Interview with Larkie: Part Two

I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s post with Larkie…she’s fantastic, no? I don’t want to blather on here as I know you’re all looking for the good stuff…more from Larkie…so I’ll keep it short and sweet. Part two of her interview, below:

What are some of your most treasured items (favorite bag, favorite shoe, dress, coat?)

I have a few Chanel RTW items that are so close to couture quality that I cherish them immensely. But I would venture to say that the most treasured items would be my Chanel alligator flap bags because each bag is unique. Just like the human fingerprints, there are no two identical alligators, so I know each of my bags is essentially one of a kind.

How did you get started collecting Chanel and becoming interested in fashion in general?

I would have to credit Vogue for introducing me to the world of fashion when I was a teenager. My maternal side of the family has roots in the textile business, and my mom taught me how to sew rather early on. And I’ve always sketched things, whether it’s a dress or a piece of jewelry. I am fascinated by fashion for all its endless creative recycling and for the business juggernaut it has become.

I bought my first Chanel RTW item (a boiled wool strapless dress) as a reward for landing my first big client, and the rest is history. Chanel is just like smoking. If you don’t want to get addicted, don’t inhale.

How do you view the recent price hikes in luxury brands such as Chanel and Hermes? Where does that leave you now in terms of how you purchase?

From a business point of view I think it’s genius that they can pull it off so well. From a consumer point of view, however, this makes me less impulsive of a buyer, which I suppose is a good thing. I don’t plan to walk away from the brand. In fact, as long as Chanel continues to churn out wonderful pieces season after season without boring me, I won’t stop collecting. I won’t be able to buy as much as before if the prices keep skyrocketing (I don’t want to adjust my shopping budget to suit their hikes) so I’ll just be more selective. Both Chanel and Hermes have wealthy clients who will sustain them at all price points, but with average clients like me, they may see a decrease in quantity of items sold.

Finally – if you could only have one bag – which do you recommend?

I always tell people they have to buy the bag they will actually use instead of the one they covet. But if I am pressed to make a suggestion, it would be the Chanel black “reissue” 2.55 flap in the large or medium size with matte gold hardware. It goes with everything in my book. But ladies, please don’t abuse your bags. There’s nothing sadder looking than a beat up reissue flap. I know it’s supposed to look distressed, but as someone once advised me a long time ago, no matter what you wear, if your bag and shoes are well cared for, you’ll always look polished.

That concludes our interview series with Larkie (for now!). I wanted to leave you with an image of a classic Larkie outfit- a Chanel cardigan and simple casual tee. To me that is the ultimate symbol of Larkie’s style – fabulous quality and gorgeous tailoring – but ultimately, approachable and forever classic. Thank you Larkie for sharing your closet and thoughts with us. And feel free to check out her blog here.