Hello sweetie darlings, I have finally arrived in London! After two weeks in Paris I am ready for some Brit love. Not that I don’t adore the Parisians but we all know the Brits launched Bag Snob three years ago when we were merely two best friends dishing about handbags; they loved our brutally cheeky comments and told the world about us– starting with the London Guardian followed by the fabulous 3 page article in British Vogue by Linda Grant (which has been translated and reprinted in almost every Vogue in the world!), then it was London Times, UK Grazia and countless other profiles by our friends across the pond not to mention all of our avid readers here that have really made us who we are today– so there is a very special place in my heart for the UK 🙂
The weather is a bit dreary but the friendliness of the people here is enough to warm my spirits. Remember my disappointment of missing the sales next week in Paris? Well the SAs in Paris didn’t agree to pre-sale anything to me, (sniff sniff) but the lovely British more than made up for it! I arrived and immediately went to Harvey Nicks, where I was told everything would be on sale on Wednesday (I’ll be home by then). I noticed a woman who looked like a person of authority near the Dries van Noten bay and I asked her if she would kindly consider pre-selling to me or shipping items to me in the States. Not only did she agree, she assigned two Brand Specialists to show me around! After trying on countless amazing items from Balenciaga, Dries, Alexander McQueen, Burberry Prorsum, Stella McCartney, etc. I found a few pieces that I loved and guess what, she let me have them right then and there at the discount! A big thank you to Heather, the sales manager of Harvey Nicks and Suzanne and Tom– Brand specialists for Dries and Balenciaga. I love the UK! If you live near London, run over to Harvey Nicks this Wednesday, June 25th and ask for Suzanne (Dries) or Tom (Balenciaga)!
Ah yes, the H Nicks sale. I’m alas in Toronto this week where Holt Renfrew is just not as good. But I have acquired a rather nice Marc Jacobs bag.
so glad you love london, we certainly love bag snob! enjoy your time here!
Linda- I am staying in Mayfair as you suggested, near Hermes! I love it here!!! xo
I live in London, I am definitely going to have to check out the sale!
Welcome to UK Tina! Remember to take afternoon tea after all that shopping!
Cress and egg mayonnaise rolls at Ritz are to die for!
xoxo
Wait, I don’t get it… They sold you the stuff at the sale price? So how did you get them to do it? Is this normal practice in the US?
In the US they do this, too. It’s common practice when it’s just a few days out from the sale and you want to build a relationship with the client.
They won’t do it for anyone locally, but I had my passport, driver’s license and it was obvious from my accent I was not from anywhere near London 🙂
Another option is they will ring it up for you on the day of and ship it to you.
You should definitely stop by the Temperley London boutique in Notting Hill if you have a chance. It is one of my favorite stores in London!
T, The Go To Shop for Vintage is a store called Virginia…U should check it out if u get the chance!!
Have Loads Of Fun For Me!!! =)
XOOXOXOXOXOXOXO…
in my opinion parisians can not be compared to londoners, french people are much more sophisticated and distinguished!
parisians are not more chic, they are more safe and play by the fashion rules.
londoners, however, are edgy and push the envelope.
it’s like comparing Kate Moss with Carla Bruni.
and by the way, Jane Birkin, of the birkin that the bag snobs are so obsessed with? BRITISH.
end of discussion.
Sweetie darlings, darling sweeties (can you tell my favorite show of all time is Absolutely Fabulous from French and Saunders? I feel like sometimes Kelly and I are a bit similar to Eddie and Patsy– except we’re not drunk all the time 🙂 I discovered Christian Lacroix at age 21 because of them!)
BTW. I am not comparing the styles of the French and Brits, just the sales policies at stores. My SAs at the Paris Chanel and Hermes (Virginia who offered me a crocodile birkin but it was not the color I wanted) were gracious and accommodating, but their bags were not going on sale. I am speaking of the SAs at the department stores and larger boutiques who wouldn’t pre sale. Maybe it was a language barrier but who knows!
In any case, just got home from Hakkasan– the only Michelin star Asian restaurant in Europe– it wsa fabulous!
B- I have a hook up at a very well established antique jewelry dealer and picked up a pair of diamond earrings from the 1820’s and a diamond pendant/brooch from the same period. I love jewelry as much as I love bags and got the most exquisite items!! Thanks for the heads up, will check it out!
xoxo
Ooooh LA LA!!! Tina, jewelry from the 1800’s
They must be some AMAZING pieces!!!
can u share with photos?!? or no? =)
XOXO
PS…Virginia is well established as well!!
So Yes Do drop by if u get the chance!! and do share if u picked something up from there…
tina,
you are a lucky girl. i was in paris and london last summer. it was during the end of july when sales almost ended. but i did manage to get some yummy stuffs of fall/winter collection from paul & joe.
i have a question for you. if london SAs ship your purchase to the US or you order things from the uk website and ship to the US, is there any custom/tariff charge when they arrive? i know net-a-porter takes care of the custom pages. but how about other stores which do not provide this service? i want to order anya bags from their uk site, but not sure how much the US custom will charge me. thank you.
love your posts
xoxo
Hey B
Bags still not arrived =( apparently with them being water snake they are having to do extra documentation?!
How is NY? Hear you are Vintage shopping….tinas scoop sounds fab, Tina does your hook up do fabulous cocktail rings i have been on the hunt for ages?!
L.xo
Hi Tina – Safe trip back to Dallas to you and the family. Here’s a last little bit of Gerard Darel info: According to this week’s French Elle, Mamie Gummer (one of Meryl Streep’s daughters and an accomplished stage actress), is taking over from Charlotte Gainsbourg (Jane Birkin’s daughter with Serge) as the new main model for Gerard Darel for this Fall’s ad campain. They’re continuing with the 70’s look. I remember when Stephanie Seymour did their ads and especially when they came out with the Jackie necklace. In the photo in Elle, Gummer is wearing a python bag but it’s not the 24h. She does look like a young Meryl!
Hi Lottie, I can NOT believe the bags have not arrived!!! That is MAD!!!!!! So did U track it down with the tracking number? did u call Zuly?
I hope u get them soon!!! brought my turq and grey (natural) with me to NY!!! No mojitos YET!!! but did enjoy a glass of wine-or 2 lol
YES!! I love Vintage shopping, have u been to Virginia’s in london?? U must check it out, its raining here today so just hangin indoors! bye for now!!
PS…So far Chasing Harry Winston is really good!!!
XOXO
Hey B, i may have to order myself the book, is it a feel good book?! I am having a nightmare I have spoken to Zuly and she gave me the tracking number, so i spoke to fedex to find out what is happening and they say nothing has been sent out!? So i have spoken to someone today but zuly is not in….nightmare all i want is by bags to play with!!!! =(
I haven’t been to Virginia’s where is it in London? what sort of items do they sell?
Have fun fingers crossed for the weather for you.
L.xo
Hi Tina- Virginia’s is on 98 Portland St
Holland Park London-phone# 020-7727-9908
Hi Lottie!! I can NOT!! believe the bags have not arrived yet! its been weeks!! THIS IS MAD!!
did u call zuly to get the tracking number??
I sure hope u get them soon, brought my turq and grey (natural) to NY with me!!
NO mojitos yet-but enjoying a glass or 2 of wine =) (red)Its raining here today, so just hangin indoors.
YES, I LOVE shopping Vintage, have u been to Virginia’s? U should check it out if u get the chance..did U go to GD boutique? I am still looking for that stupid python bag, I think u should get the purple, or at least go look at it….I cant look at it…CUZ I CANT FIND THEM!!!! lol…I know I know I think I need therapy (right?)!!!!! lol
So far Chasing Harry Winston is GOOD!!! Bye for now
KISSES!!!
Lottie, dunno what is wrong with my lap top or if its bagsnob site but I was trying to leave u a msg but it didnt go thru, so I re wrote it and then I guess the first msg did go thru
So I wrote it twice for u…lol…I still dont get the bag thing….call bergdorf and speak to someone in shipping….I dont think the bags even went out….Im telling u, shipping things I do all day long, Ive shipped things to my cousin in London and she gets them like in 4 days and I didnt have to pay more for that, and I also buy from london and paris and I get them straight away….SO call them and bug them till they give u an answer!!!
Virginia’s has everything u will ever want!!
Its just a FAB!! place!!!!!
OK Gotta Go and feed my kids lunch!!! will pop in shortly
CALL THEM!!
XOXOOXOX
B- I’m confused, I was talking about Virginia the SA at Hermes Paris boutique that I work with…
So Virginia is another antique store? Can’t wait!
Tina, Sorry to have confused u!! lol…
YES, Virginia is antique store…
B I have phoned again but Zuly wasn’t in so left a message and the guy was british on the other end of the phone he said he would take it to a manager so am going to try again…..all i want is my bags!!! They can’t have shipped them as I have ordered a bag and shoes one from dallas and the other new york way after the bags and they have arrived and i am already playing with them!arrrhhh
I am going to bug bergdorfs now…..will let you know how i get on! Hope your vacation is going well!
I am going to check out Virginia do they do vintage chanel?
L.xo
Are you still here? You should totally check out Susannah Hunter, 7 Rugby St, WC1. Amazing, amazing bags, hand made in the atelier at the back of the shop.