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- [00:01]
A
I'm doing the Lord's work so you can convince whomever is special in your life that spending that extra amount of money on a handbag is truly an investment.
- [00:08]
B
Handbags Greatest PR move of all time. What bags on the market right now do you think we're going to be collecting at auction in a few years?
- [00:15]
A
The Dior bags by Jonathan Anderson. The reinterpretation of the lady Dior bag. I'm sure we'll see them at auction. I have no doubt.
- [00:22]
B
Is it true that when you take the stickers off a Birkin that it decreases in value? What would be the distinction between someone going and selling that on the RealReal and selling it at Christie's?
- [00:32]
A
In October of 2025, when Matthew Blasi premiered his first show for Chanel, there was so much excitement. We had an auction one month later and we offered the Chanel shopping cart basket and it sold for $152,500.
- [00:49]
B
Welcome back to let's Get Dressed. Before we dive into today's episode, make sure that you're following the show both on Apple Podcasts and Spotify so that you don't miss a new episode. In case you want to watch today's episode, you can head over to YouTube. The full episode is available there too. And when you're done, leave us a review. I always love to hear what you guys think about the episodes and it really helps the show. Go. Now let's go get dressed. Welcome to the podcast.
- [01:15]
A
Thank you. Thank you for having me, Liv.
- [01:17]
B
So we are talking today about what I like to call is Handbag's greatest PR move of all time, which is the Internet now looking at bags as investment pieces. I feel like I get served content all the time of like men, when they see you buying bags, show them it's actually an investment. So that's what we're going to talk about today. We're going to talk about is it actually an investment and what does that mean for the long run of our closets and our wallets?
- [01:47]
A
Yes, I'm doing the Lord's work so you can convince whomever is special in your life that spending that extra amount of money on a handbag is truly an investment. And I've been working on my husband for, for years now and he's, he's fully on board too.
- [02:00]
B
Thank you for your service. We're all really, really so grateful for all that you do.
- [02:03]
A
It's my pleasure.
- [02:04]
B
And if you're listening, this episode is probably not going to help your case. It'll probably Enhance it. You will continue to be. Just be convincing people all the time that you need to buy handbags, which, you know, we're fine with.
- [02:16]
A
And it's fun. It's, you know, it's an endorphin. It's something that as women, we use to express ourselves and frequently it's the most expensive item we have in our wardrobe. You may change your shoes or your jacket every day, but a handbag is something that you may wear every day, and not just for a season, but for years and years.
- [02:36]
B
So you are head of handbags at Christie's, and I read in an interview that you had said that if you knew about this job when you were 11 years old, you would have just dreamt it. And I agree with that. I feel like that is every young girl's dream job. So I want to just zoom out really quickly and understand what that role really is.
- [02:55]
A
Yeah, that's a great question, and you're absolutely right. I genuinely feel like this was the dream job that I never knew existed as a child. But the day to day of it is constantly exciting, it's constantly different. I usually wake up and have meetings first thing in the morning. We have a large international team of specialists, not only within the handbags department, but Christie's is a large international organization. And so meetings in the beginning of the day is a great way to kick it off and collaborate with my colleagues. Then towards the afternoon, I'm likely meeting with clients looking at handbags. And then sale season is a completely different schedule. And that's really like the super bowl of the auction world. And that's when you're preparing the sale. You're doing marketing photo shoots, you're looking at the pieces that you're going to sell, then you have the sale itself. So you're talking to your clients about the pieces that are on offer. You have an exhibition, people come to visit you in person. And then of course, you have the wildcard days where you're flying to give a lecture in another state or in another country and talking about my area of expertise, my passion, which is handbags. Dream job can come anytime.
- [04:06]
B
Dream job. Do you need an intern?
- [04:08]
A
Always. Always. We'd love to have you.
- [04:10]
B
I'm curious if you think that there was, like a moment time that you can reflect back on where handbags became something that we put up at auction? Like, was there a point in history where you saw this shift and that started happening and what was it and why?
- [04:26]
A
Yes, so that's a great question. And actually to think about really, where handbags began at Christie's, you have to zoom back all the way to the 1970s. So in 1978, Christie's in London held the collection of Coco Chanel. So after Coco Chanel passed away, her wardrobe was brought up to auction at Christie's. And this was the first time that we offered a handbag for sale. And actually one of the pieces from her collection ended up in the Smithsonian Institution. So it really shows how a handbag in different contexts could mean so many different things. It's a piece of design history, it's a cultural artifact, it's something of value. And for somebody like Coco Chanel, it's emblematic of her influence on women's fashion and fashion design. And that that really kicked off handbags at Christie's. And then the collectible handbags industry as we think of it today really came on in full force in the late 1990s and early 2000s. And this was the era of the it bag. So some of the most important dates is 1997, when you have the Fendi baguette, 1999, the Dior saddlebag, and then in the early 2000s at Louis Vuitton, you had Marc Jacobs as creative director, working with artists such as Steven sprouse for the 2001 collection, and then Murakami in 2003. And this really created a moment where handbags became collectible, they became bold. You didn't just buy one, you bought, you bought many and you archived them. The turning point was then during the recession, when luxury spending really pulled back. And yet you saw Birkins and Kelly's at Christie's setting record prices. And this showed that handbags could be resilient, they could be investment worthy. And as a shopper, you could think like a collector and make smart investments in order to create a collection that you loved, but also that you felt was financially responsible.
- [06:19]
B
So post recession, what does it look like now?
- [06:22]
A
Yep, so that's a great question. So in 2008, during the recession, Christie set a world record price for a crocodile Birkin at auction for £82,000. At the time was a tremendous amount of money, and today we see pieces selling for many times that. But since 2011, Christie's began holding online only handbag auctions. And 2011 was a turning point because that was the year that we offered the collection of Elizabeth's Taylor. And so for the collection of Elizabeth Taylor, Christie's began holding dedicated online only sales. And the results of Mrs. Elizabeth Taylor's handbag collection was so, so strong. That we began holding handbag sales. From there, the category continued to expand, adding in live sales in Hong Kong, New York, Paris and London. But really another turning point was during the pandemic because for the first time, factories were closed, shops were closed, the primary market was closed. There was a huge shift to digital because people were really at home and unable to travel and mobilize. And that really created a moment where the shift to digital accelerated and the awareness about the collectibility of not only handbags, but also fashion became very widespread. And today, when you look at Instagram or TikTok and you see all, all of these videos about the collectibility of handbags and the history behind certain models, we really attribute that to that acceleration during the pandemic.
- [07:52]
B
So I've seen Christie's post a 96% sell through rate in handbags. What does that indicate to you guys about where we're at in society in terms of just the fashion market?
- [08:05]
A
Yeah, it's a great statistic. And what's so interesting about handbags is it is one of the most important ways that Christie's acquires new clients and younger clients. So last year, 12% of all new clients to Christie's came in through handbags.
- [08:20]
B
So we see that's a very high stat.
- [08:22]
A
It's a lot. And this is for a smaller category, Christie's. We have over 35 categories. Many of the categories bring in significantly more revenue than handbags does. But we are a strategic department because of our ability to connect with newer clients, with younger clients, with clients that are digital. Handbags are an object that so many people feel very comfortable buying online. Perhaps they've been buying them their whole lives. And so having the opportunity to engage with Christie's with a, with an object that they're familiar with is a great way to teach them about our platform, to teach them about our expertise, to tell them that actually our galleries are free and open to the public, that our coffee is free. And so we take our role as that on ramp to Christie's very seriously, and we curate our sales with new collectors in mind. So many times we'll have objects that are what we call no reserve. And that means that they start forbidding at just $100. So it's not just the Himalaya Birkin for $250,000. It's also like a gorgeous embellished Fendi baguette bag or a Dior bag, perhaps, designed in collaboration with an artist at very attractive prices. And the benefit of auction is you have the confidence to know that While you're bidding, you have the market bidding alongside you. So if you're the winning bidder, you may pay just 5 or 10% more. The next highest bidder.
- [09:52]
B
Okay, you said some of those pieces, the no reserve pieces start at $100. Where do they usually end up?
- [09:57]
A
It really depends on the piece.
- [09:59]
B
Okay.
- [09:59]
A
We put auction estimates on every object that we sell, so an estimate may be $1,000 to 2,000. Starting at $100, it could sell anywhere from $100. And of course, there's no limit. So there's definitely very good buys to be had in the sale. It's not all 50, 60, 70, $80,000 pieces.
- [10:21]
B
So handbags are assets in your field of work. I want to know a little bit about what that actually looks like in practice. What's appreciating, what's depreciating? How do you step to that?
- [10:32]
A
Yeah, that's a great question. So when we talk about handbags behaving like assets, what we're talking about is market transparency and consistency. And so one of the benefits of auction is it's a public sale, and the results are online. And so you really have the ability to research and to understand how prices are trending and how pieces have performed historically. And then, of course, the consistency element comes in when something is repeatedly selling for a similar or the same amount. And so when you're purchasing something at auction and you have that transparency and the consistency, you have the confidence to know that should you want to sell it in the future, you're. You have a very good sense for where. Where it may sell. And that's what we mean by behaving like assets in terms of what pieces are performing consistently. It's really the classic models, the pieces that aren't tied to a season that we see performing regularly at a similar level. And so things like smaller Kellys, smaller Birkins, leather pieces in shades like black, gray, pink, these pieces perform very consistently from other brands. We see the Chanel Classic flap bag, the Dior Lady D bag. These are the models that have been consistent in terms of their design for decades, if not half a century or more. Whereas there are also some pieces that are very tied to season seasons or cultural moments. And these pieces will have very strong spikes in terms of the desirability and the prices paid. And. But yet they're not as consistent season on season on season.
- [12:09]
B
What are you looking for when you're looking at a bag to sell at Christie's? Are there barometers like, what are the things you're looking at in a bag to know that this is worthy of something.
- [12:19]
A
So the main factors that we look for when we're pricing a piece are brand material, model, condition, and rarity. So these really are the factors that will dictate what something should sell for based on what it sold for in the past. And that's the case for not just handbags, but many other categories as well will look at these criteria.
- [12:45]
B
So does something have to be in like, mint condition?
- [12:47]
A
I would say that condition is a very important indicator of value, but it's not everything.
- [12:52]
B
So what bags right now are really driving the market forward for people listening who are interested in quote, unquote investing?
- [13:01]
A
Yes. So one of the pieces that we're seeing the most attention paid on right now is the Kelly Pachette. The Kelly pochette has the very adorable belt style closure of a Kelly. It has a top handle. It's a trapezoid shape. It's quite a practical shape and size.
- [13:19]
B
It's like an evening clutch.
- [13:20]
A
Almost exactly. It's like an evening clutch. And we saw a tremendous amount of attention on the Mini Kelly, which I'm sure you can visualize. It's like a Kelly Pochette, but more narrow, more petite. It has a shoulder strap. The Kelly pochette is a bit more functional and practical. It has a bit more shape to it, so you can put more things in it. And this is something that we're seeing a tremendous amount of attention on. And then of course, there's the Kelly doll. It's spelled Quell, Q U E L E I D O L E, which is a very adorable French play on words. And it has wonderful whimsical eyes and arms. And it really shows the whimsicality and the playfulness of Hermes. It's a bag that was first designed in 2000, yet feels so fresh and so, so new. And we recently set a world record price for a Kelly doll bag sold at auction for a custom piece sold in Hong Kong, which achieved $350,000.
- [14:14]
B
Wow.
- [14:15]
A
So, yeah, they're very adorable and very valuable. The exact number that are produced is unknown. We offer a few every year, so there are definitely some out there in the market. But it's the sort of piece where if you find exactly the color combination and exactly the material that you have been looking for, there's really no ceiling. When two collectors are really invested in the piece.
- [14:39]
B
Incredible.
- [14:40]
A
That is.
- [14:41]
B
And how big is it?
- [14:42]
A
Oh, it's quite small.
- [14:43]
B
There's a small, right?
- [14:44]
A
It's about 20 centimeters.
- [14:46]
B
Wow. For 350 grand. I love. I love fashion.
- [14:50]
A
It's so fun.
- [14:51]
B
It's great.
- [14:52]
A
And it's a playful piece. It's for someone who has a love of handbags, but also a great sense
- [14:57]
B
of humor, which is so interesting because I wonder, as you're looking at these pieces take off and the things that really work right, do you notice something happening, like, societally, to make that be the thing that is selling the most right now? Like, what do you think it is in the world that, like, has, you know, Mini Kelly's be the thing that is, like, popping off one day and the Kelly pochette the next day being the thing that people are obsessed with?
- [15:21]
A
Well, I think that there's definitely a sense that you want what no one else has, right? And there's a sense that, like, when something has become quite saturated, you gravitate towards something new. Whereas some models are just so immune to trends and are so elegant and essential in their design that you don't really see those ebbs and flows. And then, of course, within certain models, you have different materials and colors. There are some colors that are particularly sought after. There are different hardware combinations that even further make a piece more rare. And so then there are also some collectors that genuinely have so much love and appreciation for craftsmanship that they want multiples of pieces and they don't want just one Kelly pochette, but they want to make sure they have a black and a pink and a purple and just different pieces for different opportunities. And also, they may not even wear them. They may just drive a lot of joy and pleasure out of having them in their collection.
- [16:20]
B
I wonder, too, though, how much social media impacts it, because there was a time, I feel like last year where the Mini Kelly was all over my Instagram. People were fiending for Mini Kelly's, and I feel like I saw more unboxings for them than I ever had. And I had not seen that much in the past. I feel like before that, it was all about the Birkin. And I actually remember going to Japan last year where one of the most, like, unreal shopping experiences I think I've ever had, just the craftsmanship, like, the way that things were maintained. It really felt so different than shopping in the States or even, you know, in the vintage or resale experiences that I've had in Europe. They really just, like, maintain the archive like it's a museum there. But I remember even being there and the demand for Mini Kelly's was extreme. Do you think also it has to do with what's circulating in the world at the time.
- [17:11]
A
Well, I would say that Japan has a very, very sophisticated vintage culture. And to your point, pieces are very, very pristine, and there's a lot of price transparency there. The other thing about the Mini Kelly is it's so youthful, and so it appeals to a new generation of Hermes collectors. Whereas the Birkin and the Kelly are classic pieces, Kelly was designed 100 years ago. The Birkin was, of course, 1987, first released. The Mini Kelly is a more modern reimagining of the Kelly, and it appeals to a very broad audience. And of course, they come in, like, adorable colors, and they're just like adorable pieces of candy. And also they're an evening bag, whereas a Birkin or a Kelly is more of a day bag. They're quite a bit larger. And so the Mini Kelly created a huge opportunity for. For collectors that were new to Hermes to become engaged. The Kelly pochette is an evolution of that. It's a little bit larger, but it still appeals to that same demographic. It still appeals to someone who wants a bag for evening or an event. And it does have a lot to do with social media. And that goes back to what we saw during the pandemic, which was that very quick shift to digital. And today you have a library in your hand. There's so much that you can learn. I remember reading about the constants for the first time in Glamour magazine. You don't have to go to the newsstand or get a subscription to read about these models or the history. You have a universe of education at your fingertips. And that's wonderful. And that's really. That's amazing. And that's created so many opportunities for people that perhaps are not collectors now or yet, but they want to learn, and they have the autonomy to do so.
- [18:58]
B
Is it true that when you take the stickers off a Birkin that it decreases in value?
- [19:02]
A
There's definitely a premium that will be paid for pieces in as new condition with the stickers on. But if something has some wear or some use, I would say take the stickers off, use your bag, enjoy your bag. They are functional objects, and they're created in such a. An expert way. They are made using the saddle stitch, which is a double needle technique used to create saddles. And if Hermes can make saddles using this technique, and the saddle can hold up for tens of ten, tens of years, then these pieces are made to be loved and enjoyed. And I'm a big proponent of using them as they were intended. However, there are some people that like to collect pieces just for the joy of having them. And in that case, collectors may keep the stickers on.
- [19:55]
B
I'm a big believer in wearing what you have. Don't keep it in the box. Don't keep it in the wrapping. I feel like I. When I was growing up, I feel like that was, like, a big thing. Like, people really kept things in pristine condition. And my mom always told me, like, wear what you have. It's meant to be worn and enjoyed and loved.
- [20:11]
A
I remember buying, like, my first pair of Louboutins and just, like, keeping them in the box and never wearing them. And if I put them on my feet today, I can't walk for two weeks. So I wish that when I was 24 years old, I had just enjoyed them. Yep.
- [20:25]
B
Enjoy them while you can, because once you're older. I can't. I can't wear Louboutins. I love them, but I can't wear them.
- [20:31]
A
Oh, I absolutely can't wear them.
- [20:32]
B
I wore them once and I actually, I think I wore a Socate once, and I will never. I never forgot it.
- [20:38]
A
I'm really impressed.
- [20:40]
B
I never forgot it. Yeah.
- [20:42]
A
It's all about comfort.
- [20:43]
B
I have to be comfortable. So if someone is out there right now wanting to invest in a bag, how do they know what the right investment is? Because I want to look at this the same way that I think about, like, investing in stocks. Right. How do you know what is the right choice? How do you know what's really going to maintain value over multiple years and hopefully decades?
- [21:02]
A
The most important thing for people that I speak with is to think about your life and what are you really going to use and what are you really going to love? Handbags can be a very smart purchase. But if you buy something like my Louboutins and you never wear them, it's hard to justify that.
- [21:22]
B
Where are those Louboutins now?
- [21:24]
A
They're definitely, like, in the back of the closet. We'll never get rid of them because, you know, sunk in the yard. Yeah, of course. But what will you use in love?
- [21:35]
B
We.
- [21:35]
A
We talked about how we love to wear the things that we have. What is your lifestyle? Are you going to work? Are you a mother? Are you. Do you want this for. For evenings, for galas? And think about what will be the most useful for you. And then do your research, do your homework. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If the price that you're seeing is half of the market price, probably not a good sign. If you're not Able to see something in person, ask for additional photos, ask for a video. Make sure you're collecting with somebody that you trust. Can you get a person on the phone? Can you meet them in person? And if you do your research and you love something, it's most likely going to be a good investment for you. And that may not mean doubling or tripling in value, but it's something that you've really put the work in and you're using and you're loving. And should you wish to sell it in the future, based on the research that you've done, you have a good sense where it's going to sell.
- [22:37]
B
So Hermes obviously is a big one that I feel a lot of people are collecting. They know that there's resale value there. Right. I feel that Chanel is another one. And I know you've seen a lot of success, especially with Carl era Chanel. Can you talk to us a little bit about why consumers are like flocking to that right now?
- [22:53]
A
There's so much excitement around Matthieu Blasi, and it's really reinvigorated collectors love of Chanel, but it's also created an opportunity for collectors to look back at the Carl years and appreciate how many beautiful, whimsical collectible items were made under Karl Lagerfeld's tenure. We actually had a really exciting piece that I'd love to tell you about. The Fall Winter 2014 Chanel show at the Grand Palais was transformed into a supermarket. And one of the Runway pieces was this Chanel shopping basket. And instead of metal bars, it was the metal with leather chain that Chanel is so known for. In 2017, we sold one of these Chanel shopping cart bags for auction and it sold for $7,000. In October of 2025, when Matthieu Blasi premiered his first show for Chanel, there was so much excitement around Chanel and the craftsmanship and the materials and the fantasy that Matthew Blasey brought to Chanel. We had an auction one month later and we offered the Chanel shopping cart basket again and it sold for $152,500. So significantly more than it had achieved less than 10 years ago. And it set the world record price for Chanel. And this is one of those moments where the timing, the stars just lined up. And Chanel was just so top of mind to collectors. And there was such a appreciation and a reverence for what Karl Lagerfeld had created. And there were collectors that hadn't seen this piece in a very long time. And Were really willing to fight for it.
- [24:40]
B
So that Chanel supermarket show is in my, like, top five all time favorite shows. For those of you listening who haven't seen the show before, one, I highly recommend going and looking at it. It is sublime, but also it was extremely ornate. The Grand Palais was turned into an entire supermarket with multiple aisles, Chanel branded cereals and items. And at the end of the show, you saw attendees going into the supermarket and literally taking items home. I remember there was like a milk carton, like a Chanel lace milk carton. There were, like, cereals and other things that you could take. And I often think about where those people and where those items are now, and if we're gonna see them one day, like, go up for auction or if people are gonna sell them. Pretty cool thing to have around your house. Like, that's one of those pieces that I wish that I had.
- [25:28]
A
Absolutely. You're like, please don't open that cereal box.
- [25:30]
B
Yeah, it's.
- [25:31]
A
No.
- [25:31]
B
A couple grams. Yeah.
- [25:32]
A
It's not Cheerios.
- [25:33]
B
There's not actually milk in that carton.
- [25:35]
A
Totally, totally.
- [25:37]
B
I would love to know what the person who bought the $152,000 Chanel shopping cart is doing with it now. What is the craziest thing that's ever come across your desk?
- [25:45]
A
We get so many wonderful, wonderful items and wonderful objects. One of my favorite pieces that we've ever offered was in 2017 in Paris. It's a Birkin 25 in metallic bronze, so a very beautiful, shiny shade. It was created as an homage to Leila Manshari, who designed the Hermes windows for decades, from the late 1970s until the 2000s. This was a piece that is very, very hard to find. The auction estimate was 8 to €10,000, and it sold for €100,000.
- [26:20]
B
Wow.
- [26:22]
A
That will always be one of my favorite pieces.
- [26:24]
B
Okay, but so you're at auction, you buy a $100,000 bag.
- [26:29]
A
Are you actually wearing that bag out for many clients? Yes, they will.
- [26:33]
B
Unreal.
- [26:34]
A
Yes.
- [26:34]
B
I don't know. Even though I say wear what you love and buy what you love and wear it, I don't know. I feel like that would go, like, up on the shelf. It's a piece of art.
- [26:43]
A
Absolutely. And for some collectors, it may mean wearing it once a year or once every five years. Maybe it's for a huge wedding or a gala. It's certainly not the type of bag that you would bring to Trader Joe's, for example. But there's opportunities, for sure.
- [27:00]
B
I wonder, do you think collectors are leaning towards Everyday pieces or more like Runway archival things. Because I do feel now there's this like, sentiment in society about everything being an investment, right. I even think about the way we talk about buying clothes on the everyday basis here. Like invest in the good pair of jeans, right? Like invest in the best white T shirts. But what do you think that means for someone in your position in terms of like, what people are really quote, unquote, investing in?
- [27:28]
A
In terms of collecting or shopping with an investment mind, I would say that today collectors or just any consumer wants to buy something that will stand the test of time if they want to sell it, whether it's on like Poshmark or ebay. They want to feel like they're not just going to end up putting this piece in a landfill. There's a sense that sustainability is an important factor for the younger generations, millennials, Gen Z. And so we are conscious of, of our impact when we're shopping. We want something that's going to, to last. And of course that could mean something different depending on what your budget is,
- [28:13]
B
what your lifestyle is, what do you sift through? Because even you walked in today and I was like, your outfit is amazing. And you told me you got this Proenza jacket on ebay. How are you sifting? As someone who does this for a living and has a very sharp eye
- [28:24]
A
for me, when I buy clothing, I need to make sure that it's like, functional for my life. Like, I'm constantly on airplanes. My clothes are being packed into a suitcase. I may have to sleep in it on an airplane. So it has to be comfortable, it has to not be so wrinkly. I have to be able to wash it or dry clean it. I'm not a collector of couture. I want to make smart investment, investment decisions. When I, when I shop and I do a lot of looking without buying, I will like do 500 hearts on the RealReal before I buy. Because I'm an appreciator of fashion and I'm an appreciator of vintage. And I really want to make sure that I know that I'm going to find something very useful before I spend the money.
- [29:10]
B
Don't we all?
- [29:10]
A
I'm the friend that says, yes, you should get it, but I have a friend that says, absolutely not. And she's a very good filter. So have a friend that says no.
- [29:19]
B
So for people listening who might be future collectors, buyers, let's get into a few tips. What is one thing that will depreciate an item over time?
- [29:28]
A
I would say that condition. Going back to condition. Keeping something in good condition is important if you think that maybe you'll be selling it or offering it to the next generation. And that means keeping it clean. If it's a very sensitive leather, probably don't take it out during a rainstorm. If the leather starts to feel a little bit dry, taking it to a spa and getting some. Getting some treatment for it. Keeping it in the dust bag, not leaning bags against each other or having them crushed. So just, like, general handbag hygiene will help you. The other thing that I would say is if you have paperwork, keep the paperwork with the bag. Make sure that you, you know, you have photos of the piece in case, you know, something were to happen to it. Just treat it like any other. Any other valuable asset, whether that would be jewelry or art. Treat it with the importance that it has.
- [30:21]
B
Wait, let's talk handbag hygiene, because I love that statement.
- [30:25]
A
Yeah.
- [30:25]
B
How do you keep your bags in such great condition? I mean, I feel like we all have different ways of, like, storing our bags. Right. Like, I do lean my bags on top of each other. So should we be stuffing them? How should we be keeping them upright? What should people do if they don't have big closets where you can kind of almost display them?
- [30:42]
A
Yes. So I would say definitely stuff them, but don't overstuff them.
- [30:46]
B
Okay.
- [30:46]
A
Because that could stretch them out.
- [30:47]
B
Goldilocks syndrome. Exactly. What's the perfect in between?
- [30:50]
A
Yeah, so keeping the shape, but, like, you shouldn't see the stuffing outside. It shouldn't be stretching the leather just, like, a little, like, the right amount of stuffing.
- [30:58]
B
Okay.
- [30:58]
A
Like, less is less is more. But you want. You don't want it to, like, concave and go in on itself. If you don't have the original dust bag, you could use a pillowcase just so that they're not touching. The issue with bag stitching is that you could have some color transfer, especially with, like, a patent leather. And that is virtually impossible to fix if you get color transfer. So that would be my recommendation. If you don't have the original dust bags. But, I mean, we live in New York. I live in New York, and space is tight. So, you know, you just have to, like, MacGyver your apartment. So whether it's, you know, under your bed or in a cabinet, you can line them up like little books. If you have the original box, you can keep it in the box. But of course, you know, space is not so plentiful in New York. So just, you know, you do what
- [31:49]
B
you can have you seen the Hermes bag pillows that go on Amazon for, like, $100?
- [31:54]
A
I have seen them, yes.
- [31:55]
B
I was shocked when I saw that as a thing. I recently was redoing my closet and moving things around and wanted to stuff bags and kind of give them a little bit more shelf space. And I went on Amazon thinking that I could, like, you know, buy bag stuffing or, you know, I was looking for something a bit more formal than, like, my collection of dust bags that I just shove into bags. And I was so surprised at how expensive a bag stuffer is.
- [32:20]
A
There's like an entire industry of, like, accessories for your bag. Yes, yes. So Hermes will make them as well. It's like a little bucket, and you put it in the bag, and it has, like, little areas so that if you have a pen, you don't get a pen mark on the bottom of your bag. But it's not necessary. It's just, if you think it will make your life a little bit easier, go for it. I happen to think that tissue paper is absolutely fine.
- [32:44]
B
There you go, guys.
- [32:45]
A
Tissue paper, lot less expensive, straight from the source. So I think if you know, if it is the perfect amount of stuffing and makes you feel confident that it's being stored appropriately, then go for it.
- [33:00]
B
What bags on the market right now do you think we're going to be collecting at auction in a few years?
- [33:04]
A
So there are some pieces that I'm seeing at auction, and even myself am just surprised at the low, relatively low hammer prices that we're seeing. So two pieces that I would say to look at if you'd like to collect Hermes are the Hermes Constance, which is considered the third of the trifecta of most collectible Hermes bags. It has a beautiful H clasp. It was designed by Catherine Chalet, who is a female designer working for hermes in the 50s and the 60s. She was a working woman. This is a shoulder bag. So, like Coco Chanel designed a shoulder bag as a working woman. The Constance has a similar overall shape. And the Constance at auction sells for about on average 8 to 10,000 hammer. For a leather piece, it's a good value. And I would definitely recommend someone that's looking for a very precious Hermes bag. Investment worthy. For a good value, look at the constants. And then for an evening bag, I would look at the Mador. The Mador is another piece that is really undervalued at auction. The Mador has this, like, beautiful clue hardware. It was inspired by dog collars made by Hermes over a hundred years ago. And this is a piece that Sells at auction between two and $4,000 hammer. And it's just like a very elegant, ladylike, but a little bit tough clutch. It has a lot of personality. It's a beautiful clutch. So this is another piece that I would say is a great opportunity for a newer clutch collector to acquire an Hermes bag that's not as well known on the market.
- [34:52]
B
What about from any of the new designer debuts, do you think? Any of the Jonathan Anderson or Matthew Blasi bags we're going to be seeing at auction in, you know, maybe a decade?
- [35:01]
A
I'm sure. I'm sure we will. The Matthew Blasi bags are so. Well, of course, you know, the, the egg and the giraffe. Like, they're just so fantastical and whimsical and playful. I'm sure we'll see those at auction. And then of course, the Dior bags by Jonathan Anderson. I love the reinterpretation of the lady Dior bag. It's really elegant. I'm sure we'll see them at auction. I have no doubt.
- [35:24]
B
I wouldn't be surprised if we see a lot of the lily pad collection and a lot of those items come up down the line. I feel like that show was really, really important for him as a designer, and it kind of feels akin to the supermarket pieces. They feel, again, really whimsical, really fun. I wouldn't be surprised if those. Like the shoes specifically. Oh, I'm sure let's quickly touch base on that with shoes. Like, obviously, shoes get worn a lot. Are you seeing shoes as an investment?
- [35:54]
A
So the difference between handbags and shoes really comes down to size. For handbags, one size fits everybody, whereas shoes, you know, now you're talking. Is it a 36? Is it a size 40? So it, it really narrows that audience. It narrows that audience.
- [36:10]
B
I don't see shoes as an investment.
- [36:12]
A
Yep.
- [36:12]
B
I really don't. I mean, look, I'll invest in them, but I'm not thinking about them from a resale perspective. I wear my shoes like they get beat up, you know.
- [36:20]
A
Of course, of course.
- [36:20]
B
Especially when I was living in New York, like, and I'm sure you can relate. Like, your shoes get dirty, you're on the street all the time. I think if you're buying and investing in shoes, it's because you love them, not because you are going to eventually sell them one day.
- [36:31]
A
Absolutely. I couldn't agree more.
- [36:32]
B
Totally different thing. Okay, well, we end our show with a little segment called let's get you dressed. We have our audience write in questions on Instagram about, like, events or things that they have coming up. And I'm actually really happy with the question that I picked for you today, because I actually think what you're wearing right now is such a great answer to this. I had someone message in and say that they're going to a very big work conference next weekend. They're actually hosting a panel, and they're looking for a great outfit to wear in front of a lot of people. That's fashion forward, but also obviously very professional and put together. What would you wear?
- [37:03]
A
Yes, this is. I think that, like, I was born to answer this question.
- [37:06]
B
You literally were.
- [37:07]
A
I love it. So for me, I love wearing a suit. I find them so comfortable. I feel like it's like battle armor. Like, you put on a suit and you're, like, ready for the day. You're ready to be professional, and you could. I, frankly, I wear suits a lot with, like, T shirts because, like, they're comfortable. I'm on the go. I think that, like, a black suit, you can't go wrong. But something colorful is, like, really amazing. And we were talking earlier about my jacket, which I got on ebay. It's Proenza. There's amazing deals to be had, whether it's like a vintage McQueen jacket. Just, you know, and you can tailor them. You can bring them to just any tailor, and they can make it look perfect just for you. Love a coordinated. Coordinated suit doesn't have to be coordinated. You could wear, like, contrasting trousers. But then if you want something fun, like a beautiful blouse. This is Connor Ives. And then you have to have practical shoes. You do not want to trip and fall on stage. So something that you can walk in. Are you running to a meeting, taking the subway.
- [38:10]
B
Just.
- [38:11]
A
It has to be practical first. And then an accessory, I would say. So if you're wearing a shirt, maybe you have, like, a big, chunky necklace or a scarf. And then get your hair done, because if you feel confident, you're going to just.
- [38:26]
B
Absolutely.
- [38:26]
A
You're just going to, like, be the part.
- [38:30]
B
A blowout can Change your life 100%.
- [38:32]
A
Change your mood or learn how to do it yourself, which is hard and I can't do.
- [38:36]
B
But it's never the same.
- [38:37]
A
Yes.
- [38:38]
B
Do you know what I mean? Like, at least for my hair type, like, the grip up at the top is not the same, and I just crave that tension. And I don't have the arm strength to do it myself.
- [38:47]
A
I don't have the patience. I don't have the patience.
- [38:48]
B
I don't. I was not feeling well last week and I had a friend come give me a blowout and I was a new person again.
- [38:53]
A
That's so sweet. There's like the self care things that you have to do.
- [38:55]
B
Absolutely.
- [38:56]
A
Especially if you're performing, if you're on stage, if you're giving a lecture, you have to, you have to feel. Feel Ready?
- [39:03]
B
Yes.
- [39:03]
A
And. And for some people, it may be going for a run or getting a manicure, but it's. It's important to switch into that headspace.
- [39:12]
B
Well, thank you for coming on the pod today. This was so interesting. I've been excited about this episode for a while, so we're so happy to have you.
- [39:18]
A
Thank you so much. I had a great time.