Zannee’s Blog at BargainsLA.com

I make mental wish lists on a regular basis. Lately I’ve been pining for some Nanette Lepore clothing and Kooba Handbags. I keep these wants in mind when I pop into discount boutiques and sample sales. Though I keep an open mind when shopping, I am always on the look out for these “want to haves”.

Last week when I popped into Dressed Up in Tarzana. The owner, Michael Weintraub had just started a new discount pricing system. Everything in the store is now always 25%-50% off of the original retail price. These are brand new, in season current dressy goods and accessories by Sue Wong, Badgley Mischka, Nicole Miller, Alberto Makali and more. Plus right now he’s having 50% off 50% off sale …. Or 75% off.

His new pricing system had scores of women shopping and buying. But since I don’t hits clubs much anymore, I admired but passed on the sexy dresses. I was about to leave when Michael mentioned he still had some handbags left over from Ruthie’s closing sale. I asked if by chance any of them were Kooba. He said he had one left.… I went ballistic.

If you haven’t seen these bags up close, you may not understand why they are such a great line. They are beautifully crafted, high quality leather, uniquely designed bags. But at $540-$700 a piece at retail, I was well out of my spending comfort zone.

Michael had 5 handbags locked away in a glass cabinet by the dressing rooms. One was the Kooba bags I had been pining so badly for. It was a black Annie bag from Winter 2006.

And it was on sale… not at 25% off, not at 50% off,
but the 50% off of the 50% off price….It was now $157 instead of the original $625. What a steal!

This very hip bohemian shoulder bag is super roomy with laced-up leather gussets on the flap and body, bronze studs on the straps and exterior of bag. Two pockets in the front, perfect for cell phones and PDA’s. The interior is finely finished in suede with 3 separate pockets great for sunglasses and makeup. It took all of three seconds for me to make the decision to buy it….I knew it was the best price I was ever going to find for one.

Because this bag is from two seasons ago it’s currently selling at Saks for $436 and $375 at BlueFly.com. I still got the absolute best price. Wish I could tell you Dressed Up had more Kooba bags, but I got the last one. It pays to pop into your favorite discounters

Dressed Up, 6000 Reseda Blvd., (in back) Tarzana 818.708.7238

I now own only 4 handbags… A classic Hermes, a M. Andonia, a Dooney and Burke and a Perlina.

I am closet fan of beautifully crafted handbags. They don’t have to be brand names or even have recognizable designer logos. It’s the craftsmanship I adore. So I naturally tend to pick out handbags that are expensive and just out of my affordable range.

Ages ago there was the most outrageous outlet for handbags. Handbag Hang Up in Culver City. My mom took me there to get my first real handbag. I got an older Chanel style at 50% off original retail. Gosh I loved it. Wore it till it fell apart. When I went back I was in my Rock N Roll Punk stage and got a funky Italian leather pony hair bag with tasseled shoulder strap for a mere pittance. I also wore it till the pony hair was worn off. When I went back the third time, this fabulous bargain source was gone, kaput, never to be seen again.

But though these were lovely handbags, it was my later visits to the Italian Handbag outlet in the late 1990’s (also now closed) that cinched the deal. This old time handbag manufacturer had the most beautifully crafted bags, even if they were seriously dated in design. He had bags in his store room that were at least twenty years old. But each one was meticulously crafted and beautifully designed.

Every time I went, I was schooled in design, leathers, craftsmanship and what to look for when examining a bag. I was told tales of the early days of Salvatore Ferragamo and given the inside scoop on the Gucci family. But the end result of this education has made me one difficult person to satisfy when shopping for a handbag. Or perhaps it’s my beer budget with champagne tastes. Either way, when I find a bag, it’s upscale and out of my reach. A Tod’s, Chanel or Chloe often running up into the thousands. I’m doomed. I can’t even walk into Marshall’s without find some gorgeous leather handbag for $250 instead of $550.

My latest tastes are running to the more affordable with really beautiful designs and quality craftsmanship. My current favorite lines are Kooba, Isabella Fiore and Hobo International…. Still averaging over $400 a bag. I am now on the hunt for a bag from last season Kooba line. This gorgeous funky line is super hard to find at a price I can afford. My last handbag purchases were a Perlina (new $150) and a Dooney and Burke ($150 used), both good, useful, if slightly basic bags that should stand up to wear and tear and give some resemblance to fashion. If I want to get what I want, I’ve got to spend more. Settling for a vinyl look a like won’t do. I either need to get over my quiet obsession or get on a more serious hunt to get what I want for less.

Aah the bargain hunt continues….

Saturday morning started with a drive to the West Valley to check up on Hook on Handbags at the Woodland Hills Swap Meet. New Owner Xochitl (pronounced Sochi) Rodriguez is a total kick and full of ideas and energy. She has been bringing in a slew of coveted handbags by Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Lucky Brand, Dolce & Gabbana, Kenneth Cole and more at 50%-60% off. I had to flee in order not to buy any thing.

Then it was off to Hotel Surplus new digs next to The Van Nuys Airport. So much better than the old warehouse in downtown. I snapped some pics, ooh and aahed over some framed prints, one huge antique secretary with secret drawers, a oval dining table and an odd row of apartment stoves. That’s the fun of the place, ya never know what’s gonna show up.

Then I hit the closing blowout sale at Ruthie. Everything is 40%-60% off. The boutique is awesome, beautifully designed and packed with labels that are just killer… Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, Velvet, Linq, C & C. etc.

I started to have a panic attack when I went in…there was no signage saying they were having a sale. Holy shit, did they change their minds? I felt sick to my stomach. I thought I’d totally goofed and was gonna have to apologize to everyone for publicizing the sale.

I must have look rather stricken cause, both sales girls came over to re-assure me. Yes, the entire store is on sale. No they hadn’t gotten signage yet. But it would be there any minute. I pined over the Kooba bags. Geeze, they are really beautifully crafted. I really want one. But I had to behave myself. I left after I checked out the goods. A really good sale with really cool duds.

I decided to go visit another favorite, Lucky You. I really love this small resale shop. Every time I go in there are always some great buys. A great pair of wedge pumps were in mint condition and only $24. Lots of tees and tops for $8-$15. I found a Johnny Was peasant blouse for $12 and showed it to a fellow shopper who snatched it up. I succumbed to a really neat burnt out velvet top with beading for only $12. I asked the girl behind the counter where the owner Dina was. She informed me that she was the new owner and Dina was opening up an art studio. Whoa! What?… I introduced myself to the new owner, Gina and we chatted about her plans for the store. At the end, I was done. That was enough bargain foraging for one day.