| Buying a designer handbag is an investment in | | | | stitching or wear out quite as quickly. The leather |
| you. So, why not start by choosing the right type | | | | will also become suppler, and actually look better |
| of bag specifically for you, and then learning a little | | | | with age. |
| about what can be done to protect it and make it | | | | At we recommend and carry handbag care |
| look new for many years to come? | | | | products made by Lovin My Bags. Lovin My Bags |
| Let's first talk about choosing a handbag. Having | | | | is the only company in the world to our |
| your handbag last a lifetime starts with choosing | | | | knowledge that has a line of products specifically |
| the type of bag that fits your lifestyle and how | | | | for handbags. Most of the leather care products |
| you'll use it. Then the care part becomes easier. | | | | on the market are for general use such as for |
| When discussing the right type of bag we're not | | | | cars or furniture and aren't safe for most aniline |
| talking about color, style or even function. That's | | | | leathers used in the manufacture of designer |
| very individualistic, and part of what owning a fine | | | | quality handbags. But no matter what type of |
| handbag is all about. Handbags demonstrate your | | | | leather cleaner you use, start with a small area in |
| individual style and taste. What we're going to talk | | | | a non-visible place on the interior of the bag and |
| about are the materials used to make the bag. | | | | test the product before cleaning the whole bag. |
| In order to decide the type of bag to buy you | | | | And of course, follow the manufacturers' |
| first should categorize yourself as to what type | | | | instructions. |
| of handbag user you are. Handbag users can be | | | | For those of you that choose the fabric bags we |
| put into three general categories. | | | | discussed above, you have to be prepared that |
| The first category is the person who buys a | | | | they will eventually show the evidence of some |
| handbag, immediately loads all her stuff into it, and | | | | dirt and hand oils. We have not yet discovered a |
| uses it every day until it either gets dirty, falls | | | | fabric protector that is marketed for, and |
| apart, or she sees another bag that she can't live | | | | therefore safe to use on a Gucci, Fendi or similar |
| without. Then she just takes everything from the | | | | designer handbag. Wiping your bag gently with a |
| old one, puts it into the new one, and starts the | | | | damp, soft cloth from time to time will prevent |
| cycle again. | | | | dirt from seeping into the fibers. |
| The second type of handbag user is one that | | | | Another important material that heavy users |
| alternates between two or more bags. This | | | | need to be aware of is brass. Brass looks great |
| alternating process has to do with color, size of | | | | when it is new. And some people like the way |
| bag, and function for which the bag is being used | | | | brass looks after it is exposed to the elements |
| on that particular day. This woman may be just | | | | and becomes oxidized, but others don't. Two |
| as tough on her handbags as the user in the first | | | | things will happen to brass over time. The first is |
| category, but they last longer because her bags | | | | that it looks like it develops a dark, filmy |
| get breaks in between usage. | | | | substance. What actually is happening is that the |
| The third type of handbag user has a collection. | | | | lacquer that brass is treated with to protect it |
| Her bags are used very intermittently using much | | | | from the elements is wearing off. Ideally it's time |
| the same criteria as the user in category two, but | | | | to clean the brass with a brass cleaner like |
| mood also plays a role. She has enough functional | | | | Brasso® and then recoat the brass with a |
| and great looking bags that she can make a | | | | new clear lacquer finish. The lacquer will actually |
| choice based on her mood for the day. Her bags | | | | dull the shine a bit and give it a slightly darker |
| last forever and she tends to take good care of | | | | sheen. Most people won't take the time to add |
| them between outings. | | | | the new lacquer finish, so if you want your brass |
| Women in category number one should always | | | | to shine you'll need to clean it regularly after the |
| buy leather bags, or at least pay attention that | | | | initial lacquer coating is gone. And be careful to |
| the bag is made from sturdy material. Leather | | | | keep the brass cleaner off the leather as it could |
| can take a beating and can be cleaned and | | | | change the color of the leather slightly. |
| protected from the elements. The finer leather | | | | Those of you that own a Chloe Paddington will |
| bags actually look better with use and age. Some | | | | notice that when your lock is new it has a dull |
| of the types of bags we have carried at that fit | | | | finish to it. However, if your locks lacquer finish |
| this category are the Marc Jacobs Classic | | | | begins to wear off and you decide to clean it and |
| Collection, the Chloe Paddington, and most of our | | | | completely remove the lacquer finish, it will |
| Prada bags. | | | | become very shiny. You will either need to accept |
| Category two members can get away with a | | | | this new look to your brass lock or apply the |
| fabric bag as part of the two or more they | | | | lacquer coating we talked about above. |
| change out. By fabric bag we mean, for example, | | | | How quickly brass reacts to the elements |
| Gucci bags made with their signature Jacquard | | | | depends on the elements to which brass is |
| fabric, or most of the Fendi bags we carry. | | | | exposed. Sometimes moist air and even pollutants |
| Designers like Gucci and Fendi are a nice | | | | in the air will be enough to begin the oxidation |
| alternative from the heavy leather bags, but they | | | | process. If you use hairspray and tend to pull it |
| aren't meant to be everyday bags in our opinion. | | | | out and spray it around your bag, your brass isn't |
| The fabric gets dirty fairly quickly especially if | | | | going to like it. The chemicals in hair spray will eat |
| children are in the picture. | | | | the lacquer finish rather quickly and oxidize the |
| For those of you in the first two categories we | | | | brass. |
| want to point out also that you should look at the | | | | The point here is that if you aren't about to clean |
| hardware on the bag you choose as well. Gucci | | | | your brass and yet you want it to always look |
| zippers just aren't as sturdy and built to take the | | | | shiny and new, go with a bag made with |
| abuse like the zippers on a Marc Jacobs or a | | | | gold-toned hardware and stay away from brass |
| Chloe bag. If the bag has a lot of rivets and you | | | | altogether. |
| put a bag to heavy use, this may not be the best | | | | Gold-toned and silver-toned hardware are easy to |
| bag for you either. And speaking of rivets, look at | | | | care for and will continue to look like new |
| the back of what appears to be rivets on a bag. | | | | throughout the life of the bag. If your gold or |
| Sometimes these actually have screw heads on | | | | silver-toned hardware shows any signs of loosing |
| the back. These screws can and will come loose. | | | | its luster, apply just a small amount of liquid |
| So if you buy one of these bags for everyday | | | | jewelry cleaner to a jewelry care cloth. Gently rub |
| use, be prepared to tighten down those screws | | | | the hardware and you will see it shine like new. Of |
| once or twice a month or risk loosing them. Also, | | | | course, use the same steps that we talked about |
| bags with a push lock closure may not be your | | | | for leather care. Test a small area first to see if |
| best choice. The facing of the push lock will get | | | | the jewelry cleaner you use is safe for your |
| scratched quickly. Certain Marc Jacobs push locks | | | | hardware, and follow the manufacturer's |
| break in 5-10% of the bags that come under | | | | instructions. |
| heavy use. | | | | Lastly, all categories of handbag owners should |
| Women in the third category can and should buy | | | | follow these two simple steps when the bags are |
| any bag they feel rounds out their collection. | | | | not in use. Stuff them with tissue paper so the |
| Given intermittent use and proper care, their | | | | bag will keep its shape while being stored. Then |
| designer bags will last a lifetime or even two. | | | | put it inside the dust bag that the designer so |
| Taking care of your expensive designer bag is not | | | | nicely provided for you and store it in a clean, dry |
| hard although most don't take the steps to do so. | | | | environment. I've heard many women say that |
| For women in the first two categories, the | | | | they put their shoes inside their handbag dust |
| everyday users and the alternators, you should | | | | bags and leave their handbags to collect dust. |
| get a good leather cleaner and conditioner. About | | | | What's easier to clean, shoes or handbags? Find |
| a month or two after you start using the bag, | | | | something else to store your shoes in and keep |
| take an hour or so in front of the TV and clean | | | | your beautiful handbags protected from dust and |
| and condition your fine leather bag. Use the | | | | moisture. |
| cleaner sparingly, it doesn't take a lot. Doing this | | | | Choosing the right type of handbag, and then |
| may change the color of the leather slightly | | | | taking a little time to protect and preserve it, will |
| because you are adding moisture to an otherwise | | | | keep it looking new for many years to come. |
| fairly dry surface. You are also removing hand oils, | | | | Then those of you in category two can work |
| lotions, hairsprays and whatever else the bag has | | | | your way into having that fabulous designer |
| come in contact with. If you do this regularly you | | | | handbag collection. |
| will find that the bag will not fray around the | | | | |