Some things never get old.
Just like the handbag from Maison Longchamp, the Pliage.
I remember my first pliage bag so well.
So many years ago I found myself gazing longingly into the window of the Longchamp store in Aix-en-Provence. The boutique was situated on the Cours Mirabeau, one of the loveliest avenues in Provence.
France was very much a novelty, an unfamiliar destination for me back then and to find myself with time to spare wandering around Aix, soaking up the beauty and listening intently to the sounds of an unfamiliar language was a dream come true. I can still sense my excitement.
That time in Aix-en-Provence was not the day I bought my pliage.
I went back to the shop the next day after much deliberation. My indecision was not over the bag, for I had wanted one for as long as I could remember. The pliage is the perfect travel companion and twenty years later I never leave home without one. No, my hesitation was fear.
Well anxiety more than fear.
The nervousness of expressing myself in a language I had very little experience with. I could introduce myself, rattle off where I lived and where I was born, recite a few facts and that was about it. The thought of asking to see a bag and chose a colour was beyond me. I laugh as I write this; to think I was so timid and lacking in confidence. I was.
Fortunately women and handbags can’t be kept apart for too long and I finally plucked up the courage to enter the store.
The rest is history.
I bought my first pliage.
These days I am many Longchamp pliage bags later.
I have given them to my daughters and when they travel they never leave home without them. I notice women all over the world of all generations use them as handbags and as carry on travel bags they must be the number one success story.
I have recently graduated to the leather version.
Love, love, love.
This season I am crushing on the shade, pebble. The leather is as soft as can be, I can still fold the leather pliage, wear it cross body style and carry it as a tote. The leather pliage is beautifully made and I am very tempted to have it monogramed. Either on the back of the bag at the top, three discreet little letters would look very cute or three slightly larger initials in the right hand corner on the front.
I haven’t quite decided yet.
Of course I would like one in each colour, especially the cherry one from Nordstrom, to add to the collection but pebble is a super practical colour and the right place to start. xv
The Leather Pliage: My Latest Crush
le pliage cuir leather pliage
images, alexa chung for longchamp
