In Defense of the Mini

The mini trend is by no means a new one, but it makes perfect sense now considering the minimalism movement in lifestyle and fashion today. People everywhere are decluttering and downsizing as a reaction to the current economy. In addition, there is growing social awareness and anti-consumption.

Popular documentaries like The True Cost outline the unsustainable practices of fast fashion while consumers shift from acquiring all of the latest "it" goods to building capsule/French wardrobes. Everywhere, people are paring down their closets and eliminating the unnecessary. As Marie Kondo would ask, "Does this spark joy in your life?"

We aspire to have less responsibilities and own fewer belongings. We no longer want to be tied down by our baggage, literally and figuratively. Therefore, wouldn't it make more sense to carry smaller bags? Instead of hauling everything on our backs, wouldn't it be easier to bring just the basics?

Here are some of my favorite purses that have gotten the shrink ray treatment:

Alexander Wang Mini Rockie ($595)

3.1 Phillip Lim Mini Pashli ($695)

MCM Bebe Boo ($1100)

Balenciaga Mini Metal Edge City ($1545)

Louis Vuitton Alma BB ($1820)

What are your favorite mini bags? Comment below and let us know!

Playing Devil's Advocate: The Case for Counterfeiting

Ask any dedicated fashionista how they feel about knockoffs and you're likely to get the same response. Most already know of the detrimental practices associated with the counterfeiting industry, including child labor and indentured servitude. Salon recently published an article about the human cost of buying phony items on the black market. 

But what if there was an upside to counterfeiting? I recently came across two articles that made me rethink the relationship between brands and their imitations. According to a new study in Marketing Science, counterfeiting can drive original brands to improve designs and use better quality materials to differentiate themselves from the knockoffs. As one researcher commented: "Established companies don't sit idly by while they are copied shamelessly. They react by improving their products to set them apart from their illegal competitors."

In another article from Forbes, a writer argues that fakes can actually whet the consumer's appetite for the real deal. She observes how "purse parties" (think Tupperware, except with illegal handbags) can generate interest in the genuine goods:

Much to my surprise, and perhaps theirs, these consumers experienced increased attachment to the real brands. The fake products were a gateway. As my subjects’ knowledge of the luxury-handbag brands increased, they began to go into stores to check out the real thing–something they had never done prior to attending these purse parties.
The fakes hadn’t turned potential Gucci customers away from the brand. The opposite was true.
There were various reasons why. Women who’d bought bags at a purse party began to notice the inferior quality of the fakes–and envy the real thing. They also reported feeling compelled to admit to other that their purchases were fakes. This caused them to experience a tension between their positive private self-images and their dishonest public behavior. “If my possessions are fake,” they eventually reasoned, “what does that say about me?”

Disclaimer: I do not condone counterfeiting. As the title suggests, I am merely playing devil's advocate

MCM Visetos Charm Review

Check out my new video on MCM!

Modern Creation Munich, better known as MCM, was a German brand founded in 1976. MCM was originally named for its founder, Michael Cromer. Despite its popularity throughout the 80s and 90s, the company went bankrupt and was later acquired by a South Korean businesswoman. Nowadays, most MCM products are made in Korea, and the brand has resurged in popularity thanks to celebrity endorsements.

Today, I have a special reveal of the Visetos Zebra charm from Spring/Summer 2014 collection! It's such a fun accessory to add personality to any bag. Here is a closer look at the charm on my Stark backpack (from the same brand):

MCM charms retail for $195-540, which may seem a bit pricey until you compare them with the Fendi bag bugs (retail: $400-1450). You can pick up your own charm from the official MCM e-store.

If this charm doesn't tickle your fancy, fear not: this is the golden age of luxury tchotchkes and there are plenty more brands jumping on the bag charm bandwagon. For starters, you can check out the accessories selection on Shopbop! Let me know if you have any favorites in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post