If you have a new bag, the 9 phases
When it's my birthday, I get to choose something from my beloved. Usually, we do that at a boutique with a burgundy awning at the end of P.C. Hooftstraat, but this time I actually felt more like that black-and-white awning a bit further down. So Chanel. Because I've been dreaming of the Gabrielle for a year and a half. Why that is, I'll tell you another time. But we came, saw, and conquered and returned home with a ridiculously large black box that was tied with a white ribbon and transported in an even larger black bag with my favorite logo. And then the new-bag circus began.
1. Look, look, don't open
The bag containing the box and the bag is there, in a prominent place, fully in sight. I look at it, know what's inside, and do nothing further. Opening it immediately is still too much.
2. The ribbon comes off
Suddenly it has to happen. There isn't necessarily a clear cue to point out, but at a certain moment, greed takes over from admiring from a distance, and you take that box out of the bag and the ribbon comes off.
3. Take a photo
That's what I always want too: a photo of the unboxing moment. If only to show that I don't take such a precious bag for granted. How many designer bags do you actually unbox in your life?
4. Feel, smell, love
I see my beloved looking at me from a distance with a look that is a mix of amusement and wonder. He must feel that his gift is a bullseye. I set the tissue paper (with the Chanel logo in it, I can enjoy that so much) aside, lift the bag out as if I have a newborn baby in my hands (I understand if you now check the boxes ‘superficial’ and ‘fashion nerd’ next to my name) and smell it in the same way. Then I carefully move towards the mirror where I apply all the carrying variations (the Gabrielle has an extremely long chain allowing you to wear it in seven different ways).
5. Back in the box
Tissue paper over it and smooth it out. I almost put a hot water bottle in there.
6. Peeking
I place the box on a safe high spot, because what if Monti is also infected with my Chanel virus. She gives it a totally different interpretation, because her hobby is chewing on boxes and something tells me that the one from Chanel is at the top of her dog-chew-bucket list. Every time I walk past The Box, I lift the lid and peek inside. I believe that afterwards I take a step back, clasp my hands and hold them to my heart and make a little sigh of joy. I'm not sure, but it could very well be.
7. Bag on box
After about three days, the bag can come out of the box and stands on it.
8. Bag in bed
Or rather, at the foot of the bed, on the bench. On the box, so that I have a good view of the objet de désir in a horizontal position.
9. For the first time outside
That first moment you go outside with your baby in that shiny stroller, a fashion equivalent of that feeling is when your new trophy gets to go out for the first time. I chose a day in Antwerp (these are my favorite spots in Antwerp) with Harriet Calo as the maiden voyage for Gabrielle. I couldn't think of a better company to be initiated as a bag.
Now it stands on my desk. Eventually, a banana peel will probably end up in this bag too, but hopefully, I can then treat myself to a little sister and this process starts all over again.
