Husby is on a roll. Last week, he surprised me with another Kate Spade bag.
I can certainly remember how he surprises me with it everytime -- this latest one, he put in the shoe cabinet where he knew I can't miss not seeing it because I always park my shoes the moment I enter our house. It was another just-because surprise (or probably because I hinted I needed a weekend casual bag hehehe).
It's the sixth KS bag he's already given me since I became a fan of these wondeful creations last year. It all started when I started with my ASEAN job where I was constantly jetsetting together with my goddess boss who has just about all the coolest designer bags, clothes and accessories. My North Face bag then just wasn't making it -- I looked and felt like a PA next to her, hahaha.
So Husby and I searched around for a brand that will put me in my place i.e. an upstart, young apprentice who is paid well enough to afford a designer bag but not enough to afford ridiculously priced ones. Bulgari, Prada, Bottega was just too darn pretentious for my level (will probably graduate to this if and when I become VP or something!). LV, Coach, Chanel bags were just too everywhere, even trying hard and wannabes have them on their shoulders, real or otherwise. Zara and Mango were too young and hip and it's quite embarrassing to be having the same bag as assistant managers and trainees considering their salaries are probably not even half of what I get.
And so we saw Kate Spade in Shangrila Mall. It had exactly what I was looking for : understated elegance. Has funky colors and designs which shouts young and experimental but at the same time has real functionality which shouts serious and practical. It is also not a high maintenance bag, it is in fact quite unassuming. But it does have a solid yet silent equity about it of style, manners and graciousness. It's a respectable brand and I love it.
To top it all, it is quite affordable. Affordable enough for me to have more than one of it. Unlike some ladies who invest in one really snooty bag and guard it with their lives. What is so amazing is that I have not bought a single one - what I have are all Husby's gifts with his hard-earned business earnings. I remembered teasingly telling Husby "how can I be a Kate Spade fan if I only have one?" -- the next day, he got me my second bag.
My KS babies are the stars in my closet. I hang them so they don't lose their shape even if it means folding a lot of my office blouses as my Singapore closet is not as big as the ones I have in Manila. I love looking at them because they remind me so much of my Husby's thoughtful ways and selflessness.
Sad thing we didn't get to reach the Kate Spade store in New York when we were in the US last March. We were on our way but Husby had a bum stomach so I didn't get to visit the "mother ship". He made up for it when we got to Leesburg and he got me two bags and a wallet -- which is not a bad deal for me at all :)
I don't know when the fascination will end. I tried looking at Tod's store last weekend but it just didn't have the "it" for me yet. Until then, my loyalty to KS will continue. Saw their latest lines and the Northhampton Stevie line one I fell in love with... already showed it to Husby and knowing him, he's probably already looking around for this to give me this Christmas.
Hay, life is great.
