Hunting for the perfect Balenciaga bag
Nov 10, 2009 / Posted in Balenciaga Handbags by Megs Mahoney Dusil.
I have long been telling the story of my collection being Balenciaga-less. It is still Balenciaga-less, even though Vlad and I were on a mission to find me the perfect first Balenciaga bag when we were in NYC. What went wrong you ask, I’ll tell you below.
We started off at the Balenciaga NY store, which is truly off the beaten path near the Hudson River on 22nd Street. The store itself was confusing. As we walked through a cave-like entry way with boisterous music echoing loudly, we wondered if we ended up in the actual store or Balenciaga corporate headquarters. It was their store indeed, with fewer handbags than I expected and service lower than sub-par. Even if there were more BBags in the back room, no one asked us if we needed help, so we only saw what was on the floor. The bag selection was bleak and the service embarrassing, so we left still Balenciaga-less.
The next stop to try to find a Balenciaga bag was Barneys NY, which was right around the corner from our hotel. The service was impeccable. I was not certain of what color I was looking for, but both sale associates that helped Vlad and I went above and beyond. In fact, one SA filled both of her arms from shoulder to wrist with all of the Balenciaga City bags they had in the store. To my disappointment, none of them were a combination of color and hardware that I was looking for.
We left Barneys NY without a Balenciaga bag but with the pleasure of having received great service. Eventually I ended up with a different handbag on our NYC trip, a black Birkin. Yet I will still so disappointed not to find a Balenciaga bag. Don’t get me wrong, a new Birkin is out-of-this-world-amazing, but I had my mind set on a BBag.
Dear PurseBlog reader, I need your help. For all of you that know your Balenciaga colors and styles, help me finally find my first B-Bag. What I am looking for: Balenciaga City, smooshy leather, giant hardware, very wearable color (an everyday and every season color).
Help me out!
Hi Megs
I have a few Balenciaga Bags such as City, Part Time, and Clucht, but me favorite is the City in Praline with Silver Giant Hardware, it’s just perfect, and goes with everything.
I live in Sao Paulo Brazil, but me and my husband go to Las Vegas every year for company conventions, and the Balenciaga SA are the best, I always call them in advance and they put the bags on hold, or if they don’t have it on the stock, they bring from the headquarters for me.
In my last visit I purchased the Part Time in Black Leather with silver hardware and the City in Charbon with aged brass hardware.
Chiemi is my contact in Balenciaga Las Vegas, she can get any bag you want.
Good luck
Kiss
Luciana
Chiemi, is a doll, I got my last Balenciaga from Vegas and she was my SA, she was very kind and helpful. I got the bubblegum pink Twiggy.
White, gold giant studs. It goes with EVERYTHING and it’s iconic!
I went to the store in Los Angeles and I had the same experience you did. The store seemed to have no merchandise for sale. I feel that Barneys has more to choose from then the Balenciaga store did.
I have a navy Bbag with giant silver hardware. I am not sure what the actual color is called but it’s from fall 2008 and I got it at Printemps when I was visiting Paris last year. I was skeptical at first because I wear jeans all the time and thought the blue against the jeans would be too matchy-matchy, but it turned out to look really good against jeans and it goes with every outfit I have. Even if I am wearing black, I love how the dark blue and black look against each other. Good luck with your search; when you find what your looking for, please share some pics!
I’m sorry that you had such a poor experience in Bal NY. The SA that usually helps me there is such a doll. I have the navy (officier) color with giant silver hardware and I think its completely wearable and is a nice pop against all outfits. As for style, you have your heart set on the city, go for it. But I have it in Day and its such a functional style. Another great color is Raisin..or the gray one..I forgot the official name.
Hello Megs, having recently set out on a mission to find the perfect Balenciaga bag I am also finding this a tough decision. I would personally love to see more choices in hand held bags that can alternatively be worn messenger style. Colour and hardware combinations which grab me at the moment are – for all season colour: raisin and pomegranate with GSH, classic with a twing: of bling anthracite with GGH and uber cool: charcoal grey with GSH. Good luck with your search, I understand why it is such a hard decision!
I agree with Luciana. I have a Part Time, a City (& a covered City) and the Praline with Silver Hardware is the most versatile. Whether your wearing spring like colors or fall, it goes with mostly everything.
My relative Bal newbie experience had me drawn to all the pretty colours like a moth to the flame but I am now contemplating replacing my entire collection with neutrals. The colours are stunning but I do not find them wearable. Although I would have passed on praline with silver giant hardware to start with now I can see it is a great recommendation. I also suggest anthracite or black combos if you are anything like me when it comes to wardrobe
You must get a 2007 black city~giant gold hardware! so chic, rockerish and classic all at the same time! My second recommend would be the Ltd. Stardust city~giant gold hardware in black. Best wishes for a successful BBag find!
Hey, ain’t nothing wrong with picking up a black Birkin for your trouble! Danieli, I love your suggestion.
http://bellesandbulls.com/bbblog/2009/11/10/is-it-right-to-pretend/
Went looking for a BBag, came home with a black Birkin. I would say that was a very successful shopping trip Megs <3!
Hope you find your perfect Bag next time.
The sunday tote…. patchwork
I think I’d decide what I wanted, then ask real deal collection to call me if they got it in.
Oh no! I purchased my Balenciaga at the New York store, and the employees were pretty helpful. I know what you mean though, there aren’t many bags out on display. However they do have the bags in the back of the store.
Personally, I LOVE any of the Giant handbags more than the original motorcycle style bags. I have Giant Part Time in black, and I LOVE IT! I know that Balenciagas have a reputation of darkening on the handles, but since I have a dark colored bag I haven’t had that problem and I use my bag often. Hope that helps!! I’d go with a darker color for fall/winter!
Uhm, ITA. The NY store’s business is mainly through phone/email orders. They have tons of stuff in the back room. You just have to ask – and ask the right SA.
go for the classic city with regular hardware – i have one and i adore it!! as for the color..i’d choose a pop one! classic with a twist!
I love the new Balenciaga straw bag, which I can´t find nowhere.It is the perfect straw bag with the Balenciaga touch.
i think the birkin conquer all megs ^_^ dont worry anymore about balenciaga
I’ll go with this season’s color since you seem to want it brand new.
If you’re into blue, I’d say Tempete SGH. It’s kind da half gray half blue. And this color pair with SGH is amazing.
If you love a very almost black, get Anthracite SGH. I’m not into Black bags. So, I think this charcoal color’s a great substiture for black. It’s a bit blah though, JMO.
For a splash of color, I love Pourpre. It’s a dark deep red. I think it can go with SGH and GGH. I prefer it with RH though.
But if you can wait for S/S10, try Canard. I think it’ll be beautiful with GGH.
AFF’s just listed a GORGEOUS Balenciaga 2007 GGH Aquamarine Work. I know, its not what you’re looking for, but it is great eye candy! (And no, I have no connection to this bag or to AFF… just like her site a lot!)
Tempete is a GREAT color…blue with grey…so totaly nuetral!! And with GSH it would be fabulous, although I have it in a First with RH and it looks great too!!
I have two of the B old style motorcycle bags, with the original distressed leather. I still carry them and enjoy this look. One is in the original light brown, which is from the very first shipment of Balenciaga bags that Barney’s received. I bought a white one a couple of years after that.
I think I agree that the Birkin is oo la la!
Agreed, Tempete w GSH!
or Purple (can’t remember the name) w GSH.
Since you just got your Birkin in black, I’d go for a color. I love how Bal does red!
i love my officier .. tho it is a part time with RH
I’ve got one in black with delicious gold hardware bought at Saks from a lovely salesgirl in Greenwich CT (& let me ship that for your NY address so you can save the sales tax…)-
So when I took my BBag plunge I went classic and have never looked back—still one of the jewels of my collection.
My best Bbag is my Officier (Navy) City Bag. Wasn’t sure at first of the color and actually returned it the first time I bought it, but went back to purchase it after I had bought the bag in Black. Both bags are fantastuc as the color and leather change so much. Officier goes with absolutely everything and doesn’t scream loud color that you will tire of. You’ll only grow to love it more with use. That’s my opinion.
ITA. I love my Officier PT GSH. It’s such a lovely color – inot a black, but dark enough to withstand some of the elements of daily use, and yet a wonderful neutral that goes with everything. The chameleon effect of the color is TDF too. In some lighting it is black, navy, grape..and the leather is scrumptious! I also have a black City, and a raisin PT in rock star gold hardware
Oh my oh my oh my! I had the same experience with the Balenciaga store her in El Ay – and had the disappointment. I was looking for something special and fab customer service – but got nothing.
I ended up purchasing the Anthracite (charchol grey) Weekender online at Balenciaga.com – I love the color as its not really black….but not really grey and not really blue.
The Birkin should hold you over – but get a neutral classic color BBag…..you’ll wear it forever!
If you’re looking for a bit of colour that can work all year long and still act as a neutral, what about a F/W ‘09 Raisin GSH (Giant Silver Hardware) City? Or even the GGH (Giant Gold Hardware) … both look very nice. From what I’ve seen, the leather on the Raisin’s seem very nice as well.
Good luck!
This one is my favorite…ever!
http://www.bagpoor.com/2009/07/name-that-bag-rihanna-edition.html
Hi Megs,
I think either Maldives
http://www.barneys.com/Arena%20Giant%20City/00505001140637,default,pd.html
or Dark Brown would suit you! =D
http://www.barneys.com/Arena%20Giant%20City/00460807006702,default,pd.html
Good luck with your search! Can’t wait to see what you choose!
I have a BBag City in Tempete (storm) color 2009 a/w, and I carry it almost every day except for rainy days.
I recommend you pink if you’re in sweet style, if you’re not, then just a black one or anthardite or the tempete color! I think these colours matched most of the outfit….Good Luck!! Viva BBag!!
Megs, I highly recommend an Anthracite giant city. I am obsessed with this chameleon color that changes from dark grey to blue grey and some seasons have hints of blue/green. It is beautiful in both gold and silver giant hardware. I am so taken with this color that I purchased it in 3 styles from 3 different seasons! And surprisingly, they all get used on a very regular basis.
Good luck in your search!
I would suggest either Anthracite (as Roey just mentioned) or Officier. Personally I prefer both colours with GGH. Anthracite is simply beautiful! The Officier is a dark blue colour with a purple tone; in the sun it looks like blueberry. Only problem is the Officier was a last season colour so you might have trouble finding this.
I hope you find your perfect Balenciaga bag soon!
I would recommend Officier (Marine) with GGH or Anthracite with GSH or Tempete with GSH.
Honestly, my Officier got most praises.
I have a purple City part time from Harvey Nichols, in London Knightsbridge, excellent customer service!!!!
Megs,
I believe that your handbag collection is not complete without a Balenciaga (no matter how many Birkins you may have or continue to get). I think the color choice depends on the style. What I mean is that not all colors look good in all styles (i.e city, giant work, first, etc). I would recommend the following: a) choose the size that you need for space b) decide if you want gold/or silver – if you have this dilemma of wanting to match the studs with your jewelry for example… – I personally find it not important of having the bag matching everything – but you can always go for the covered studs c) check the colors you like in the size and shape.
I personally would recommend the following colors and sizes: anthracite/city – emerald green/day hobo silver studs, black/giant city, burnt orange/city
The Balenciaga store in London’s Mayfair, not only has a large enough selection of handbags to choose from but will also give you the best ever customer service your money can buy. The team there is absolutely great. Harvey Nichols’s in Knightsbridge (London) also has a good selection and the customer service is very good.
Hope this was of help
Best of luck!