Let's Spend Many Summers Together--Bottega Veneta Lagoon Nero Faded Vintage Calf Tote

(Below) She likes her new home :)

(Below) The on-line pictures better justify the effortless shape of this tote bag;

(Below) Carry it as a handbag or a shoulder bag by adjusting the handles.

The expandable overlays make it both stylish and practical! 

(Below) A Bottega Veneta Iconic Intrecciato Heavenly Sky Blue Wallet  

that has been with me for 3 years...and it's still outshines any other wallet!

Is it crazy to adore a bag so much that I can't stop thinking it months before its release? Or am I gone insane to actually miss the bag even though I know it's finally resting on my tiny closet shelf, safe and sound? Well you might have a cure for my insanity but I'd rather stay sick, holding my new Bottega Veneta bag!

I know I say this very often but it's truly love at first sight with this one. The mysteriously color of blue and green are what they call "lagoon". What a beautiful name! With the faded dark corners, it's like diving into a lagoon with a pin-hole camera: deeply drawn into this otherworldly beauty. The veins, did I mention the veins? The lagoon becomes even more vivid with the veins wandering all over. And the Intrecciato trim completes the bag with an iconic BV stamp! Like I'm committed to many other relationships with bags, I'll cherish this one forever.

If you're reading this and got all excited and maybe even emotional, then you've got a problem. If not, you've got a bigger problem because you're aesthetically impaired!!! Man!!

Love Remembered in Cameo -- Bottega Veneta Spring Summer 2011 Cameo Jewelries

I love Bottega Veneta! I love their takes on combing classics with just the right amount of edginess. I admire their respect to traditional craftsmanship and am constantly amazed by their beautiful and intricate works. It sounds cheesy but I visit their stores as a trip to a museum of artworks. The only difference being that I do occasionally bring back the real artworks, not those souvenirs $-$!

The cameo are hand-carved at Naples, where cameo was first practiced by ancient Romans. The elaborate metal parts were darkened silver filigrees. Cameo jewelries are elegantly making a come back. Maybe it's only hallucination, but I do remember watching a classic movie about a beautiful but sad love story, in which the cameo ring being a key prop. Unlike many other jewelries, cameos, with a portrait of a beautiful lady, seems to be telling a mysterious love story. Please educate me if you know anything interesting about cameo rings><

Happy Holiday to My Mom, Round 1 -- Bottega Veneta Houndstooth Intrecciato Tote

Another of my many obsessions is getting my mom, one of the two most important people who care me probably even more than as I care about them, the finest and the most beautiful things in the world. She's the only person that I admire and her life story is the only book that I'll never get bored reading.  

I do sometime get overboard with buying her presents, according to my taste, especially around holiday season. But nothing makes happier than watching her enjoy all the luxuries because she deserves them all. 

This Bottega Veneta Houndstooth Intrecciato Tote is from past season, probably fall 2009. I was reluctant to get it for her because of the larger than life price tag. I knew she'd be mad if she ever found out the price. I somehow bumped into this bag during a recent visit to the BV flagship store at New York, and it is still displayed on the shelf with a price tag of about $2600. It was just brutal for a tote bag, even with the heavenly pattern and shape. 

So I turned to the almighty eBay, the best place to shop for past season goodies. And surprise, surprise! I found a brand new one with almost 70% off! What a miracle! 

The one thing that I just can't resist from this bag, besides the houndstooth intrecciato, is the distorted shape. A laid back and casual shape that is already fixed into the leather trim, no matter how you carry it. I've never seen any craftsmanship like this :) 

If you're on the edge of freak out for last minute holiday shopping, check out the Cruise collection on BottegaVeneta.com. 

They're also available at following on-line retailers:

NeimanMarcus.com

Netaporter.com

SaksFifthAvenue.com

Since I won't be able to give it to her until February, the Chinese Spring Festival, I might carry it myself for a while :) 

Weave Me A Dream -- Bottega Veneta 2011 Cruise Collection

 My Little Fragile Heart Stopped A Beat When I Saw this Beauty (below) 

and continued to tremble 'n tremble ~~
Lagoon Nero Faded Vintage Calf Tote 

I prefer luxuries that are quiet and subtle. And the experience of appreciating these beauties can be so uplifting. No rampant monograms that are so determined to invade the world, or "dusty" logo that has lost its gloss on their way to mass production.  What's the signature "logo" or " monogram"  of Bottega Veneta? The fine craftsmanship of intrecciato woven leather; the iconic shape and heavenly colors; the dedication to real luxury: perseverance in its traditional handiworks against mass production, just to name a few..

The Lagoon Nero Faded Vintage Tote from BV's cruise collection illustrates the essence of a BV bag: the intrecciato, the soft calf leather with colors out of this world,  and the inimitable shape. And the craftsmanship:

This wide, muscular tote is made of thick, smooth calf and distinguished by a degrade fade. A "vintage" texture is created by adding a top layer of darker color which is wiped off, beautifully accentuating the natural pebble grain. 

So beautifully touching ~~ Can't wait to fondle them one by one - -!

And the 2010 BV Ad campaigns are the best of all, and you'll spot my Intrecciato VN briefcase:) 




Source: Bottega Veneta 

Keep On Weaving -- Bottega Veneta Intrecciato VN Briefcase

The finely weaved leather pattern has been synonymous with the Bottega Veneta. Known as "Intressicato", the leather weaving technique was originated by the founder in late 1960's. I've been long captured by this soft and colorful web they weaved. Especially with women's collection, there're such a variety of pop colors and materials to choose from.

My heart just melted and surrendered when I first touched the leather. It is as soft as the skin of your most secret place of your body~~

You may worry that for leather this exquisite, it's just so damn hard to keep it clean. But the point of a leather bag, especially this good, is to spoilt it with all the stuff you've been through with your life and aged it so beautifully and meaningfully. I have a compact wallet from Bottega Veneta that it is made of their signature intrecciato leather and to make it worse, the color is light blue. Some parts of the leather has been discolored with use, but it is becoming softer and softer and even today, after years of use, you can still smell the fresh scent of fine quality leather, with a hint of history!

Bottega Veneta.com just remodeled their on-line shopping site and it is so far the easiest and "chicest" website from big fashion houses. Go take a look~~

Recently, I've self-grown an obsession with briefcase. Maybe it's because I need to go into the work field ASAP. Briefcase nowadays are not exclusive for business anymore, it is an great accessory to accentuate your style, whether your urban-dandy or street chic. If you still think a briefcase is too formal to your style, you can add a hint of playfulness and fun with a small decorative gadget, like the Cutest Elephant cell phone strap also from Bottega Veneta. Don't forget to take it off on Monday when you go to work!

Bottega Veneta Nero Intrecciato SUEDE Dodger

BV's Exceptionally Comfortable "Dodger" Shoe

If you know who Tomas Maier is, then you know too much about fashion. If you only know who Marc Jacobs is, then you know too little about fashion. Fashion is pretentious. It enjoys ridiculing those with "no sense". But can anyone really tell what "sense" should we have to be in fashion? We see jumpy creepy designers all the time. If that's fashion, I'd rather be a person with no sense at all. I could never say that I understand fashion and I'm getting more confused day by day. I don't usually know the creative designers for some big houses and I'm still having problem pronouncing Ann Demeuleemester. I just learned the name of that average guy for Bottege Veneta's show is Tomas Maier. I know it when I see something I really like and I think that's quite enough for playing with fashion. This is my first purchase with Bottega Veneta even though I've know the name for quite a while. I like their clothes though they are never my size. I like their accessories though most of them are too "sophisticated or grown-up" for me. But when I first noticed this sneaker, I knew this one's for me! I enjoy visiting their stores just to touch and be touched by their exquisite crafts. Fashion can be really complicated with so called "trends" and sometime "bigger than life" price tags. It can also be as simple as:

"See something you like, speak up" Stewie Griffin

Bottega Veneta's Little Sth from Cruise 2010 Collection

SL0W M0TI0N Picks: Bottega Veneta

Bottega Veneta F/W09 Picks

Dark Navy Nero Marco Polo Carry On Bag
$1,180

Mineral Intrecciato Suede Dodger Shoe
$540

Italian brand names have been renowned for their extremely fine craftsmanship. However, there are not that many Italian brand names that I am crazy about since they don't seem to put a lot effort on designing new styles. But Bottega Veneta is definitely not one of those. It is amazing how they can make so many variation with woven leathers and not to mention the buttery fine leather they used, which can melt your last shopping resistance with a touch. The hounds-tooth woven leather handbag is the most standout piece of this season. The coated canvas bowling bag comes in different color combination. I've seen one with beige color and brown leather handle, which reminds of Hermes. For a price of $1,180, which relatively cheaper than Hermes, this bag is a perfect substitute. The Suede dodger shoe is classic and comfortable.

Source: http://www.bottegaveneta.com