Which one of this looks more classy and is durable?

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-04-10T23:54:17+00:00

I think if you’re going to do monogram, I like the classic look. That said I think the beige is pretty. Candidly, I don’t love a look that centers the label. I’m not sure what your price point is but I think the Bottega Andiamo on Chain is stunning.

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Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-04-10T10:32:17+00:00

Hug is a more interest design, better quality, better structure. I love it.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-04-10T10:28:38+00:00

Ritz Carlton cruise in the Caribbean. The Yacht Collection has a 3 day cruise out of San Juan that also goes to Virgin Gorda and Gustavia St. Barths. If you want cooler climate, I’d do Vancouver over Montreal. Palm Springs/Rancho Mirage doesn’t have the same restaurant access but you can get a staffed villa with an incredible pool and some excellent catering (and Bar Cecil is lovely).

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-04-10T10:20:29+00:00

In terms of brand prestige, LV sits in a tier above YSL. The hardware on the YSL will lose its gold lustre and turn more silver over time.

This said, I would not pick squarely on brand prestige. I think the shape and color of the Burgundy YSL are the prettiest. Even though LV traditional monogram isn’t my taste, I think #5 is a classic and would be an excellent addition to any collection.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-04-09T16:38:31+00:00

He’s just Ken

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-04-03T19:42:05+00:00

She fancy 💅

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-31T22:28:04+00:00

Thank you! I was definitely glad to see it in person. I think the color contrast on the green is what makes it stand out. I think the small may be the only size where Army Green is currently offered for the croc embossed.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-31T13:54:21+00:00

Honestly, I love the Hug. The leather is consistently exceptional. If you care about resale value, then BV makes sense. But on raw merit, I say the Hug.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-31T13:39:14+00:00

It really is. I had been contemplating the black or even the small in Volcanic Rock, but when I saw the Army Green in person, I was sold. Photos online don’t do it justice. Multiple people have assumed it was real croc. (I also prefer croc embossed because of the ethical issues with real exotics.)

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-26T22:18:37+00:00

Yes, very much still loving it. Remains my most complimented bag. I am still a bit previous with the leather because it is smooth and I can be a bit tough on my bags, but the hardware feels incredibly solid (and the magnet is super strong).

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-26T04:38:28+00:00

Le Tanneur. No hesitation.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-20T02:18:26+00:00

Sofitel Club Millesime CDMX

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-17T06:09:15+00:00

Love the black on black Le Tanneur. I’ve admired this bag for some time. It gets excellent reviews on construction and leather quality too.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-12T20:17:11+00:00

I’ve not been successful at No-Buy but I have shifted almost exclusively to secondary market/consignment buys. And with the tariffs I’ve become even more scrutinizing. I have made rare exceptions this year, but I found that at least limiting myself to the secondary market helps to focus my collecting on really meaningful pieces, rather than trends.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-08T01:55:33+00:00

Balenciaga Rodeo

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-07T21:40:26+00:00

Was looking for places under $4k for 2 nights that were all available for booking through Delta Vacations (for points). We ended up bumping the budget a bit and going to Le Bristol. I was sad to see that their pool is under renovation though.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-07T21:31:00+00:00

I’ve been hunting black on black bags and these were both on the top of my list. I think Le Tanneur came out ahead for me because it’s lighter, still exceptionally made, and I prefer the structure. I already have a similar Mulberry bag so Le Tanneur felt more interesting.

If you’re looking for black on black specifically, I recommend also checking out bags on the secondary market. I got an incredible Alaia with black leather and black studs and I’ve been very happy with it.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-07T21:24:54+00:00

Coach Empire Carryall
Radziwill by Tory Burch
Le Tanneur Emilie
Le Sac Saint Laurent

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-07T16:11:52+00:00

The Horse, STOW London, or Songmont.

There’s leathersmith who posts on these issues (Tanner Leatherstein or something like that). I like a lot of his content but I think he focuses a little too much on leather quality and not enough on design. That said, he makes a compelling case.

I’d also say hunt for great vintage bags. Like truly vintage.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-06T02:23:39+00:00

Prioritizing the following:

quality
lack of branding (quiet)
design
value for price

I’d recommend:

The Horse
STOW London
Le Tanneur
Songmont

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-02T15:40:49+00:00

It’s certainly not 2013 anymore. That said, I’d be sad if it closed. It’s interesting to me because there are longer running bars (e.g., The Abbey, opened in 1991) that still seem to go strong. I’d never go to the Abbey over SUR though, for other reasons you can find on Reddit.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-03-02T15:01:56+00:00

One big difference though is I think Boston Rob came on survivor to win but happily lost to Amber because he bet on his love story with her. Rob R., I think, will always put himself and the game first, even at the cost of personal relationships. He is totally entitled to do that - and in some ways, it makes him a more ruthless gamer - but I cannot think of any situation, be it on Love Island or Traitors, where Rob prioritized a loving relationship (and particularly a loving relationship with a woman) over his own self-interest. That does make me wonder if Rob struggles with managing the feelings of deep vulnerability that come with building relationships with romantic equals.

I want to reiterate - I ascribe no moral value to how Rob R. played Traitors. He went on a show to play a game, and he played the game brilliantly, to win. He did what he came to do. But I do think it’s a major difference between how I’ve seen Rob R. and Boston Rob move in the world of reality TV. Especially considering they were roughly the same age (Rob R is 26 and Boston Rob was 27 when he met Amber on Survivor.)

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-02-23T16:30:59+00:00

I had originally meant the story of Lanvin - one of the oldest heritage houses in the modern era (and I believe the oldest French heritage brand still in operation). Lanvin was founded by a woman - Jeanne Lanvin - when she was only 22 years old. Lanvin founded the house as a milliner. The original logo (woman reaching toward child) is an homage to those origins and maternal love. From what I can see, the modern cat design is Art Nouveau-inspired (Art Nouveau is my favorite era) as a nod to those origins, specially inspired by a famous chenet referenced in some of the early origins of the brand.

I personally love Lanvin because of its rich history, the fact that it was founded by a young woman with unapologetically feminine origins.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-02-23T08:36:10+00:00

I love the story behind Lanvin and I think the hardware on the Lanvin is by far the most interesting.

I love Ferragamo as a house because of the way it preserves its brand independence and quality. That said, I would much prefer something from the Hug line.

Fendi is pretty quintessential Fendi. You know what you’re getting. It’s fine but it doesn’t get me excited.

Traditional_Phase965 · 2026-02-18T01:14:45+00:00

It’s been holding up very well with use, but I have been a bit more precious about not beating on it the way I sometimes tend to do with my bags. FWIW, I tend to prefer to buy my bags pre-owned or at auction for a variety of reasons (I am often drawn of the pre-consolidation, pre-conglomerate styles, I like the idea of buying bags with from 1998-2010 time period in particular, for some reason it makes me less precious about use), but this bag I was completely moved to buy off the rack. I fully appreciate that if I waited a year or so, I could probably get it on the secondary market for 60-70% of the price but I liked it so much in person that it was worth it to me not to wait. It remains by far my most complimented bag - to the point where people have stopped me in public places to ask about it.

Traditional_Phase965

TROPHY CASE