If you follow me on Instagram (@buythegoddamnbag) then you know that I went through major surgery on my foot 2 weeks ago. Not gonna lie, it’s been hell. And what do we do to cheer ourselves up when we are going through a rough time..? Yes, we buy bags.
Now, at the beginning of the year, I saw this bag on Shea Whitney’s Youtube channel and I instantly fell in love with it. I have previously been looking at Kurt Geiger bags and thought they were really cute, edgy and very much my style – but this bag just spoke to me on a different level!
Of course, it was sold out everywhere. I could not find it. I pretty much gave up on find it and thought that maybe they will add it to their permanent line on the future, and then I’ll be able to get it.
Then one morning, out of pure chance, I decided to check the asos website to see if they had gotten it back into stock and there it was! I can tell you, I have NEVER clicked “add to cart” faster in my life… A week later it arrived, and it is PERFECTION!
So it is called the Mini Kensington with chains and it has these removable(!) mixed metal chains on the front that gives it very much of a Chanel 19 vibe, in my opinion.
Now, I own a white Chanel 19 bag and even though I love it, I could not justify getting another 19 bag in black. I already own quite a few black bags and a girl cannot just drop money like that every month, okay… That’s why I thought this bag was an awesome alternative, with a sensible price tag. (Also, as this was my first ever purchase from asos, I got 20% off on this bag, so yes – it was an awesome deal!)
The eagle’s head is a signature Kurt Geiger detail.
I think that the quality of this bag is great, and I can’t wait to wear it as soon as I have recovered from my surgery. This literally is my “reward” for going through hell during the past two weeks (and still having at least 6 weeks left to go…)
As alwas, I need to put out a disclaimer! I am not a proffessional handbag restorer, I just use my common sense, try to read and do my research before attempting anything and even though this worked for me, I cannot guarantee it will work for you.
With that said…
Here is how I got rid of colour transfer on my new, pre-loved Chanel lambskin bag.
I will start off by saying that due to the eternal darkness we have here in Finland between the months of October to February, the lighting in my pictures is aweful. I apologize for that. The thing is that if I use flash photograpghy to take pictures, then it washes out the colours and you won’t be able to see any details. So I have to rely on the small amount of natural lighting + the lighting in my bedroom, and that really isn’t enough to show all details, either. Anyway, I will try to provide as much detailed information as I can despite this issue and then maybe I can add some better pictures in the spring!
This is the “before” picture, taken by the previous owner. The colour transfer on the back of the bag wasn’t the worst I have seen, but it was noticable. The lower part of the back pocket and the very edge of the bag had the most colour transfer. The strap also had colour transfer, some parts were quite dirty, too.
I wasn’t able to take good before-pictures myself, which is a shame, but you could definitely see darkness on the back of the bag when it arrived to me.
Now, when you google “how to get colour transfer off a Chanel bag” you will find that pretty much everyone tells you to send the bag off to a “bag spa” and to NOT try to remove the colour transfer yourself. However, I felt like it was worth a shot, doing it myself.
From my research, I found that in order to clean Chanel lambskin, you need to avoid all types of leather cleaners that contains oils, as they might stain the bag permanently. I looked high and low for a good quality water based leather cleaner, but with no luck. I have previously used a soap called “galltvål” to clean leather, as it is mild but effective on all types of stains.
So when I found a liquid, organic version, I decided to give it a go. I also bought microfiber cloths, soft and gentle enough not to damage the leathe, and I had babywipes from before, which I always use to clean my bags. They are non-alcoholic and scent-free.
I started off by cleaning the whole bag using baby wipes only, to make sure that any superficial dirt was removed. I then soaked the microfiber cloth in warm water, and added a drop of soap. I then proceeded to rub the cloth against a small area of the bag, to check how the leather reacted.
I don’t recommend doing this. As soon as the wet cloth hit the leather, the leather turned really dark, as the leather started to soak up the water. For a second I panicked, but I simply used a dry cloth to immediately try and dry up the small patch.
After that, I decided that it would be best to use the soap on a dry cloth. So I added a small amount of soap to my cloth, rubbed it into the cloth, and then gently started to rub the cloth against the leather. This worked a lot better, and I was able to remove a significant amount of dirt and colour transfer from the back of the bag and from the corners.
After rubbing the leather with my soapy cloth, I used baby wipes to remove any soap residue from the bag.
I then did the same thing when cleaning the strap – I added a small amount of soap to the cloth, worked the soap into the cloth with my fingers and then gently rubbed the cloth on the leather. Afterwards, I used babywipes to wipe the leather clean
Here you can see that there is a tiny bit of colour transfer left, but it is very faint, and not something that you notice immediately.I got so much dirt off the chain, it looks so clean and nice now!The corners were the trickiest, as they were already a bit dry, and I did not want to risk drying out the leather even more with the soap. I very gently cleaned them, but decided that the darkness doesn’t bother me so I’ll not risk the leather cracking!The front of the bag had very little dirt on it, so I very lightly cleaned that, as well. The flap edges had the most dirt, and that came off very easily.
I have thought of maybe doing one more round ofcleaning the bag, but I want to let the leather dry properly inbetween. Also, the stains are so faint now, that I don’t know if it is even worth it…
I am very, very happy with how it turned out, but whenever you decide to restore or clean a bag yourself, it is always a risk! This worked for me and that’s why I wanted to share it.
Fun fact: My favourite designer is Virgil Abloh. I think he has some unique and different designs, and I have been LOVING his designs for Louis Vuitton men’s collections during his time at the fashion house. I have been wanting to get a bag from his own label Off White for quite some time, but the thing is that his designs are pretty much statement pieces, and I have been worrying about the bags being a bit over the top for my taste.
Until I found the Clip Binder bag in the beige colour…
I actually had purchased this bag last spring, on Vestiaire Collective. But when the bag was checked out in France (at the quality control) they sent me a message saying that the seller had put the wrong measurements on the site, and that it was actually the mini version they were selling, not the small.
This made me cancel the purchase, because I realized that I would not be able to fit my phone in the bag, and that really is a dealbreaker for me, when it comes to a handbag. It has to fit my phone.
So then summer came, I got my Chanel 19 bag and I kind of forgot about the Off White bag. I had a busy summer, renovating my summer house, so I really wasn’t using handbags too much, anyway… But then around my birthday I got a push notification from Farfetch, saying that the bag was in stock and at a reduced price.
Now at first, I was a bit sceptic. I was pretty sure that the bag was a return, and that something was wrong with it… But I thought that I could always return it of I wasn’t happy, so I decided to purchase it. It was my first time ordering off Farfetch, but it all went really smoothly.
Because of Covid, the shipping took almost two weeks, but the bag arrived intact and as far as I can tell, there are no issues with it. In fact, it’s perfect!
The “clip” is actually removable, and I am honestly not sure if I am going to keep the clip on or not… For now, it stays on.
The bag is very structured and quality seems great. It comes with three(!) different straps (two longer ones made of fabric and a shorter leather strap) so you can really play around and get different looks. I would have wished for a black strap instead of yelliw, though, but hey…
I really like the look of this bag in beige. The black and white version of the Clip Binder bag is very well known and even though I like that one too, I feel this is slightly easier to wear and style.
This past weekend we went to a wedding (some dear friends of mine got married) and I wore my Saint Laurent wallet on chain. I actually wore a dark navy dress and you might not have thought that the light coloured bag went with the dress, but since I wore beige shoes, it actually ended up matching perfectly.
The bag has a detachable strap, but for weddings I prefer to use it as a clutch. It is a small bag, but fits all essentials for an event like this.
My sister also got married this past summer, and she asked me if I had a bag that she could wear for the wedding. I obviously told her that she could pick any bag from my closet that she wanted, and she went with this one.
This really is such a classic, chic and timeless bag. You can dress it up or dress it down, and it literally goes with everything. Highly re!
Last autumn (october 2019) I purchased the Toiletry 26 from Louis Vuitton, whilst on a trip to Helsinki. I was actually looking to get the Pochette Voyage from the men’s line by that time, but it was sold out and as the Toiletry 26 is pretty similar, I opted for that instead.
Then Louis Vuitton introduced the Pochette Voyage MM in Reverse Monogram Eclipse this spring. And I saw my chance…
I actually was browsing the LV website and accidentally came across the Reverse Monogram Eclipse pre-launch. I didn’t even hesitate. I snagged the Pochette Voyage immediately! And I am so glad I did!
The Pochette Voyage MM in Reverse Monogram Eclipse.
This was my first time ever ordering from the website and it went really smoothly. It arrived 5 days later by UPS and I couldn’t be happier with it!
Sizewise, they are the same: the Toiletry 26 and the Pochette Voyage.
The biggest difference between the two is that the Pochette Voyage has treated leather (Toiletry 26 has vachetta leather), it is a bit more structured and it has card slots inside the bag, which the Toiletry 26 does not. Other than that, they are the same. Yet, in my opinion, the look is very different.
Now, I don’t wear clutches too often, but I feel like I am wearing them more often now than before. I really like using these bags/slg’s as clutches, I think it looks really stylish.
And as always, I need to point out that just because something is in the “men’s line” it doesn’t mean that you can’t wear it if you identify as a woman. Wear what you like!
If there’s one thing I’ve always said, it’s “I would never spend a lot of money on a white bag, because it is going to get ruined anyway.”
Keep reading and watch me eat my words…
Quick backstory: The Chanel 19 bag came out in 2019 (hence its name) and was part of the last collection Karl Lagerfeld helped design for Chanel before his death. It pays homage to the original 2.55 bag (designed by Coco Chanel in 1955).
Fun fact: Many people believe that Coco Chanel designed the famous Classic Flap bag. She didn’t. That’s all Karl Lagerfeld’s design.
When the Chanel 19 bag came out, I wasn’t a huge fan. I liked the houndstooth version (below) and thought it was really stunning, but overall I felt like the bag looked to slouchy, and I prefer structured bags.
However, like with most things : If you see it enough times, you eventually get used to it and at some point you might even start liking it. This was the case with me and the Chanel 19 bag. I saw it on Instagram and I started liking it – particularly in the white colour…
But I kept telling myself that a white bag will not hold up, it will get dirty and it is not worth the money. At the same time, I found myself searching for it on pre-loved sites and Facebook groups…
And then one day it appeared in one of the Facebook groups I am part of, where people sell and trade luxury items. I myself have sold items in this group, so I feel comfortable shopping there as well.
The bag was not worn much, in really good condition, in the size large. The only issue was a tiny spot under the flap, the size of a pin head.
The stain is well hidden under the flap. Can you see it?
Unfortunately, someone else snagged it before I did. I wrote to the seller that I was interested but she had already promised to sell it to someone else.
A couple of days later, though, the seller contacted me and said that the buyer had stopped responding to her messages and that she would sell the bag to me if I still wanted it. And that’s how I got my hands on it!
I really, really, really like this bag. I love the crisp white colour and the soft leather. It has, so far, held it’s structure pretty well, and I always keep it stuffed so prevent it from sagging.
Getting the Chanel 19 bag has however made me realize one thing… I am going to be selling my beige Chanel Jumbo in caviar leather and get it in a smaller size in lambskin instead. That Jumbo is too big for me and I actually don’t like the caviar leather… I much more prefer the soft and luxurious lambskin. But that’s another story…
How long is it going to take until I have gotten another stain on it? Probably not too long… But hey, it’s only a bag!
I know what y’all are thinking. “Weren’t you on a bag ban..?” 🤔 Well, I was. I made it 6 months. Then I caved and bought my Keepall.
After that, I just thought “F#ck it, I’ll buy another bag if I want to.”
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that I am not a huge fan of the Gucci Marmont bag. I think it is going to be one of those trendy bags that no one is going to be wearing in 5 years time. I might be wrong, but that’s just how I feel about it.
However, I have always LOVED the look of the velvet Marmont. It is just stunning and the jeweled colours are divine. It was the only Gucci Marmont bag that I ever considered getting.
But, I did not want to pay full price for a velvet bag. The Gucci Marmont is in my opinion very expensive for what it is, and since velvet can be a bit prone to wear and tear a lot quicker than leather, I wasn’t ready to pay full price for it. So I turned to the pre-loved market and one of the many forums I use to locate specific bags. I managed to track down someone who was selling their bag and after some back and forth negotiating, I purchased the bag.
My Marmont is in the smaller version, but it is still big enough to fit all of my essentials. It is really comfortable to wear and I am really enjoying the pop of colour that it brings to my outfits.
Let’s see how it holds up, I am a bit worried about using it during rainy and snowy days so time will only tell how much use I will get out of it. But so far, I am in love! ❤️
PVC bags became a thing last year and the trend has not died out yet. I first saw this bag last summer and immediately fell in love. I did, however, not think it was worth getting since I was pretty sure that the trend would not last… Turns out I was wrong and a year later, I was still lusting for this Hermes inspired bag.
It is obviously not a luxury bag. But it is indeed inspired by the Hermes Kelly bag. The shape, style and lettering are all in the style of the Kelly. However, nowhere on the bag is there an Hermes logo.
The bag comes in different colours, mine is in a smokey black colour that has a hue of purple when sunlight hits it. This is the lager of the two sizes that I found this bag in, but it is by no means a large bag.
It comes with a strap and is super comfortable to wear. The crossbody length hits me just right.
Inside is one big compartment. There are no pockets on the ibside or outside.
I have to say that I am positively sursprised by the quality of the bag. Ordering items from places like AliExpress or Wish is always a bit of a hit&miss, but I am thrilled about this new bag and how amazing to have a pvc bag during this season, especially in a country like Finland.
I will be doing an update as far as wear and tear is concerned, because I really want to use it and see how it holds up… Does the lettering rub off, does the hardware start to chip, does it wear on the corners etc. Those are issues that I have with “cheap bags” so let’s see how this bag does.
So… I went on a bag ban at the start of 2019. My plan was not to buy a single bag for a whole year.
I managed to be good for six months and then I caved. Yup, sorry not sorry. This is the bag that broke my bag ban.
I have spoken about getting a Keepall in the past, and my plan was to get one at some point. However, as I browsed the pre-loved market, I began to realise two things:
1. I really want a bandoulière, i.e. a Keepall with a shoulder strap.
2. The classic Monogram Keepall, which has untreated Vachetta leather will get water stains. It is inevitable. Can I live with that?
So this led me to start browsing the men’s section, since the men’s Keepalls all have treated leather. They also, as far as I know, all come with a strap. Now, in my opinion, all Keepall bags are unisex, but I have to say that I have always liked the Monogram Eclipse and Damier Graphite canvas print. I am not a massive fan of the classic Monogram, I only have one Louis Vuitton bag in that print, so as I started looking at Keepalls I came to the conclusion that I would get one in either Monogram Eclipse or Damier Graphite.
Obviously, I went for the Damier Graphite. This Keepall 45 came with all the original accessories and is pretty much brand new. I got it from Vestiaire Collective, at a really good price, and I am so happy with my purchase!
Since you can bring the Keepall 45 as a carry-on on flights, I can assure you that this will be a very much loved and used bag.
I would like to get a bag shaper or organiser for it, but so far, the ones I have looked at are pretty expensive. Let me know if you know of any good quality bag organisers that aren’t too pricey, and that you can order online!
This is a fist impressions review on my Chanel Wallet on chain (WOC). I purchased this bag at the end of November last year, so I have not had this bag long enough to give an in depth review yet, but I still want to give you my initial thoughts on it.
This classic Flap WOC is from the 14th series, dating it to around 2010-2011. Considering its age, it is in fenomenal condition. The only minor flaw on it that I have been able to note, is that the leather strap is a bit worn in one area and that is something that I might have to get fixed in the future. But a the moment, it is not a huge deal. I just have to keep an eye on it, so it doesn’t get worse.
This bag has built in compartments for cards, soyou don’t actually have to wear a separate wallet. It also has a zipped compartment, which is great for security. The zipper on the inside of the flap reveals a pocket that actually goes all the way down the back of the bag. Very practical if you need to keep notes or paperwork extra secure.
This is obviously quite a small bag, but you can fit enough stuff in it if you are going out to dinner or if you are just running errands and need the very essentials. Your cards, some cash, keys, a phone and a makeup product or two will easily fit inside the WOC.
On the back, there is a pocket, just as on the Classic Flap bags. I honestly don’t use this pocket at all, I am a little scared of stretching the pocket out and make the bag look wonky… also, I just don’t see a need for a pocket on the back.
Compared to a Classic Flap, this bag is made to be worn crossbody. It has a very generous strap length, that you can shorten by wrapping the strap around the flap. It is so comfortable to wear, super light weight and you don’t even feel like you are wearing a bag. I have worn this bag to clubs and it is so comfortable, especially if you like to dance and don’t want a heavy bag on your shoulder. You can also tuck the chain inside the bag and wear it as a clutch, if you want to. I guess that is the only downside to this bag – conspired to the YSL WOC that I also own and that is very similar: The chain is removable on the YSL WOC, but not on the Chanel WOC. Something to keep in mind….
I am personally really happy that I got the WOC in the camel/tan colour, because it makes it different from my black Classic Flap. If my WOC was also black, I think I would feel like the two bags were too similar. The Classic Flap in small and the WOC are not too different when it comes to what you can fit inside them, but the fact that I have them in two different colours and hardwares, it makes me feel like I have some more variation to my collection.
I wouldn’t mind getting another WOC in the future, maybe in a bright colour, because I think it is a great and versatile small bag that is super comfortable, timeless and chic.
Buy the goddamn bag 