if it was something small... My mother used to say... Oh my God this child is always with a bag in his hands.... True story... I wanted to go to kindergarten with my grandma's vintage black bag...i refused to hold my lunch basket...
As for which bag you should choose now...i know that whichever you choose..will be the right one.... You're always so to the point!! 😘😘😘😘
Always enjoy reading your thought process behind big purchases, and this walk down memory lane today. Am eying the Bottega Wallace as well! Will have to check it out in store to see how long the handles slide to and how comfortable it is to wear. Can’t wait to see which one is your winner!
I absolutely love my The Row Park Tote in the medium size- it’s my daily workhorse bag now that I’ve ditched the diaper bag for my toddler- enough space for everything I would need without being TOO big. And it’s amazingly light which is a big plus for me. But with your Celine bucket bag it would serve the same purpose. I also have and love the Loewe Puzzle Bag (I have the mini) and I think it’s definitely the most unique but also timeless option! I think that could add more range to your collection! I could talk handbags all day lol
Thank you for sharing more about your immigrant experience and how that contributed to your love of fashion! My family also emigrated to the US from Guatemala and your post made me realize how this contributed to my own love of fashion in part from a desire to fit in. My grandmother was a nanny to a wealthy family and they often gave her hand me downs which is how I got my first cashmere sweater — so exciting to 14 year old me! There was often an old Vogue thrown in to the bag that also allowed me to peek into a world I otherwise didn’t have access to. I also laughed at the Kate Spade nylon purse reference because that was also the first “luxury” item I was able to buy at 17 after saving money from my after school job. Mine was red lol. I bet you were wiser and chose black! ;) Thanks for always beautifully blending lightness and depth, Helena!
I love my puzzle but kind of feel like I’m aging the flap every time I reach in. I vote Bottega Wallace! Small Jodie too similar to the first brown BV you posted. And I actually prefer The Row Park w/2 straps & Squarish shape, I reluctantly bought in elephant color & carry nonstop!
I have the Loewe puzzle bag in black. It’s the small size and fits so much. I got it in 2018 and I’m so glad it’s still popular. I recently purchased The Row banana bag in black nylon and it’s my go to bag these days. Similar to the Loewe puzzle bag in what it can carry, and I think it goes with a lot of my outfits. The Loewe can get heavy but the nylon The Row is much lighter and understated.
Love your style and your collection. Especially because your pictures and your great style brought me to the Trendy. I have a similar bag history starting from a young age and still to this day people are confused about this strange passion.
The puzzle bag is cool but since it will not be proceeded I think it will create a lot fomo out there. The Row tote seems to be the one that survives the longest style wise and this is my determining factor when it comes to adding a new friend to the team. My pick would be the row.
I love The Row Park bag but I wonder about a year from now. That Bottega Wallace is calling my name and on my wish list. It’s classic yet still different. I feel like I’d love it forever. Look forward to seeing what you pick.
My vote would be the Loewe. It think it's so gorgeous and it's something you don't see everywhere. At least here in Southern California. I have the mini puzzle and I still love it. The Row bag is obviously beautiful and I have no doubt that if you carried it, it would read luxury. I feel like for a "regular" person like myself, none of my friends would have any idea the bag was something special. If that makes sense. Whichever you choose will be stunning on you!
Hi! I am really loving these substacks! Wondering if you’ll share what bag you purchased? I recent bought the n/s row bag in medium and am trying to decide whether to keep it. I really like it and I got it in that beautiful dark brown. I, too, though am wondering if it is worth the price! Interested to know your thoughts if you did purchase it ... Thanks!
Love this post. I remember walking onto my college campus and seeing all the big boxy Kate Spades bags and being in awe and envious, like there was the secret world that existed and I've never known it existed. How do I get in? How was I unaware of its existence for so long? I had no idea how much the bag cost, but I knew it was out of my price range.
The other bags all the girls had were the Herve Chapelier bags. Does anyone remember those? French and so chic. Oh and Longchamp and the Vanessa Bruno sequin tote. I bought myself a dupe at Target because I'm sure the girls who had them went to Paris to buy them. I had to settle for the suburban strip mall version. :)
Now that I have money and can buy myself all the fancy bags I'd want (within reason), I find I don't really want them anymore. I think - $3,000 for that bag or I could invest it or put it towards a family trip. I'm not judging others choices, I just find having money now makes me want to spend it less than when I was younger. Makes me so glad I didn't have money in my 20s. I'd have been broke.
Always love to read you Helena.. Loved how you remember the way you've become a bag lover... I believe this starts from the early years..reminded me of me...with my first paycheck... Always something fashion related even if it was something small... My mother used to say... Oh my God this child is always with a bag in his hands.... True story... I wanted to go to kindergarten with my grandma's vintage black bag...i refused to hold my lunch basket...
As for which bag you should choose now...i know that whichever you choose..will be the right one.... You're always so to the point!! 😘😘😘😘
Always enjoy reading your thought process behind big purchases, and this walk down memory lane today. Am eying the Bottega Wallace as well! Will have to check it out in store to see how long the handles slide to and how comfortable it is to wear. Can’t wait to see which one is your winner!
Hi Jean,
Seeing your name here makes me happy. Thank you! I cannot wait to hear your feedback on the bag if you end up trying it on. xoxo
I absolutely love my The Row Park Tote in the medium size- it’s my daily workhorse bag now that I’ve ditched the diaper bag for my toddler- enough space for everything I would need without being TOO big. And it’s amazingly light which is a big plus for me. But with your Celine bucket bag it would serve the same purpose. I also have and love the Loewe Puzzle Bag (I have the mini) and I think it’s definitely the most unique but also timeless option! I think that could add more range to your collection! I could talk handbags all day lol
Hi Natalie,
I actually watched your Youtube video on it the other day! I was searching for reviews and came across it. It was so helpful!
Love this post. I, too, loved my Kate Spade and small Coach “pochette”-like bag in college in the early 2000’s.
My vote is for 1) Loewe and 2) dark brown Bottega.
Thank you for sharing more about your immigrant experience and how that contributed to your love of fashion! My family also emigrated to the US from Guatemala and your post made me realize how this contributed to my own love of fashion in part from a desire to fit in. My grandmother was a nanny to a wealthy family and they often gave her hand me downs which is how I got my first cashmere sweater — so exciting to 14 year old me! There was often an old Vogue thrown in to the bag that also allowed me to peek into a world I otherwise didn’t have access to. I also laughed at the Kate Spade nylon purse reference because that was also the first “luxury” item I was able to buy at 17 after saving money from my after school job. Mine was red lol. I bet you were wiser and chose black! ;) Thanks for always beautifully blending lightness and depth, Helena!
Hi Natalia,
thank you for sharing your own story and your beautiful comment! Appreciate you.
I love my puzzle but kind of feel like I’m aging the flap every time I reach in. I vote Bottega Wallace! Small Jodie too similar to the first brown BV you posted. And I actually prefer The Row Park w/2 straps & Squarish shape, I reluctantly bought in elephant color & carry nonstop!
valuable feedback! Thank you, Allison!
I have the Loewe puzzle bag in black. It’s the small size and fits so much. I got it in 2018 and I’m so glad it’s still popular. I recently purchased The Row banana bag in black nylon and it’s my go to bag these days. Similar to the Loewe puzzle bag in what it can carry, and I think it goes with a lot of my outfits. The Loewe can get heavy but the nylon The Row is much lighter and understated.
I would choose the Loewe. Such a classy addition!
The Row NS Tote
The chocolate brown Bottega is perfection
Love your style and your collection. Especially because your pictures and your great style brought me to the Trendy. I have a similar bag history starting from a young age and still to this day people are confused about this strange passion.
The puzzle bag is cool but since it will not be proceeded I think it will create a lot fomo out there. The Row tote seems to be the one that survives the longest style wise and this is my determining factor when it comes to adding a new friend to the team. My pick would be the row.
My vote is for the Loewe. Not as popular, at least not in Miami and it’s a different piece in the closet . Can’t wait to see which one you pick!
I love The Row Park bag but I wonder about a year from now. That Bottega Wallace is calling my name and on my wish list. It’s classic yet still different. I feel like I’d love it forever. Look forward to seeing what you pick.
My vote would be the Loewe. It think it's so gorgeous and it's something you don't see everywhere. At least here in Southern California. I have the mini puzzle and I still love it. The Row bag is obviously beautiful and I have no doubt that if you carried it, it would read luxury. I feel like for a "regular" person like myself, none of my friends would have any idea the bag was something special. If that makes sense. Whichever you choose will be stunning on you!
Hi Stacey,
Makes complete sense! Appreciate your input.
Hi! I am really loving these substacks! Wondering if you’ll share what bag you purchased? I recent bought the n/s row bag in medium and am trying to decide whether to keep it. I really like it and I got it in that beautiful dark brown. I, too, though am wondering if it is worth the price! Interested to know your thoughts if you did purchase it ... Thanks!
Love this post. I remember walking onto my college campus and seeing all the big boxy Kate Spades bags and being in awe and envious, like there was the secret world that existed and I've never known it existed. How do I get in? How was I unaware of its existence for so long? I had no idea how much the bag cost, but I knew it was out of my price range.
The other bags all the girls had were the Herve Chapelier bags. Does anyone remember those? French and so chic. Oh and Longchamp and the Vanessa Bruno sequin tote. I bought myself a dupe at Target because I'm sure the girls who had them went to Paris to buy them. I had to settle for the suburban strip mall version. :)
Now that I have money and can buy myself all the fancy bags I'd want (within reason), I find I don't really want them anymore. I think - $3,000 for that bag or I could invest it or put it towards a family trip. I'm not judging others choices, I just find having money now makes me want to spend it less than when I was younger. Makes me so glad I didn't have money in my 20s. I'd have been broke.