As I’m sure you’ve all heard by now, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West are an item. Somehow, the two biggest publicity hounds in the entire entertainment industry have come together to make tabloid magic, although whether this pairing is true love or all business remains to be seen. (Take an educated guess and see where you find yourself.) The greatest news of all, though, is that Kanye is going to be featured on the upcoming season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians – that sound you just heard was E! executives involuntarily gasping with glee.
It’s well known in these parts that I’m a bit skeptical of Kim (although awed at her ability to make money), but I’m an unabashed Kanye fangirl. The more ridiculous he becomes, the more Yeezy I want in my life, which means that his “relationship” (scarequotes necessary, obvi) with Kim is a truly fortunate turn of events for me. If you’re a bag lover, it’s also oddly fortunate for you – Kim’s collection is legendary even among those who despise her, and Kanye has the best collection of man bags I’ve ever seen on a celebrity. But whose bag game is tighter? Let’s examine the evidence after the jump.
[poll id=”92″]
Kim Kardashian:
Kim’s got the obvious advantage because she’s female, which means that more designers cater to her handbag whims. Ms. Kardashian is famous for her love of Hermes Birkins, first and foremost, but her collection runs the gamut from petite silk Bottega Veneta Knot Clutches to traditional Chanel Classic Flaps. And even though Kim might not be universally adored, her fashion choices are talked about endlessly, so I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if boxes full of free, fabulous handbags find the way to her doorstep on the regular. Kim’s game is tight, but just like in Olympic gymnastics, her degree of difficulty hurts her overall score.
Kanye West:
Kanye nicknamed himself the Louis Vuitton Don long before most people even knew his real name, and his go-to man bags show his love for the French brand. Unlike Kim, Kanye’s style goes a bit outside the box; for example, the custom-made Louis Vuitton Damier Azur Backpack in several of these photos is rumored to have cost as much as $15,000. Being one-of-a-kind comes at a high price, and even though Kim could afford it easily, I’ve never noticed her carrying anything customized or bespoke. Since his Louis Vuitton days, Yeezy has branched out, embracing backpack style from other French brands like Goyard and Celine. Because he finds a way to break the men’s fashion mold time and time again and was doing so long before it was culturally popular, I award Kanye extra points for difficulty.
