OH. MY. GUCCI.
After all the times of ‘look, look, don't buy’, this time feels different. I'm ready for it. I've saved for it. But buying just for the sake of buying wouldn't do it. Really only if I find something that I instantly want to marry, will I pull out my wallet. Really only then.
With clammy hands, I walk into the Gucci flagship store Milan inside. I haven't been in the store for a minute and my eyes slide left in the shop to a beautiful example of a bag. The Dionysus model, pretty much the bag that many fashionistas would kill for at this moment. A blue example with hand-painted flowers. I hear her softly whispering in my ear. “Ciao, bella. We would make a very good pair together. I can even give the most slouchy sweater a fashionable twist.” I try to ignore her. Consciously look the other way. Walk around to the other side of the store for a moment, but then I'm again drawn to her with a magnetic force. I was fucked. And I knew it.
Of course, it was three spare ribs
from the little body
“Look, I see you looking too long. This is it, right?‘ says my fashion partner in crime Lilian. ”Lil, we need to get the hell out of this store, this is not good,“ I shout back with a heated head. ”Just try it on. Just to feel it.“ I can't help it. I HAVE to try this bag on. The idea that there is absolutely no price anywhere in this effing store makes me walk to the counter with sweaty palms. With gloves, she is carefully taken out of a drawer. I put her carefully around my neck and almost gasp while looking in the mirror. She is gorgeous. So feminine, charming, and pretty. So beautifully finished. This is meant to be. I cautiously ask about the value of the bag (you should know, that's how we do it in fashion land, never ask for the price, but for the ”value‘, that way you can make a not chic question sound chic). I'm not even that shocked by the price. I mean: of course, it was three spare ribs from the little body, but it could have easily been six with some bad luck.
After quite a bit of deliberation, Lil and I walk outside. A bit of fresh air. A moment to think clearly. We decide to stroll through the Milanese P.C. Hooftstraat one more time to weigh all the pros and cons against each other. She has also seen a bag at Saint Laurent and it's either making this investment together or not. The pros quickly outweigh the cons. Lil and I come up with the list below.
Why a designer bag?
- Koop een designer bag and you have a friend for life. Really.
- We have of course earned it, we think. For all the fun, but sometimes also quite tough work with deadlines.
- The bag would retain a certain value forever.
- It was Fashion Week in Milan and if you're going to buy beautiful bags anywhere, it's in Milan. Or in Paris, but so be it; we were in Milan now.
- Just the moment of purchase would already be a thing. Do you know how fun that bag will be just being wrapped? Meine gute.
- We would immediately have new writing inspiration.
- It was our own money that we worked hard for, so who should we actually be accountable to?
- We would just be super cool, hip, and cool again if we did it.
- That’s it. We give each other a high five. HOLY S… LET’S DO THIS!
First to Saint Laurent for Lil's bag (trust me, her story will come later) and then back to the Gucci store where I am greeted with a smile and a “Welcome back, madam.” Once back in the store, my blue flower friend is still looking stunning. The moment of recognition. She cheers. Spins a pirouette with her smoothly gliding chain and nods enthusiastically back and forth with her tiger head closure. Then I knew: this is love. And whether people understand it or not, it makes me happy and I will carry this child with love every day. And as long as that is the case, it is more than worth the investment. So, may I introduce you to my new daughter Blue Diony? You can count on seeing her regularly.
