Simply put, it gives you the opportunity to personalise your very own Speedy, Keepall or Pegase with a pair of stripes and up to 3 initials (or  3-letter name) in up to 17 different colours.

For example, you can customise your Monogram Canvas Speedy30 like the one shown above, with a pair of stripes as well as 2 letters. With prices starting from SGD1400 for a Speedy25 to SGD1550 for a Speedy40, it’s really not that expensive to begin with to own something that’s truly unique.

If you’re looking for something bigger, then check out the Keepall. With up to 4 different sizes available (with or without shoulder strap), you can also choose to have the stripes either at a diagonal (like the Speedy30) or coming down the front of the bag (shown above). Prices start from SGD1940 for the Keepall45 without the shoulder strap and up to SGD2450 for the Keepall60 with shoulder strap.

With a waiting time of up to 3 months for each personalised piece, you can head on down to Louis Vuitton stores at ION Orchard, Ngee Ann City and Raffles Hotel Arcade to get your very own custom-made bag. Or follow the link and check out Mischa Barton’s very own Mon Monogram Keepall.

And if anyone out there has already gotten themselves a Mon Monogram, please feel free to share your experience here or email me a snapshot of it for Bagaholicboy Mailbag.

Images: Louis Vuitton

01. Do Your Research
Start by making a list of brands you like, then start visiting them on a regular basis. Take note of the bags you like (pick three), bags you think you may like (pick another three) and lastly, bags you think your relatives and friends would like (pick three as well). Then when you are done, cross out the ones you think you may like and the ones you think your relatives and friends will like. The keyword here is focus! Very often, during sales we get swept up with so many emotions that we often end up buying anything and everything.

Remember, to succeed you have to focus.

02. Make Friends
Now that you have approximately 30 bags on your list (10 brands x 3 bags each), start observing the shop assistants (SAs) in each boutique. Which ones are friendly? Which ones will even talk to you? Here’s a quick tip: male SAs tend to respond to women better (but if you are a guy, that’s okay too, because male SAs also tend to respond to men as well, if you get my drift). Once you single out your favourite SA, approach with caution and watch his or her response. If targeted SA smiles and starts walking towards you, stay put.

Next, say things like ‘Hello’ or ‘Hi’. Never begin a conversation with ‘Eh, how mud dat ah?’. It will score you instant discrimination points (don’t say I didn’t warn you). From your list, start asking intelligent questions about the make, design and so on. Remember to behave like you are actually interested in the purchase. Finally, ask about the price, then say something along the lines of ‘Oh, that’s a bit over my budget’, and then suggest that if it ever goes on sale, it would be a great buy.

03. Observe & Listen
After your grand statement about discounted prices, the SA will usually tell you right away if the price of the bag will ever go down. If not, move to the next bag on your list. Politely ask if you can leave your contact number with him and request that should it ever go on sale, to put it aside for you. Sale or not, SAs love building relationships with customers, especially the ones that they think will give them more business in the future, so play along and drop hints that you may bring your cousin’s Indonesian in-laws down for a shopping spree in the next few months.

Even if you don’t.

04. Note & Remember
If the SA has already taken your number and promised to call, do ask for his as well. Get the boutique’s business card and jot down his name, model number of the bag in question, and its price.

05. Reap The Rewards
Now if you have followed all the points listed here, just sit back and relax. As soon as anything goes on sale, you should get a call immediately to go down and pick up your envy-worthy steals. If not, tough luck my dear. There is always next year’s sale, or the unthinkable ordeal of joining the rest of Singapore in long maddening queues and rummaging through the bargain bins.

Most importantly, do remember that all SAs are also humans, trying to make a living. Always treat them with utmost respect and never forget your manners. Nothing irks me more than a Singaporean customer thinking he or she is above everyone else just because her card is the platinum kind.

And if you’re thinking this tongue-in-cheek piece looks familiar, you’re right. It’s a revised version of a piece I did for CATALOG last May. Good luck!

Image: Great Singapore Sale

Another flash clip explains the inner workings of 690 Madison Avenue, a four-storey temple devoted to the masculine world of Hermès. The clip also clearly explains the inner workings of each level, with lovely hand-illustrated drawings that are both delightful and adorable. For someone who’s never been to NYC, it’s certainly an ‘experience’ for me.

And last but not least, make your very own Hermès CDC bracelets by downloading their PDF guides (in 6 different designs no less), getting them printed out and putting them together with a pair of scissors, some glue and a lot of creativity.

A wonderful world indeed…

Images: Hermès

So how does one go about caring for your coated canvas bag? The first thing you should do is to figure out if your bag is even coated canvas. Examples of lines that are coated canvas in the market today include Loewe’s Anagram (shown above), Louis Vuitton’s Monogram Canvas (as well as Damier Ebene and Damier Azur), Gucci’s GG Coated Fabric, the list goes on and on.

So what’s the first thing you do once you bring the bag home and the reality that you just spent your month’s salary sinks in?

Keep the stuffing of course. I’m a big fan of cramping my bags full of stuffing simply because I believe in keeping (and maintaining) the shape of my bag. If however the stuffing smells (it’s usually a mix of tissue and newsprint), invest in ‘butter’ paper which can be purchased at good bookstores and baking supply stores.

Unfurl them sheet by sheet, scrunch them up into a ball and stuff. Once you stuff it full (but not too full of course), keep it in its dustbag. If the dustbag is too small or the bag never came with one, use a clean pillowcase.

Here’s what I do when I use any of my bags. After each use, I wipe down the bag (just the coated canvas surface) with a soft cloth and put it back on the shelf like I found it, cleaned, stuffed and bagged.

When you put all the steps together it does seem a bit tedious, but at least I can say my bags look as good as the day I bought them. Now, can you say the same thing without batting an eyelid?

And here comes the juicy bit. I’ve been getting tons of emails regarding care of those pesky vachetta handles that’s a staple at Louis Vuitton. Generally leather that’s left untreated, it is susceptible to water and stains. Sunlight will cause the leather to darken in shade over time, also known as patina.

There are generally 3 ways to handle this, so pay attention.

When I got my first Monogram Canvas bag (remember my Keepall45?), I left it to fend for itself. It got shined on, it got rained on, and very soon it developed stains and splotches all over the vachetta. Over time I’ve grown to accept it and I refer to them as my bag’s ‘birthmarks’. So if you’re in this situation right now just let it be.

I’ve read about people who swear by this; taking their bags out (newly bought of course) and sunning them in short durations over weeks. What does this do? It gives the bag a more even patina, as opposed to it getting all patchy if left to the sun and rain. Be very disciplined when doing this though; sun both sides evenly and keep the durations similar.

This is most controversial; even the folks at Louis Vuitton strongly advise against it. There are chemical sprays in the market that you can use to spray onto the vachetta and it technically slows down the process of the patina. It also enables the vachetta to age more evenly, which is still better than it getting patchy. But because we’re all amateurs, spraying on too much (or too little) will mean an outcome that’s less than ideal.

There is hope. I do know of a place in Singapore that will do the spraying for you and it’s as good as it gets in my opinion (that’s where my Monogram Graffiti Keepall55 was treated by the way). If you’re keen, drop me an email and I’ll send you the address.

Leather 101 to come next so stay tuned!

Images: Loewe & Louis Vuitton

Fast forward to today, where machinery have taken over most of the processes. I’m under no illusion that luxury goods are still 100% handmade. If anything, machines help the process along faster, but I’m glad at least some of the steps are still done by hand.

And when it’s gets much too hard, machines naturally take over. This piece exists inside my Loewe Anagram Weekend Handbag, the logo tab sewn onto the zip pocket which in turn is attached the inner lining of the bag.

Hand stitching and waxing are also done by hand, to ensure that the handles last. I’ve checked mine and the finishing is done really, really well. No wonder I continue to be entranced by the brand and all that it stands for (or my way of saying I’ll be adding more pieces from Loewe to my collection very, very soon).

Images: Loewe

I have been getting loads of emails regarding the Boeing45 I purchased recently in London, and many of you were interested in the sizes/prices of the Goyard Boeing collection in general. Naturally it took me a while to gather the information, but well, here it is.

The Goyard Boeing currently comes in five different sizes; 25, 30, 45, 55 and 65. While some have said that the numbers are just for reference and not indicative of their actual sizes, this is not true. The number is the size, or rather, in reference to the length of the bag.

Now it gets tricky, so read carefully. For every size there are 2 prices, depending on the colour of the bag you want. To make it easier; just remember this. Black, Black/Tan and Red (T1, T2 and T3) fall under one price category, while all the other colours fall under another price category. Apparently this is because all the other colours are more expensive to produce, thus the difference.

For example, a Boeing25 retails for GBP410 for the 3 colours I mentioned above, and GBP540 for all other colours (including Blue, Green, Yellow and so on). Here are the other prices for the collection; Boeing30 (GBP1200, GBP1570), Boeing45 (GBP1420, GBP1850), Boeing55 (GBP1470, GBP1910) and last but not least, Boeing65 (GBP1580, GBP2060).

Now for the good news. For those living outside the EU, Goyard London at Mount Street will take orders over email and have them sent to you direct, provided of course your country is on their pre-approved list. Singapore is (I would know, I asked them myself), though you will have to bear all additional costs like delivery (most likely DHL or FedEX) and customs tax.

One more thing. The Goyard Boeing25 is not bag; rather it it actually a tolietries pouch.

Images: Goyard

Don’t cheat and start scrolling downwards. What’s your guess? 2, 3 or 4?

In actual fact, there are 6. Want to know more? Welcome to Burberry Checks 101. Up first, the Haymarket Check (shown above), which was reintroduced in 2005, an updated version of the classic check. It’s also the only one with the jumping horse logo, which actually dates back to 1901. Interestingly, Haymarket was also one of the places where Thomas Burberry opened a shop in 1891.

Haymarket Check Long Purse, GBP195

Next we’ve got the Nova Check, introduced in 1998 to attract the younger consumers, one that was touted to be fresh, funky and girly. It is also one of the oldest checks still in use till today, given that the fact that it has not be modified for 11 years. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Nova Check Hobo, GBP350

One of my personal favourites is the House Check, an ‘exploded’ version of the Nova Check, which was designed exclusively by Christopher Bailey (and subsequently released) on the runways in 2005. Sophisticated, fashionable and modern. Just the way I like it.

House Check Shopper, GBP650

In 2006 came the Brit Check, introduced to complement their then new fragrance, Burberry Brit For Men. More subtle than the checks of yore, it’s modern and masculine, perfect for the metrosexual man.

Brit Check Umbrella, GBP115

Moving along, we’ve got the Mega Check, launched in 2008. Remember model Agyness Deyn and her cashmere scarf in the ad campaign? Young, edgy and modern, it also coincided with the launch of their women’s fragrance, Burberry The Beat.

Mega Check Crinkle Stole, GBP450

And last but not least, the Beat Check which made its debut only this year. Created as the male counterpart of the Mega Check, it has the same vibe as the latter, just well, more manly.

Beat Check Welly, GBP95

So now you know.

Images: Burberry

Just follow the easy step-by-step guide:
01. Shake the bottle hard.
02. Pour small blobs onto leather.
03. Use cloth and do small swirls on leather. Some people use more, others less. It is really up to you.
04. Once the lotion is absorbed, flip over and do same.
05. Once everything is done, leave for a few hours. Then use the other cloth to buff and shine.
06. Do the same for the handles, but avoid the threads under the handles.
07. Also keep the lotion away from fabric along zipper because it may stain it.

There is a ‘downside’ to using Apple Brand Leather Care though. If you like your bags and SLGs ‘distressed’, do not use it. The lotion actually makes the leather ’smoother’ and slightly more ’smooshy’. I’ve tried it on both my Weekender and RH Coin Purse and I’m more than happy with the outcome. 

You can order Apple Brand products online here, but the more convienent way if you are in Singapore is to just get it from Interesthing Shop, where it sells a bottle for SGD30. Thanks again to reader P.C for all your tips and help!

Image: Bagaholicboy

I’d like to believe however that it has evolved to become more than just a mere holder of name cards. Owning a Monogram Canvas Porte-Cartes Simple myself, I often use as it slim wallet. You can easily fit in your identity card (or driver’s license), an ATM card and 2 credit cards, along with some notes. Owning a couple of these in different designs/materials also allows you to change them as and when to match your outfits, which is always fun.

What do I like? For starters there’s the YSL Card Holder in Blue Ostrich Claw Skin (shown above, USD245) which is simply divine. Imagine the gasps of admiration whenever you whip this out from your pocket.

For something simpler but no less expensive, the Valextra Credit Card Holder comes with 4 card slots and a wide array of delicious colours. On the left we’ve got the one in Verde Prato Green and on the right, the one in Aragosta Orange. Retailing for USD210 each, you can get them from Barneys.

If you want it to be fun and inexpensive, don’t miss out on the two-toned Jack Spade Boarskin Credit Card Holder, which is on sale now and costs only USD28.

Images: Barneys, Jack Spade & YSL

Q: What leather is used for Balenciaga bags?
A: Lamb skin (agneau leather). Highly-distressed lamb skin. They use a process of drying the skin so that it has that veiny, distressed texture.

Q: Usually in a season how many colours are released? And they are permanent colours as well?
A: On average at least 5 colours are released, usually more. Usually they are repeats of colours from previous seasons, just a few shades darker or lighter. Balenciaga gives them different names to differentiate between seasons and the year it was launched.

I would say the permanent ones are Black (Noir) which is easily found. Anthracite seems to be following suit as the next ‘permanent’ colour, but this still remains to be seen. If are you a collector (like me) go for the seasonal colours because once they are discontinued, you will not be able to find them anymore in the boutiques. That’s also the fun thing about Balenciaga, so many colours to choose from.

Q: What is the best way to care for them?
A: I have heard from others that the lighter the colour is, the more they tend to fade/dis-colour if exposed to sunlight for long periods of time, which is why I  always store my bags in dustbags.

Here’s how I care for my Balenciaga bags, I use butter paper and line the pockets with them, then I place a few packs of silica gel inside. I never zip the pockets up and then store them in their dustbag which then go into plastic storage containers which also have silica gel inside.

For the body, I strongly recommend Apple Leather Care. I do not use anything to prevent the handles from darkening. Depending on how frequently I use the bag, I tend to condition it at least once every 2 months. Some Balenciaga owners do not do it at all because once the bag has been conditioned, it will not look as ‘distressed’. Always air your bags, and I let my bags ‘breathe’ for a day or two every month. Sounds like a hassle? Then picture this, what’s worse than a bag with mould?

Q: RH, GH, GSH, what’s the difference and what does it mean?
A: It is just to distinguish the type/size of hardware on the bag. Some prefer Giant Hardware (more expensive), while others prefer Regular Hardware. At the moment, Giant Gold Hardware is more ‘limited’ and not easily found in boutiques than say Giant Silver Hardware. Also, for Giant Hardware bags, there are no tassels so you do not need to worry about them splitting. Giant Hardware is also always more expensive.

RH – Regular Hardware, GH – Giant Hardware , GSH – Giant Silver Hardware, GGH – Giant Gold Hardware, GCH – Giant Covered Hardware (metal ‘thimbles’ with leather covers)

Image: Balenciaga