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Why Nadia Minkoff bags are for life – Faded Spring
Nadia Minkoff might not be an accessory brand that comes easily to mind and for good reason too. Minkoff is what I like to call an underground designer, whose passion for accessories reads through ‘creative design’ rather than ‘words’. Put simply Minkoff uses accessories to tell a story and that story is one of wonder, dedication and passion. Minkoff’s sole aim is not to make ‘money’ but to inspire consumers to leave ‘fast fashion’ behind and embrace one of a kind accessories that are ‘inevitably timeless’. Despite being founded in 1988, the year which the ghastly ‘pouff’ was in fashion, the same iconic ‘traditional’ aesthetic still remains relevant today. Because lets face it we may indulge in nostalgic prints or buy a s**t load of bags from Skinnydip ( again me) but at heart we all want a neat classic handbag by our side, when we want to pretend that we have ‘life all figured out’. But I digress, having a classic handbag is all very well and done but when you buy poor quality imitations it can often mean you have to buy a classic handbag every season, defeating the concept of ‘slow fashion’.
Slow fashion is not only more sustainable but furthermore has less of an impact on the environment and is cost-effective. I remember reading Rachel Nicole’s post on ‘Investing In Fashion’ and I found myself nodding, as she stated that investing in ‘handbags’ , time pieces and jewellery was worth the extra pennies. Despite a higher price tag which may seem steep at the time, investing in a good quality handbag, especially in a classic style like Minkoff’s, is something which I know will last me a lifetime. Yet it might seem ironic that I am encouraging you to splurge the cash when I barely have a penny to my name but truth is, while I do use fast fashion for trends that come and go, the few essential staples like jewellery, bags and sunglasses, I will happily spend a little more on because I know it will last ( unlike Joni jeans!).
I am what I like to call a cheap ‘blogger’, clothes that I buy myself are often from Primark and I have no shame in admitting that at least 70% of my shoes and casual wear is good ol’ Primarni. But on occasion (and I do mean occasionally) I like to step outside of my cheap thrifting ways and indulge myself in luxurious fancies. Like that time when I brought a Kate Spade watch and it cost me half my rent because it looked like a little kitty or when I thought that Paul’s Boutique had the coolest bags (shame on you 15 year old self). Thus The Islington Cognac at £83,70 reduced from £167.40 seemed like a steal in comparison. It might be a bit more than I would normally pay for a handbag but as I grow older and look to cut down on expenditure, having a bag that is in a neutral colour means that not only is it cost-effective but it is also practical, due to its flexible styling nature. Admittedly most of my clothing is either burgundy, pink or blue so The Islington is a little different to my usual handbag preference but that is why I chose it. I believe when it comes to classic handbags colour is a huge factor and neutral tones like camel, beige and taupe look sophisticated and could still be considered timeless in twenty years time.
But that doesn’t explain why I think that Nadia’s handbags are for ‘life’. Asides from cost-effectiveness, the range of shapes i.e. bucket, clutch are nothing too zany, meaning they can be worn in both a casual manner or if your feeling a little more ‘dressy’ , while all bags are made from the finest quality materials that are made to last. I have lost count of the amount of times I have treated myself to a bag that is say a little more ‘upmarket’ compared to my usual choices and have been left disappointed as they became ‘scuffed’ quite quickly or failed to retain it shape after constant use. The saying goes that you should not wear clothes ‘too many times’ and the same rule supposedly applies to accessories too but I disagree. Surely the point of buying something that has a ‘steeper’ price tag is in the hope that price means quality and quality means longevity but that is not always the case. Take Levis, despite my love for their jeans I have found that after a few washes, the colour fades quickly and the denim can become ‘mottled’, which considering its price tag makes you question whether it is worth investing in their products.
Minkoff’s bags however reportedly do last, as she has implemented a specific ‘longetivity feature’ in each bag. Take the Cognac, made from the finest Italian grain leather, Nadia has attached four brass feet to protect the base from scuffing which is pretty darn genius. Because it is a bucket bag, the use of brass feet helps increase the bags longevity and prevent the bag from getting ruined after a short period of time. What’s more the bucket bag so synonymous with the 90’s, is on trend, practical and can fit at least a weekends stay worth of clothes ( Tried and Tested). But there is more to a bucket bag than just its ‘practicalities’, unlike the 90’s bucket bag that was an imitation of denim, Minkoff’s leather 2017 version is the 90’s more luxurious sister. In a way both bucket bags reflect the changing moods of the era’s they were created in. While the 90’s has consistently been associated with dodgy hair do’s, nostalgic fast-fashion prints and a s**t load of denim, 2017’s taste for both accessories and fashion seems to be a more classy affair. FYI not a diss against the 90’s as I do love 90’s fashion… well some of it at least!
In conclusion, it seems our accessory tastes have become more refined and minimalist bags seem to be coming into fashion. However, while sophistication is the order of the day, there is no way that I am letting go of my special diamond bag or any other ‘zany accessories’ just yet. After all I have created a world where fast fashion can pre-exist next to a few staple ‘slow season’ goods and they can all live happily ever after.
Original post can be found over on Faded Spring
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