The Petite Philosopher

Thoughtful Style.

Archives for December 2016

Fashion

Maiden Lane.

“We were born to unite with our fellow men, and to join in community with the human race.” – Cicero

When my husband and I went downtown to take some pictures and do a little record shopping, we were stopped by a group of friendly people as we passed through Maiden Lane. A woman asked if we would be models, as she is part of a group of locals who get together to practice their photography skills. Of course I was up for it, as my husband and I were going to take pictures anyway. Besides that, I thought it was so wonderful to see members of our Windsor community working together. Even though we didn’t know each other, we were willing to help each other out. Sometimes I feel Windsor has a bad reputation, but it’s moments like this that I’m reminded that our city is filled with such kind people.

The days are certainly a lot colder than they were, so layers are important when dressing for the outdoors. To mix it up, instead of wearing a jacket, I chose to pair my dress with a chunkier cardigan. Being petite, well fitting coats and jackets are the hardest clothing items to find, so it’s always fun for me to experiment with different ways to keep warm on cooler days.

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Dress: Ruche. Cardigan: Anthropologie (old, similar here). Tights: Secret. Scarf: Louis Vuitton. Shoes: Le Chateau. Bag: Celine. Necklace: Forever 21 (old, similar here). Watch: Chanel. Bracelet: Joe Fresh. Lips: MAC Russian Red.

Fashion

On Handbags.

“I’m thinking balls are to men, what purses are to women. It’s just a little bag but we’d feel naked in public without it.” – Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw (“Sex And The City”)

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My name is Vanessa and I’m addicted to handbags. Admitting you have a problem is this first step, right? My handbag addiction starting back in 2010 on my first visit to France. It was a school trip and one of our stops was the Champs Elysees. Myself and some students were excited to visit the flagship Louis Vuitton store, but I had no intention to purchase anything. It wasn’t until a couple of students did that I said to myself, “I have a job. I work hard. You know what? Just buy yourself a purse.” And I did just that. My first Louis Vuitton was the monogram pochette, which was pretty much one of the lowest priced handbags available. As superficial as is may sound, the feeling I had when I bought the purse was incredible; I felt proud, excited, and in love. I told myself soon after that I would never need another designer purse again. Soon enough I proved myself wrong. It was only a few months later that I bought a Neverfull. Well, you know, that purse from France was just too small for everyday use. I swore to myself the same thing as before, and guess what? I have broken that promise many times since.

Now, I don’t just purchase these bags on a whim (unlike the first two). I budget, save, research, and put a lot of time and effort in my planning to buy a new purse. After all, designer bags are an investment. When I spend a lot of money on something, I always have the intention on keeping it forever. I make sure all my handbags are in rotation because if I have invested in them, I better love using them. What is it about designer handbags that I love so much? Like I mentioned earlier, they are an investment piece, something classic, and most of all, they are most practical accessory. Even more, on days that  I feel that none of my clothes feel or look right, I know that my handbag always will; one may gain or lose weight, but a handbag always fits. I also feel like a handbag is like a miniature version of the person carrying it, both inside and out. When I’m looking to buy a new handbag, as I said previously, I want to make sure I’ll love it forever, so I tend to look for classic structures and designs. For example, Louis Vuitton’s Speedy will never go out of style since it has long since held its icon status since Audrey Hepburn’s use of it in the 1960s. I try to avoid purses that are overly trendy or difficult to match outfits with. Here are some other tips when looking to invest in a handbag:

    1. Save your money. Don’t buy things you can’t afford. If it takes you a long time to save up, that’s ok; it’ll be a greater reward.
    2. Do your research. Read posts on The Purse Forum to hear and see about other handbag lovers’ experiences and reviews.
    3. Think about it. Try not to make impulse decisions. Remember, you want to love your bag for as long as possible.
    4. Versatility is key. If you’re willing to invest, don’t buy a bag that would be appropriate for only one occasion or outfit.
    5. Check out luxury consignment shops online for some amazing deals. My favourites are The Real Real, Fashionphile, and Tradesy.
    6. Try, now I know it may be difficult, to look for bags that aren’t too high maintenance. From experience, I’m honestly sometimes too scared to use certain bags out in the rain, whenever it’s too hot (because of the sweat on my hands), or if I’m wearing colours that could possibly cause dye transfer. Canvas is usually the safest option.
    7. Most of all, choose one that makes you happy. Your handbag looks only as good as the confident person who’s wearing it.

Below are some of my favourite bags I have been eyeing lately:

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