Tuesday, June 27, 2017

LUXURY VINTAGE OFFERS BEST BUYS FOR PRE-LOVED AND BRAND NEW DESIGNER BAGS, CLOTHES, SHOES AND ACCESSORIES. ALL AT VALUE FOR MONEY PRICES 30% TO 50% CHEAPER THAN BOUTIQUE PRICES. HERE IS WHERE YOU WILL FIND THE BAGS OF YOUR DREAMS. NO WONDER ITS FULL NAME IS 'LUXURY VINTAGE DESIGNER TREASURE SDN BHD'!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM


LUXURY VINTAGE OFFERS BEST BUYS FOR PRE-LOVED AND BRAND NEW DESIGNER BAGS, CLOTHES AND SHOES!

LUXURY VINTAGE STORES ARE AT 2 VENUES---JALAN MAAROF, NEAR BANGSAR SHOPPING CENTRE (03-2095 6266) AND GREAT EASTERN MALL, JALAN AMPANG (03-4251 0013).

WWW.LUXURYVINTAGE.COM.MY

Below are my favorites!

 CHANEL
 CHANEL
 CHANEL
 CAHNEL
 CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
 HERMES
 HERMES
 HERMES TOOLBOX
 HERMES BIRKIN
 HERMES 3 TONE BIRKIN
 HERMES KELLY
HERMES CONSTANCE
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When buying preloved or open box mint condition designer bags, authenticity is of paramount importance---if the price is too good to be true, it must be fake! No one in the right mind will sell a Chanel or Louis Vuitton at 80% discount off the original price!

This is why you must buy only from established stores like Luxury Vintage which stands by what they sell and have been doing so for 12 years. So when you buy your new darling bags here, you buy with confidence or else go to Petaling Street.

Luxury Vintage is Malaysia’s biggest, best and most established secondhand shops with a standalone store on Jalan Maarof, Bangsar where you can park right in front of the shop! 

So ever convenient! I think Luxury Vintage is the first and only such store to be located in a bungalow with general brands on ground floor, Hermes on the first floor, more general designer bags on second floor and clothes/shoes on the third floor! Walao!

The second store in Great Eastern Mall is also strategically located just 20 steps from the lift at ground floor! No need to trudge miles in your Christian Louboutins and Jimmy Choos. Get out of the lift and you are almost there!

The other good thing about buying at Luxury Vintage is if you hold a Maybank or CIMB credit card, you can use your gift points to buy! Give your card to Luxury Vintage who will check and tell you how much cash you have to offset the bag price or get it free outright if you have lots of points! Or pay interest-free monthly instalments!

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When we hear the words ‘pre-loved’, ‘pre-used’ or second hand bags and accessories, we tend to assume they are discounted to 70% or more! In reality a Luxury Vintage bag averages 30% to 40% less than original price which is considered good enough ok!

As Luxury Vintage deals only with top of the spot designer handbags, a second hand bag bought at Luxury Vintage can cost MORE than the original price!

Explains Ruby of Luxury Vintage, “Yes, certain bags which are pre-used can actually cost 10% to 20% MORE than the original price! This is because certain colours are produced in very limited quantities so they are considered very rare. 

A bag is usually produced in big quantities in neutral, popular colors like black but if the same bag comes in shocking pink or purple or multi-colors or is embellished, it would be considered unusual and rarer. Most buyers would choose colors which are easy to match like black, white or red.

“If the bag was made in very limited editions or produced only for the runway and not mass sale, the price will be more. Sometimes the same bag could be made of exotic skins like crocodile, python, stingray, ostrich or lizard. 

For instance a Hermes Birkin in Togo leather may cost RM 45,000 but if the same bag is made in crocodile it can cost RM 150,000 from the boutique so if you buy from preloved stores, it will definitely cost more as you cannot walk into a Hermes store and buy Birkin or Kelly bags off the shelves.”

The good news is that ‘normal’ bags are 20% to 40% less than original prices! So Luxury Vintage is bag haven!

 As for clothes and shoes, omigod they are discounted heavily, up to 70& and 80% since not every tai-tai is dying to wear clothes worn by someone else, or worse, by someone they know who they might bump into at parties. Sizes are also a problem as you may love a dress which is too big or small since obviously Luxury Vintage does not have S, M or L sizes to choose from. What you see is what you get. I saw a Tom Ford priced RM 1,000, a steal from the original RM 9,000!


But bags are fine and dandy as anyone can use a handbag regardless of size, weight or height. No one minds if someone else carries the exact same bag, especially if it is a Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Prada and Gucci, which I consider are the Fab Five!

But Luxury Vintage does offer amazing great deals which can be up to 60% and 80% off the original prices! “This is because a few bags are made in weird, off beat, funky designs that appeal to a niche market and are difficult to carry. Or they can be too big, too small, too colourful, too wild, too anything. I notice furry bags don’t sell as well as leather so they are marked down.”

So if your taste veers towards such bags, you are in luck.
Of course the condition also dictates the price.

“If the bag is stained, dirty beyond cleaning, scratched or with torn lining, it will sell at much lower price. These bags are a great bargain, especially if the stains are inside which are not noticeable as only you can see the interior.

“Sometimes the insides smell or are sticky. Or if the straps are missing so you can only use the handles.”

Due to natural aging, some bags will change color even if unused and locked in your cabinet. Most buyers don’t care or even like the patina like we all love naturally faded denim jeans.

Even if the bag looks worn, no one knows you just bought it second hand as you could have purchased it from the boutique in Paris or New York and used it for years!

As almost all bags at Luxury Vintage are on consignment, the owners decide on the prices at realistic levels. Luxury Vintage advises the prices which you cannot negotiate as they are already attractive. But if the bag sits on the shelf collecting dust for 6 months or a year or longer then the owner may reduce the price drastically.

So if you spot a bag that appeals, better buy immediately since you could return the next day only to cry your eyes out as it was sold.”

I once saw a coat in Porte de Clignancourt in Paris made of---guess what---monkey fur! I had never seen such fur coat before and was enthralled. It cost RM 3,500 and the shopkeeper said it was made during politically incorrect times as it would be banned today should anyone want to make one. He said I could have it for RM 3,200 as the original price was RM 7,000 but it was unsold for over 3 years so he was willing to slash the price since not everyone was dying to wear a coat made of gibbon fur!

“After a sleepless night I returned the next morning to buy this collector’s piece. I bumped into a guy as I left the shop. The shop owner told me that was the new owner of the monkey fur coat who just paid for it! I missed purchasing my dream coat by minutes! I ran out and caught up with the man and offered RM 4,000 in euros but he laughed and said he would sell to me for 2,000 euros (RM 9,500) which I couldn’t afford, the rascal!”

I was so bitter as I recalled the shopkeeper said he was unable to sell it for 3 years and now he had 2 buyers. I returned to his shop to ask if he had another. He said of course not or else he would have displayed it. He added if only the buyer and I had entered his boutique at the same time as he would love to auction it to the highest bidder!

See, so if you see something you like and can afford, buy it on the spot! He who hesitates, loses!

Remember---if you buy a bag at Luxury Vintage and regrets, you can always return it on consignment to be resold! If your luck is good, you may even make a little profit! Only Buddha and Jesus know the outcome!

Remembers Ruby, “A bag can be sold within an hour but the record is 10 years! Yes, a decade. We kept reminding the owner to take it back but she said to leave it here so we did until it was sold 10 years later! A real vintage!”

To most second hand shops, ‘vintage’ means 15 years old and more. Chanel vintage bags cost more than the original prices due to inflation as RM 1,000 fifteen years ago is not the same as RM 1,000 today! In 2002 you could buy far more with RM 1,000 than what you can buy today, what with 6% GST and inflation! Luckily prices at Luxury Vintage don’t charge 6% extra as some stores do which irritate me no end.

Many rich women buy second hand bags though they can afford brand new ones for various reasons. They could have missed out buying them in boutiques when they were first produced. Or suddenly fall in love with bags no longer available in boutiques or long sold out or discontinued. So there is no choice but to scour stores like Luxury Vintage and leave your hp number should they come across the bag of your dream.

Like me.

In 2000, I interviewed Marc Jacobs in Hong Kong. He told me he was collaborating with famous avant garde street artist Stephen Sprouse to produce a quirky range of Graffiti bags consisting of words scrawled over the Monogram canvas.
I sort of jokingly asked him to include my name Kee.

He took it seriously and asked “What? Do you consider your name as graffiti?”

I grinned, “Well, if you go to any public loo in Malaysia, behind the door inside any cubicle you will see this message ‘For a good time, call Kee at 019 6633747’!”

Marc Jacobs laughed loudly and said, “That’s a good one. Hmmm I will consider.”

Well, Louis Vuitton Graffiti collection came out to great universal acclaim in 2001 with the words ‘Louis Vuitton’ scrawled carelessly here, there, everywhere. I almost fainted as 2 bags contained my name KEE!

How about that for my 15 minutes of fame? And it’s true as you can google and see for yourself!

To avoid being grilled by Bernard Arnault the owner of Louis Vuitton and his bf why he included my name KEE, Marc Jacobs adroitly, artfully, astutely used the word ‘KEEPALL’ as the bag was a keep-all overnighter bag!

He emblazoned KEE at the extreme left next to the strap and continued with PA inbetween the 2 straps and LLV at the right! Most people would miss the brilliant splicing of KEEPALL as the KEE is shown prominently while PA is shown in the centre and LLV at the right!

None would ever realise this brilliant conundrum---even if you take the effort to make out the word KEEPALL. Only I know and appreciate it. Ok me and all those chinks with the same KEE surname!

The KEE letters only appear in the front as the back has only LOUIS VUITTON and in reverse NOTTIUV SIUOL! But good enough so I am not complaining!

The Keepalls come in 2 colors---white and green, the colors of my clothes when I was interviewing him!
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Some bags come with full regalia, from certificate of authenticity, dust bag, box and even receipt from original boutique with the cost stated on credit card statement! But this does not affect the price---if you love the bag, that is all you want!

You can order pre-used bags or pre-order new ones. Luxury Vintage then uses its vast contacts and network to source for you but you need put a 10% deposit before they bring it in from overseas. If you change your mind then you forfeit the deposit which is fair. Says Ruby, “We will show you the photos and give details of the bag’s condition first. If you are keen then only you place the deposit as some buyers want to see the bag for themselves before buying.”

Luxury Vintage’s enticing bags cost anything from a few hundred ringgit to RM 160,000 for, you guess it, a Hermes Birkin crocodile bag.

THE STYLISH AND CLASSY LUXURY VINTAGE STANDALONE STORE ON JALAN MAAROF, BANGSAR
LUXURY VINTAGE IS THE ONLY PRE-LOVED AND NEW BAG STORE ON ITS OWN LAND
LUXURY VINTAGE IS MALAYSIA'S MOST SUCCESSFUL AND REPUTABLE SECOND HAND STORE WITH 12 YEARS BEHIND ITS STERLING REPUTATION

THE FAMOUS FACADE OF LUXURY VINTAGE DESIGNER TREASURE WITH AMPLE, EASY PARKING RIGHT IN FRONT
RM 8,000 FOR THIS SPIFFY CHANEL
RM 4,000 BUT ACTUAL PRICE IS RM 3,999 SO MIGHT AS WELL DONATE RM 1 TO ROUND IT UP FOR EASIER TABULATION AND BOOK-KEEPING!
THIS LAVISHLY SEQUINNED BAG COSTS RM 11,200 BUT THE DOUBLE C LOGO IS SO OVER-DECORATED CANNOT SEE IT CLEARLY!
RM 5,280 CREDIT CARD OR RM 4,790 CASH BUT NOT ALL BAGS HAVE 2 DIFFERENT PRICES AS MOST COME WITH 1 PRICE REGARDLESS OF CARD OR CASH
LOVE THE BACK SIDE POCKET IN MOST CHANELS AS SO PRACTICAL
LIMITED EDITION CLASSIC CHANEL WITH PONY HAIR RM 12,500
LIMITED EDITION AS I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE SO FASTER GRAB
CHANEL'S FLAP BAGS ARE LEGENDARY
THIS COMES WITH THE POPULAR DOUBLE FLAP WITH 2 COMPARTMENTS


 THIS VINTAGE CHANEL COMES WITH THE MUCH BELOVED BIG 'C' AS THE MODERN VERSION HAS SMALLER LOGO
 


THIS IS THE TIMELESS CHANEL BAG RECOGNISED AND APPLAUDED WORLDWIDE. IT COMES IN EVERY COLOR IMAGINABLE BUT BLACK IS MOST POPULAR FOR OBVIOUS REASONS COMPARED TO SHOCKING PINK FOR EXAMPLE
LUXURY VINTAGE HAS A CHANEL FROM RM 4,000 TO RM 25,000 WHICH IS THE AVERAGE THOUGH I SAW A UNIQUE CROCODILE BAG IN CHANEL BOUTIQUE IN HONG KONG FOR RM 280,000
THE MINIATURE GOLDEN CHANEL ALREADY COSTS RM 2,851 SO MIGHT AS WELL BUY THE CHANEL BAG FOR A MERE RM 3,999!
FEELING BLUE? THIS RM 8,000 CHANEL IS BOUND TO BANISH THE BLUES!
THIS RARE SILVER SEQUIN CHANEL IS RM 8,000
THIS UNUSUAL 4-LEAF CLOVER CHANEL IS RM 1,700, THE CHEAPEST CHANEL I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED SO PHONE LUXURY VINTAGE AND BOOK IT BEFORE THE BIDDING WAR STARTS
THIS BIG BLACK CHANEL IS RM 18,000
A REISSUE CHANEL DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND
CANNOT BELIEVE THIS CHANEL BACKPACK IS A HEFTY RM 9,000
STILL, MOST CHANEL BACKPACKS COST RM 12,000 AND UP!
MY FAVORITE CHANEL AS I LOVE BRIGHT HUES. RM 17,380
DOUBLE FLAP SUMORE! AMAZING VERMILION CORAL COLOR SURE TO FETCH A PREMIUM IN FUTURE 
VINTAGE JUMBO RM 6,000. THE 'DIAMOND' DESIGN IS FLAT BUT IF IT COMES IN THE COVETED RM 'BUBBLE' WHICH IS MORE 3 DIMENSIONAL THE PRICE WILL BE RM 17, 000.
THIS CHANEL COSTS RM 14,000 AT LUXURY VINTAGE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND RM 22,000 IN THE BOUTIQUE SO YOU SAVE RM 8,000! CAN BUY 1 OR 2 MORE CHANELS!
WHITE CHANEL IS RM 12,000
THIS RARE PYTHON CHANEL WITH DIAMOND DESIGN COSTS RM 17,000 AT LUXURY VINTAGE AND RM 24,000 IN BOUTIQUE




THIS ORANGEY RED CHANEL COSTS RM 16,000
BIG SHOPPING TOTE RM 9,700
RM 9,690
THE ULTIMATE SHOPPING BAG AT RM 9,700 
BALENCIAGA 
ALSO A BALENCIAGA CLASSIC THAT COMES IN SEVERAL VERSIONS
JUICY PLUM BALENCIAGA RM 4,400
MIU MIU WITH GLAMOROUS, SPARKLING DETAILS RM 3,000
LOVE THE MASSIVE DIAMONDS!
GUCCI CLASSIC, VERY ATTRACTIVE AT RM 2,900
FABULOUS MULTI TONED PYTHON SMALL BAG BY CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN 4,400
BRAND NEW LADY DIOR IN OPEN BOX CONDITION, RM 9,530
BOTTEGA VENETA RM 6,500
CUTE LOUIS VUITTON DUFFEL ROLL BAG ONLY RM 1,900
SMALL YELLOW ALMA BY LOUIS VUITTON RM 4,000
HERMES MEN'S BAG RM 4,500
HERMES EVELYNE BAGS---FUCHSIA IS RM 9,800 AND BLUE IS RM 15,500 AS IT IS NEW AND STRAP COMES IN 2 COLORS
HERMES EVELYNE BAG RM 15,500
HERMES EVELYNE RM 9,800
RM 15,500 NEW BLUE EVELYNE COMES WITH THIS STUNNING STRAP


CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS PLASTIC BAG GIVEN AS SOUVENIR TO DELEGATES IS NOW SELLING FOR A STAGGERING RM 4,600! 
SUCH IS THE POWER AND APPEAL OF HERMES THAT EVEN A SOUVENIR PLASTIC FREE GIVEAWAY FILE FOLDER IS SELLING FOR RM 4,600, THE PRICE OF A CHANEL BAG!
THE 2 POUCHES INSIDE HERMES PLASTIC BAG DOES NOT COME WITH THE BAG
FOX TAIL TOGGLE BY LANVIN IS RM 1,000
WAG YOUR TAIL
THIS 'SO KELLY' BAG IS RM 34,000
BIG AND SPACIOUS AND AT RM 34,000 IS A GREAT BUY
50 CM SO RELAXED KELLY IS RM 27,000


TOOLBOX BY HERMES FOR MEN AS IT IS UNISEX
MY FAVORITE HERMES AT RM 19,000 WHICH SEEMS VERY REASONABLE BY HERMES STANDARD!
THE STAR OF THE SHOW---CROCODILE BIRKIN BY HERMES
RM 170,000
YELLO BIRKIN IS RM 49,900 AND VERMILION IS RM 70,000 AS IT IS BRAND NEW, OPEN BOX CONDITION
BROWN IS RM 49,900 AND PLUM IS RM 59,380
HERMES BIRKIN BAGS RANGE FROM RM 42,000 TO RM 70,000
RM 44,000
RM 45,000
RM 46,000 FOR 40 CM HERMES BIRKIN
RARE 3-TONE BIRKIN
RM 47,000 EACH
OPEN BOX CONDITION---RM 64,800
35 CM KELLY TOGO RM 40,000
35 CM RM 47,000 FOR THIS KELLY TOGO
BOUGAINVILLEA COLOR 35 CM HERMES KELLY RM 36,000
RM 45,000
LOVE THIS RM 53,000, 42 CM SHOULDER BIRKIN
YOU LOOK YOUNG AND TRENDY WITH A SHOULDER BIRKIN RATHER THAN THE CLASSIC BIRKIN
DO YOU KNOW THIS BAG NAMED CONSTANCE IS HARDER TO FIND THAN KELLY AND BIRKIN? BET YOU NEVER KNEW THIS! 
AT ONLY 23 CM, THIS SMALL VINTAGE HERMES CONSTANCE COSTS A STAGGERING RM 31,000!
THE CONSTANCE IS KNOWN FOR THE LARGE H BUCKLE
THIS SMALL 18-CM CONSTANCE COSTS RM 44,000 AS IT IS OPEN BOX CONDITION
THIS 2-TONE CONSTANCE IS RM 59,000
THIS MATTHEW WILLIAMSON DRESS IS A MERE RM 180!
MARCHESA GOLD COCKTAIL DRESS RM 1,000 FROM ORIGINAL PRICE OF RM 9,000! IF ONLY USED CHANEL AND BIRKIN BAGS ARE LIKE THIS!
ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, RM 1,300
LANVIN RM 400
DRESSES GALORE AT BARGAIN BASEMENT PRICES










CHANEL RM 2,700
FENDI, RM 900
ROGER VIVIER RM 300
CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN RM 1,600
LANVIN
SUMORE GOT DIAMONDS LURKING BENEATH THE BOW! 



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