Diary No. 7- Five Brands, Five Items

Dear Reader,

We live in a day and age where it seems the price of things just seems to be climbing with no stop in sight, but the quality has apparently been stunted. For example if you look on reputable sources such as You Tube, Instagram, and Tik Tok, you will see entire profiles and channels dedicated to nightmare stories that people have had with luxury brands and their not so luxurious experiences or products. This got me asking myself the question, are luxury brands worth it anymore? Well my answer to that is, it depends. Lets take a brand like Louis Vuitton (which personally I am a fan of), only because the brand is so iconic, does not mean that every single piece produced will be perfect (even though I feel it should be) and never experience damage. Recently I watched a vlogger go off about how poorly made his Louis Vuitton bag was and how horrible the experience of fixing it proved to be. Now I personally own two Louis Vuitton bags, one in their staple monogram canvas and another in a full grain leather, so unsurprisingly they have held up very well despite the amount of use I have given them (especially the leather one which I basically use every day). However, the vlogger in question was upset with the poor quality of his PVC trunk bag that had broken around the D-ring where you attach the shoulder strap and where constant pulling is placed on it when you wear it. Surprising? As much as I understand how upsetting that could be especially for the price tag on this limited edition bag he purchased, at the same time I can't help but think, you kind of signed yourself up for that one by buying what is essentially a plastic bag. So to me categorizing an entire brand as not worth it based on a couple of things that could have been better, can be a little extreme especially when people include all luxury brands in this bracket. Now one thing I have highlighted in this blog is that you do not have to spend large sums of money, or only buy luxury brands to dress like a true gentleman. Lets be honest though, sometimes we want to treat ourselves. Maybe we want to celebrate a milestone, a promotion, or something else and we happen to have the funds to get a special item from a "premium" brand for ourselves or for someone we love. What brands or items are worth it? Well once again it depends on the item, the brand, and ultimately on you. So here are 5 brands and 1 item per brand that in my opinion are worth your money at the price attached to them, and that I feel would be a good treat for yourself or a loved one.

Louis Vuitton- Duo Messenger Bag

This is the exact bag that I own and that I have used every single day almost for the past 2.5 years. My wife got it for me at the Mexico City Flagship location for Louis Vuitton as our wedding gift. This is one of those items that will NEVER leave my closet, not just for the emotional attachment and the memories made while getting this piece, but also because the quality has been amazing and it still looks the way it did when I first got it. In fact the leather just seems to get more supple but has still maintained its shape and over all look. The discreet aspect of the monograming, and the black hardware makes it more versatile and if ever they release an all brown version of this bag, you know I will be getting it. It is currently not on the Louis Vuitton site, but it is on the 24S site which is owned by LVMH and is an authorized dealer by them for $2,369 USD and honestly it has been worth every penny. Depending on the financials you can also find it on some pre loved sites for around $1500 USD.

Bvlgari Serpenti Viper Ring

Bvlgari in my opinion is a sleeping giant, and I am completely fine with it staying that way. While for the most part people tend to flock to Cartier and Van Cleef in recent years when looking to give themselves or others a luxury jewelry piece, to me Bvlgari has unique, high quality, classic, and yet not mass worn pieces that adds to its desirability. The Bvlgari Serpenti Viper ring to me is an excellent alternative to the popular Cartier Love or Just un Clou rings, and in my opinion I prefer it over the others. It is understated enough that despite being what could be called a statement piece (I mean it is a snake), it will age perfectly with a classic wardrobe and could almost become a permanent piece of your stack. The price I feel for all intents and purposes, is reasonable for what it is coming in at $2,450 USD on the Bvlgari website.

Bottega Veneta Intreciatto Card Holder

A card holder to me is such an excellent way to add fun and personality to a classic wardrobe. Because of the intrecciato design, Bottega Veneta card holders and wallets can be pieces which can easily slip into a timeless wardrobe. However, if you want to add a pop, going for this piece in a statement color such as metallic gold can add just the right amount of interesting to your accessories. I personally am also a fan of the price, at the moment it is cheapest on the Harrod's website for $395 USD.

Celine Suede Chelsea Boots

Especially for the Fall/Winter season these suede chelsea boots from Celine are perfection. They come in a more western variation, but I am more partial to the cleaner silhouette of the particular model pictured above. I have seen several men's style influencers add these to their collections and I have to admit they will be timeless, they will still provide a head turning statement, and when compared to other luxury footwear pieces these are reasonably priced depending on where you purchase from. On Mr. Porter they are currently $1100 USD, but I am pretty sure I have seen them a couple of hundred dollars cheaper at our nearby Celine outlet. Either way, these can be a useful staple in your wardrobe, and I would even go as far as saying I would use them year round.

Manolo Blahnik Truro Loafers

I will be honest, I have yet to see a bad Tik Tok review for Manolo Blahnik pieces, and I am not surprised since for many years the brand has been well known for its excellently crafted items. While mostly associated with women's shoes, the men's selection is excellent, and the Truro loafer is one of my favorites. The style is a classic but with a fun spin, presented in a less chunky look and crafted with one of the most supple leathers I have seen. At the moment these are on sale on SSENSE, a reputable online retailer for $628 USD from $860 USD.

Worth the cost?

As I mentioned before, the answer to the question above will really depend on the brand, the particular item, and also what you personally believe is worth your hard earned money. You may be more of a shoe man rather than a jewelry lover, so to you spending on Bvlgari will not make sense as opposed to spending on Manolo Blakhnik. However these are pieces I personally feel would look great in my own wardrobe and that I would not mind spending my money on. When it is all said and done what matters is that you feel comfortable with the style, fit, and in this time period with the price. Ultimately I would honestly say that the answer to the question, is luxury worth it, is entirely up to you.

Yours Truly,

S.E. Vega