Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The other double C brand, Part III




O.k. just one more and apologies for the delay for those of you waiting breathlessly for more on Cornell!

Yet another interesting thing about these bags is where they've been produced. Some in Canada, many in China, and a rare few in Hungary. The most luxurious of my Cornell bags was made in Hungary. I wonder if there existed at the time ('70s, 80s?) a vestige of craftsmanship left from its glory days as part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

This beige bag was made in Hungary - the quality of the leather is extraordinary and it's hard to see here but the sleeves and pockets are beautifully crafted, and there are so many of them. I suspect this was some kind of work bag - I imagine a high-falutin secretary or bureaucrat of some sort. It is beautiful.



This green handbag is just the most beautiful shade of green. The mesh treatment of the leather makes it one of the absolute primo examples of this fine brand.



I was just at Sears today and the Cornell brand is on the rack there. A sad reminder of it's glorious past, and for $72 you are buying pure vinyl, unpleasant lining, cheap hardware and a total lack of the fine design details that distinguished the brand in the first place. The only detail from its past is the zipper tag snap in the outside fold of the bag. A sad end to a glorious brand.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

The other double C brand, Part II


I'm definitely a handbag person - shoulder bags just slip off my shoulders and generally drive me crazy so I have not made shoulder bags a big part of my personal collection. That said, there are many fine examples of shoulder bags with all the delightful details of the handbags. Of the two bags I'm showing above, the caramel coloured shoulder bag is the classic style and there are many fine examples to be found. The burgundy bag, however, is much more rare. It skirts the line between hand and shoulder bag due to its shortish shoulder strap. This beautifully designed strap is neither too long to trail on the ground when held as a handbag, nor too short to function with ease as a shoulder bag. A perfect solution.


What makes the burgundy bag even more delicious is this handy double zip external flap which reveals a number of slots and sleeves for receipts, cards, this or that. It's like a built-in writing case. So clever.

And there's even more tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

The other double C brand, Part I







Sure, there's Coco's double C brand but did you know about the other double C? As in Cornell.

I can't go on enough about the thoughtful design behind these beautiful bags. But I must warn you, its glory days are long since passed. While still available at Sears (at least here in the great white North), quality has suffered over the years. The fine bags they once were can now only be found at thrift stores, or on the crook of of an ageing beauty's arm. There appear to be secondary lines around but these are not worth their nylon linings. The real mcCoy are made of leather, lined in suede, featuring every pocket (often zippered) and sleeve a woman needs to organize her bag, and her life. There's inevitably at least one external pocket (often discretely designed into the overall line of the bag) because, of course, no woman worth her salt has time to go rummaging around the inside of her bag for keys. We're just too busy!



The most important feature of all - and I can't say enough on this matter - is the fully resolved zipper tag. The butt end of the zipper is always (a detail even found in the most dressed-down, vinyl version of this bag)discretely snapped to the side fold of the bag. Truly a thing of beauty.

Since one post just isn't enough, more tomorrow.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

I love her style



Love her style in all its glory here,

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/11/14/style/20101112-keaton-slideshow.html

Because she's original.
Because she's in her '60s and hasn't thrown in the towel.
Because she ages with style.
Because she wrinkles and lines with panache.
Because she has a sense of humour.
Because she's kinda crazy.
Because she became a mom on her '50s.
Because she proves that covering it is better than flaunting it.
Just because.