Snappy style: Alligator and crocodile
Is your eye ever caught by a luxurious swath of alligator or crocodile?
I have long admired these rich, durable leathers, and own only a few pieces, a retro yellow alligator bag and several croc watch straps. Mom offered me her framed alligator bag, but oh noooo, I wasn't into framed bags then. By the time I caught on, her friend Millie was working it with the matching pumps and I had buy mine at a New York vintage-clothing boutique.
The price of a new bag, for comparison (sticker shock warning)
Nancy Gonzalez is the big fashion croc bag designer; her plum pleated shoulder bag sells on Saks' site for $2,850. Because she uses decent but not great skins from caiman crocs, she can keep the price down, relatively speaking.
Zagliani small Tomodachi crocodile tote, $10,500 is my lottery-win bag: right size, right shape. Also from Saks, and if you can buy it, you can probably afford to come visit me. I will take you to lunch, place the bag between us, and swoon.
Caramel croc Bottega Veneta tote, $22,680, from Bergdorf's. Arm Ferrari.
Gettin' your gator on for less
Vintage beckons; beautiful bags are offered on the resale market. A few tips:
1. Quality (scale pattern, softness, and finish) trumps brand.
Body section, tanning and finishing processes affect quality of the leather. Cheap, thin skins crack easily and lack life, so I'd avoid eBay except for reputable sellers who provide ample description.
2. Used can be better than new.
Popularity has resulted in competition for good skins; you can find vintage bags that beat what's offered in shops. Look for thick yet supple skins cut from the most desirable center belly area, no peeling scales, intact stitching and working hardware.
Ferragamo
tan alligator bag, $6,475 from Portero. Steep, but far less than the price of a new alligator
bag from this house.
Elizabeth Arden red alligator satchel, which sold recently for $2,475 from Vintage Skins. A stunner, worth about $12,000 today.
Tip
py-top quality, glossy and supple blonde croc bag by Spritzer Furhmann, circa '60s, and in mint condition, 6" x 8.5", $895 from Vintage Skins.
A tiny touch can delight
My orange crocodile watch strap (about $225) was made by Atelier Jean Rousseau in Paris; they can fill your order by e-mail. Matte finish is more durable than glossy.
Raphael's coin mini-purse in rich brown, $125, tucks into your handbag or pocket.
Luxury accessories
Would I buy the croc pieces shown below? At this price point, a voice in the back of my head would start saying "Great boots? New coat?" Yet I enjoy beautiful accessories, and these fit the hefty bill. I would love to give these as a gift, or receive one.
Nancy Gonzalez crocodile card case, made in many jewel colours, is $390 from Vivre.
Barney's square zip-around wallet $665, will keep its owner in blue croc joy for years.
Alligator gives a man a bit of luxe, too. I think Le Duc would enjoy This M-Clip 'Rodeo' money clip, $250 from Nordstrom, available in many colours.
He carries an elderly, patinaed Hermes crocodile Sac malette, bought at auction about eight years ago. I think it's funny that he's the one with an Hermes bag!
Fake it? Be choosy
Staying away from embossed synthetics, there are some good croc-homage products out there. Browns, blacks and burgundies look more realistic than than brights.
Longchamps 'Roseau' top zip bucket bag, $360 from Nordstrom, is handsome but let's face it, the full thrill just isn't there. I might carry it, but it would stoke croc lust, rather than satisfy.
A compromise is "Ligator", a reptile skin processed to look like crocodile by Gleni Boutique, an Italian firm who sell exotic skins (alligator, croc, python).
They use real alligator, which is then covered with a proprietary treatment. The leather is glossy, waterproof and, the manufacturer claims, durable. All Gleni pieces come with a CITES certificate that is required for import to non-EU countries.
Shown, the 3804 model in black, €490 (About $US 705). Click to see the full line of Ligator bags. You can also find some Ligator pieces on eBay.
With a little care (delicate leather cream to keep the skin supple) reptile skins are surprisingly hardy, a good thing given the price. And wear on the piece, like old silver or softly fraying silk tapestry, confers grace.
I have long admired these rich, durable leathers, and own only a few pieces, a retro yellow alligator bag and several croc watch straps. Mom offered me her framed alligator bag, but oh noooo, I wasn't into framed bags then. By the time I caught on, her friend Millie was working it with the matching pumps and I had buy mine at a New York vintage-clothing boutique.
The price of a new bag, for comparison (sticker shock warning)
Nancy Gonzalez is the big fashion croc bag designer; her plum pleated shoulder bag sells on Saks' site for $2,850. Because she uses decent but not great skins from caiman crocs, she can keep the price down, relatively speaking.
Zagliani small Tomodachi crocodile tote, $10,500 is my lottery-win bag: right size, right shape. Also from Saks, and if you can buy it, you can probably afford to come visit me. I will take you to lunch, place the bag between us, and swoon.
Caramel croc Bottega Veneta tote, $22,680, from Bergdorf's. Arm Ferrari.Gettin' your gator on for less
Vintage beckons; beautiful bags are offered on the resale market. A few tips:
1. Quality (scale pattern, softness, and finish) trumps brand.
Body section, tanning and finishing processes affect quality of the leather. Cheap, thin skins crack easily and lack life, so I'd avoid eBay except for reputable sellers who provide ample description.
2. Used can be better than new.
Popularity has resulted in competition for good skins; you can find vintage bags that beat what's offered in shops. Look for thick yet supple skins cut from the most desirable center belly area, no peeling scales, intact stitching and working hardware.
Ferragamo
tan alligator bag, $6,475 from Portero. Steep, but far less than the price of a new alligator
bag from this house.Elizabeth Arden red alligator satchel, which sold recently for $2,475 from Vintage Skins. A stunner, worth about $12,000 today.
Tip
py-top quality, glossy and supple blonde croc bag by Spritzer Furhmann, circa '60s, and in mint condition, 6" x 8.5", $895 from Vintage Skins.
A tiny touch can delight
My orange crocodile watch strap (about $225) was made by Atelier Jean Rousseau in Paris; they can fill your order by e-mail. Matte finish is more durable than glossy.
Raphael's coin mini-purse in rich brown, $125, tucks into your handbag or pocket.
Luxury accessories
Would I buy the croc pieces shown below? At this price point, a voice in the back of my head would start saying "Great boots? New coat?" Yet I enjoy beautiful accessories, and these fit the hefty bill. I would love to give these as a gift, or receive one.
Nancy Gonzalez crocodile card case, made in many jewel colours, is $390 from Vivre.
Barney's square zip-around wallet $665, will keep its owner in blue croc joy for years.
Alligator gives a man a bit of luxe, too. I think Le Duc would enjoy This M-Clip 'Rodeo' money clip, $250 from Nordstrom, available in many colours.
He carries an elderly, patinaed Hermes crocodile Sac malette, bought at auction about eight years ago. I think it's funny that he's the one with an Hermes bag!Fake it? Be choosy
Staying away from embossed synthetics, there are some good croc-homage products out there. Browns, blacks and burgundies look more realistic than than brights. Longchamps 'Roseau' top zip bucket bag, $360 from Nordstrom, is handsome but let's face it, the full thrill just isn't there. I might carry it, but it would stoke croc lust, rather than satisfy.
A compromise is "Ligator", a reptile skin processed to look like crocodile by Gleni Boutique, an Italian firm who sell exotic skins (alligator, croc, python).
They use real alligator, which is then covered with a proprietary treatment. The leather is glossy, waterproof and, the manufacturer claims, durable. All Gleni pieces come with a CITES certificate that is required for import to non-EU countries.
Shown, the 3804 model in black, €490 (About $US 705). Click to see the full line of Ligator bags. You can also find some Ligator pieces on eBay.
With a little care (delicate leather cream to keep the skin supple) reptile skins are surprisingly hardy, a good thing given the price. And wear on the piece, like old silver or softly fraying silk tapestry, confers grace.
Comments
Don't know about skins on vintage bags, suggest you contact the vendor to inquire. Gonzales, Hermes, Rousseau and Gleni products are
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) certified, which means they are from farm raised animals.
Bottega info unavailable.
I think alligator was endangered for a while and you couldn't even sell/buy vintage items. Now there are alligators galore.
materfamilias: One time they mailed, no problem, another time refused to mail croc- so had friend pick up and bring to Canada. Other times I buy when we are there.
Frugal: So that's where your thrift karma comes from!
rb: Noooooo! Hope you can find one again. $200 is a fair price if bag is in excellent shape.
Tessa: Ostrich, python, lizard- there are other exotic skins to tempt us!
Which brand would you consider the most luxurious using ostrich or croc, in terms of manufacturing and perception of lavishness and luxury?
Thanks!
But my exposure is limited, for example, I have never seen some of the fine Italian products, and expect they make some extraordinary examples. I've seen superb pieces at Asprey and Loewe, too.
Whose do you admire?
Thanks for the feedback!
I do agree with you that Hermes uses superb skins, however IMHO they have a big problem with their brand value and perception, since 9 of 10 are fakes, i.e. in calf skin which wannabe's buy on eBay to imitate their idols...
The best exotic bags/accessories (croc/ostrich) I've ever seen are from: Bottega Veneta, Celeth, Judith Leiber. Basically because they are making no concessions using the best material/solutions money can buy, resulting in an incredible quality.
BV may fails here since they are very commercial, don't do double-sided exotics, etc.
Prefer quite simple bags, which is why I didn't think of Judith Leiber. The Zagliani bag shown would be my ideal.