Dear Lewis’s: I Want a Fancy Designer Bag. What Do You Recommend?

Tis the season. Let’s go shopping for some leather.

DEAR LEWIS’S: I’ve worked really hard and this year I decided to finally treat myself. I want a fancy designer bag. What do you recommend?

THE BAGLESS FAG

DEAR BAGLESS FAG: I love clothes and I love fashion, but full disclosure: bags are not in my wheelhouse. I have nothing against them, I just never really think about them for myself. That said, I do have a strong opinion (shocker). I’m not exactly sure what your needs are, but, if you’re anything like me (and most other people), I imagine you need something practical, functional, and not too precious.

To me, fancy designer bags are like tattoos. They are expensive yet available in a whole range of qualities and tastes. They are both classic and trendy, and they reveal more about the person who wears them than they realize or are likely to admit. Anything conspicuously expensive or overtly branded is a non-starter and that rules out most luxury brands like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, Goyard, etc. Hermès is nice (obviously), but too polished and pristine (I’m not that kind of lady). And while Loewe and Bottega’s bags are beautifully designed, and while I quite like the story behind their craftsmanship, they are also too overt and conspicuous.