The Vintage-Style Handbag You Need In Your Life This Fall
The return of the clutch and all things vintage are some of the biggest handbag trends of the fall, according to Harper's Bazaar. But Glenda Gies doesn't pay much attention to the fashion reports. "I don't follow trends. I do what I love - and it works," says the longtime handbag designer.
Luckily, an ever-growing legion of loyal fans think that Philadelphia-based Gies's bags work well for them too. In fact, according to Gies, her purses may pull even more punch than some of the big brands. "People tell me that they get stopped 10 or even 15 times a day when they have one of my bags-one woman woman told me that she was so proud of her 'Olivia' bag that she actually shoved her Louis Vuitton bag inside the Olivia to take an Instagram picture."
I decided to put Gies' claim to the test. My friend and I spent a few days taking turns shlepping a beautiful black and red velvet doctor-style bag-named Phoebe- around town. Now, in my case, "town" refers to a hip, little city in the Hudson Valley region of New York. In a single afternoon, in separate incidents, two women approached me to coo over the purse. "Beautiful," purred a professionally-dressed 60-something with an Anna Wintour haircut. I also feel confident that I saw others eyeing the unique satchel appreciatively.
Since she first burst onto the scene 17 years ago, Gies, who previously spent 20 years working her way up the ranks at the Limited, pays tribute to her favorite time period. "My inspiration is the 1950s; I've always been very intrigued with Jackie Onassis and Audrey Hepburn," she says.
In fact, her all-time best-selling bag remains "the Jackie," a kiss lock purse she designed when she was first starting out. "It was my signature bag; it was so popular that I then designed a little baby Jackie, too."
Gies has continued to find success with her focus on old Hollywood glamour and her exceptional fabrics. "I get all my leather out of Italy. I try to use the highest quality fabrics in the world. I go to Belgium and all over; I have a collection of more than 3,000 bolts of fabric."
Gies' unique bags are sold in select boutiques and high-end resorts, including the Broadmoor Hotel, the Greenbriar, Hotel del Coronado, and the Four Seasons Hotel in Carlsbad, California. "I don't do department stores," says Gies. "It's not who I am. I want to be in specialty stores where they understand it." Gies' limited edition styles are hand cut to the customer's exact specifications, allowing them to select the fabric, leather and even the inner lining.
This year, Gies says her customers are all about the Olivia, the Emma, and the Phoebe-the doctor's bags. "I can't get enough of these out there. People carry a lot and they want big. Olivia still surprises me with its popularity The handle is so comfortable; it is a padded leather and the horse bridle on the side, it's those little details that people really love. "
But the hottest new bag to debut this fall is a satchel, doctor-style bag called Mathilda. "It's got an old lock from the time where they used to put it on a stage wagon and take it across the prairie. This is a luxury collection; I had leather made in the U.S. for this one; embossed and glazed, with nice ruling. This is big; it's what's selling right now."
You can meet Glenda Gies at the Country Living Fair in Columbus, Ohio, being held September 15-17. She will be showing off the new fall line and chatting with customers. "These are my bags and I want to talk to you about them and explain what went into them," she says. "I only want to sell you something that I think is going to look great."
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