tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49769397711317648682024-03-12T21:28:08.962-07:00Designer Does ItMarguerite Bravayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09747709708620290624noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976939771131764868.post-75351422868451705602010-03-18T20:32:00.000-07:002010-03-18T20:58:40.589-07:00Michael’s Up, Longchamp’s Out<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You know an </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">it-bag</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> has passed its peak when fakes start popping up in stands outside the Eaton Centre boutiques. And with Longchamp, that was already last spring. A year later, the big French purse is no longer the classic, elegant alternative to a schoolbag it once was. It may have retained its classic and elegant appearance, but it no longer conveys that same sense of regality. While the Longchamp may still seem eternal, invincible and loved by all, don’t be fooled. It was killed about the time everybody and her neighbour rushed out to buy her very own imitation. Or, more accurately, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">over</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">-killed<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; "> by all<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia, serif;"> those women you pass on the street sporting something vaguely- or remarkably- resembling your original.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It’s a shame, really. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Le Pliage </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">completed three seasons in </span></span></span><st1:city><st1:place><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Montreal</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, and it deserves a proper eulogy. I could praise the brand for hours- and my black tote definitely served me well (after all, what other designer bag fit for Parisian weather could survive so many harsh northern winters?). But now it’s time to say goodbye, unless being a carbon copy is your calling- and I think not. </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Adieu</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Le Pliage. </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You will be missed and duly mourned.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">To soften the blow, however, I bear good news. There’s someth<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; ">ing out there just as classy and much more fabulous. And better yet, no one has it.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">For now.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Introducing </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Michael Kors</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. Oh, he’s been around for a couple of years, hovering, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Well, get ready to be acclaimed, Michael. By September, every self-respecting little rich girl will have her bag- and the wannabees will grip their fake (or reduced-price) Longchamp in envy.</span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">I bought mine right before Reading Week, but I predicted the trend a few months ago, when I was hanging out with two fashion-conscious friends. I remember telling them, “Michael Kors is the new Longchamp,” to which they r<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">eacted somewhat sceptically. “I don’t even like Michael,” one of them said, as she hoisted </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">her</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Longchamp higher onto her lap.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Then when I bought mine, they fell in love. “Pretty! Shiny!” The same non-believer exclaimed, when I brought my MICHAEL by Michael Kors Black tote over. And I have to admit, it </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">is </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">sleek. A bag is a woman’s ambassador and the Michael tote exudes confidence and sex-appeal, in an I-mean-business-but-I-can-be-charming-too kind of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; ">way.</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It’s also practical. At Ogilvy, where they just opened an actual Kors store, the salesgirl told me my to-be-bag was deceivingly </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">huge</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">. It could even fit a laptop and<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> books, she assured me. And she was right. </span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">It doesn’t look big enough for more than one binder, but it’s as expandable as our wallets were before last year’s crisis. And with tightly fastened leather straps, it’s sturdy, too. And did I already mention oh-so-stylish?</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">For those of you who remain skeptic, l<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia, serif;">et me reiterate. Ogilvy added a Kors store to their list of exclusive boutiques. In addition, Holt now has several extra counters dedicated to Mich<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia, serif;">ael's creations. These are the experts, and they know something.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">You'll also notice the occasional Michael bag on the street. You'll notic<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia, serif; ">e it because, for now, it's still one of a kind.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> Ladies (and gentlemen), mark my words: Michael Kors is the next big thing.</span></span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTE9m1IMbXsDXMHJexRqSvsKjfFfzPdvtgxz1lVjG-V4wYjaSk2H1H80ILQouvHZcCRx1pdQSPiypoGAAM_vCCpqSEOr7pobpEU_wH_5AJzgTckgz13-AEx97EYt1uTbxhMwdP5plStYYm/s320/longchamp.jpg" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7K5N9nSZQ0M5gGdy3rQN1R-cH5q7LYxNa5hUGTK9NlpmpA7Hi_OEmXQAHp2LSPa0pqmhbAlV3Yz6mlNrWg8SvwGXgeNRJX__OvzqlLUwgfvpLEsvW2pVIgGr7AI8c-Weom5F9LA5w8dq/s320/Michael.jpg" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-CA" style="Century Gothic"; mso-ansi-language:EN-CAfont-family:";font-size:11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Marguerite Bravayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09747709708620290624noreply@blogger.com1