The new breed of bag ladies By Jake Ramirez Philippine Daily Inquirer First Posted 21:27:00 08/14/2008
MANILA, Philippines—They walk among us. They are almost omnipresent. We are not talking about paranormal beings, a la “The Sixth Sense.”
We are talking about “bag ladies.” Not what they used to be, filthy, down and out, the archetype of yesteryears who’d dig into garbage bins.
Today, “bag ladies” are beautiful, young, successful and very popular. They are all over media. The likes of Ingrid Chua Go, owner of Tresorie, and Melanie Cuevas, editor in chief of soon-to-launch Look magazine, have founded a new cult, a bag worship of sort.
Websites such as www.baghag.com or www.chuvaness.com have become Internet pit stops for bag lovers and watchers. Many women today consider their bag collections with the seriousness of one vying for a Pulitzer.
These are just few of today’s “Bag Ladies.”
Gretchen Barretto Age: 39 Occupation: actress, product endorser Background: Gretchen started her collection with LVs and eventually graduated to the very expensive Hermes.
Bags spotted in her closet: Hermes (Kelly and Birkin), a few Louis Vuittons, Jimmy Choo, Goyard and a YSL muse
Rufa Mae Quinto Age: 31 Occupation: Host, singer, actress Background: Rufa loves LVs, and her daily bag of choice from makeup kit to wardrobe bag is the monogrammed line.
Bags spotted in her closet: Louis Vuittons, a few Chanel and YSL, seen toting a patent yellow Dooney & Bourke bag
April Pascual Age: 28 Occupation: forwarding-brokerage firm owner, Chikka business development consultant Background: She is the younger sister of PJ Pascual, ex-accessories editor of Oprah! Magazine in New York. She fell in love with bags when she was young, using mostly Ralph Laurens. Now, April has a collection of different brands.
Bags spotted in her closet: Chanels of various shapes and sizes, a few Marnis, lots of Pradas and LVs, a Nancy Gonzales and Celestina clutches, four Michael Kors, five Ferragamos, two Kate Spades and a Valentino. Her last purchase as she promised herself, a white Valextra bag.
Tara Tambunting Age: 18 Occupation: Aspiring host-actress, party fixture, night owl Background: Scion of pawnshop-chain clan, Tara began collecting bags at a young age. She even had a Chanel signed by her classmates for posterity during their high-school graduation.
Bags spotted in her closet: Goyards, Chanel, LVs, Gucci, Balenciaga, YSL, Aranaz
Looking at these “bag ladies,” we can’t help but notice that most of them have an ongoing love affair with bags. While they have the “bag brand of the moment,” they yearn for their “dream bag.” Meanwhile, we mere mortals can just dream on.
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