I have been struggling to find the right leather handbag for about 3 months...so, I finally decided that I should go to Paddington Markets and maybe, just maybe I'd find "The One".
I was very specific as to what kind of leather bag I wanted. It had to be brown, it had to have a flap to cover the top of the bag, I really preferred it to have a zipper as well as the flap, but I would make do if the flap had a secure clasp, it had to be vintage in design, and it wouldn't go astray if the leather was uber soft to touch, I wanted it to be under $100, and I wanted it to be unique.
Where could I find something like that?
It had to be Paddington. It took me about 30 minutes of walking around the main area and the one aisle I considered taking a miss, happened to be the aisle I found Charlie Middleton! The bag I found was the last in its colour, the last in the type of leather it was made of (the leather is soft to touch, like rose petals and comes from Italy), and it was just within my budget ($99).
Ben, the sales guy, just knew how to sell the bag to me. He told me to look inside...and its got the cutest lining!!!
I was quite taken by the bag, and thrown by the price. I'm not use to buying really expensive bags...yes, I have paid perhaps $60-80 for a small leather clutch...but in general I don't spend that much on handbags. And as a girlfriend points out, I'd spend much more on leather shoes and they go on my feet!
Then I walked and spotted some illustrations that I adored. So, after perusing the extensive collection of illustrations by Hoang Nguyen, I walked away with 5. Three is a series of baby elephant pictures inspiring creativity, learning, and gaining strength. I bought it for my baby niece who should be born while I am in NY or Mauritius...so, in my absence, when she is taken home and put into her nursery, she can stare at the illustrations I have bought her.
Thinking I should stop, since I spent so much money in a matter of about 45 minutes...I decided to walk back to the bus stop...but I ended up detouring and stopped at Luisa Clare's boutique. Luisa Clare makes these really cute clutches and really good leather satchel bags, and accessories. The sales guy I was speaking to told me that she was expanding into fashion, ready in time for Summer, which is why she was currently on sale. She was trying to sell her stock in the store, so she can close and renovate for a week.
While I was in the store, I found a really gorgeous beaded clutch. Also brown leather, but not as soft as my handbag. I was smitten. It was reduced from $129 to $49. How could I say no? So, I ended up with 2 bags and 5 illustrations in about 60 minutes of shopping in Paddington.
After that purchase I thought I should fast track it home and I had an appointment with my gym that I couldn't miss in the afternoon.
My observation with Paddington Markets is that over the years, the price has gone up, but that is pretty much everything on the market these days. There are things that have changed and yet there are some things that are still the pretty much the same as it was 8 years ago, and the fact that I could find something so specific without THAT much stress in less than half an hour at the markets - really says a lot. I wish the fudge store was still around and the ice cream sandwich guy was there too, but oh well...Paddington Markets will always have a special place in my heart.
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