Fashion

THE 3 MOST SPECIAL BAGS IN THE WORLD

(including Máxima's)

Gijs Staverman called me for his radio program to ask me all about bags. And especially about the expensive ones, because he just couldn't understand that ‘we women’ would casually drop a number with three zeros for a bag.

First of all, dear Gijs, that doesn't just happen. We eat dry quinoa for months to let our credit card slide through the slot with a straight back. This is after the months-long process of weighing which bag will become our investment piece. You don't buy one every season and carry it almost every day, so the bag you ultimately choose must perfectly match your style and taste.

But okay, he has a point, ultimately we (or some of us) are willing to spend an amount on a bag for which you could also buy a valuable watch. Or maybe even a car. Our award-winning argument: then you can look like a homeless person, the bag makes everything work. Not that we do that, but usually ‘the men’ are quite content with that. Here by the way, I give you, free of charge, 7 compelling reasons to buy a designer bag.

The reason for Gijs's interest in bags is the exhibition at the Hendrikje bag museum where the most special bags worn by queens can be seen, such as...

1. The Kelly Bag

Grace Kelly carried this Hermès bag during her pregnancy. She was photographed by a paparazzo holding the bag in front of her belly. The rest is bag history. If you're in the mood for a story that does well at parties, you should this read on. About how a Birkin Bag almost destroyed someone's career.

2. The Louis Vuitton suitcases

Louis Vuitton was a suitcase packer for Empress Eugénie of France, the wife of Napoleon III. He traveled with her and knew exactly what a suitcase needed to meet to transport couture. Et voilà...

3. The golden bag of Princess Juliana

A beautiful bag without a label from our late Princess Juliana, which Queen Máxima has also worn on various occasions. A nice detail is that our queen personally selected this bag for the exhibition.

From tomorrow, the royal collection will be on display at the bag museum. And, just touch it, okay, don't grope...