It’s an unspoken rule in the Concrete Jungle that if you are going to stand out you will need an “it” bag. Central London is no different, but Syracuse most definitely is. Covered in snow for greater parts of the year there aren’t many winter events other than ski trips and your designer bag won’t do you much good up on the slopes. So when Anick Sinclair was packing up her life and family back in London, she decided to sell a lot of her closet. (I never met those clothes or bags, but my heart shed a few tears when I heard this part of the story) But there is a silver lining, she couldn’t part with all of them, those were her words, “couldn’t” and it got me thinking, is it really the label or something more that makes us hold on a little tighter? Having serendipitously met Anick on New Year’s Eve at our nail salon, I had no idea how fascinated I would become with her life. Growing up the daughter of a diplomat, she traveled the world, developing a keen eye for beautifully crafted pieces even within the alcoves of small street markets. Collecting jewelry, art, and purses she has an exquisite collection one can only built over years with patient curation. Over the course of our long winter, we spoke of her years in London and the life she had left behind and I wondered how she reconciled that with the clearly slower paced life she was starting here. But I started to see a pattern that shown through each story, they revolved around moments with her family, be it her parents when she was younger or her husband and children now. It didn’t matter where she was as long as those she loved were a part of any of those moments. And some times those memories get trapped in the folds of a clutch or the worn leather of a carry all, which brings me to the day I came to collect her purses. On the first day that didn’t require my down coat I showed up at her doorstep, post gym, in sneakers and Starbucks in hand. Opening the door, her strawberry blonde hair loose and spilling over her shoulders, and dressed in a loose grey twill top and back tights I immediately note the stark contrast. Even at home, a Londoner is always put together, and I a Syracusan was running on efficiency mode. I clearly needed to work on this, but for now I offered the green mermaids, hoping this would let her overlook my version of casual. We sat down at her kitchen table, and over my Americano and her cappuccino paired with homemade brownies (She was a professional baker back in London) we began to chitchat about life back there and one could clearly feel the nostalgia building. But this is home now, and you can see by the photos framed on the mantel and clipped to the fridge that she is starting to build roots. She’s finally getting to know her neighbors and even laughed when she says I won’t get to see a purse because “it’s out on loan” to a new friend, but that’s ok because there are plenty to rummage through. And then she asked me the magical words, “want to come up and take a look?” If it wasn’t impolite to bound up someone else’s staircase I would have done like The Flash, but I measured my steps and followed her to the master bedroom. She laid out bag after bag, and would stop to admire while stroking the leather of those purses, clearly lost in a memory that thrilled her. She regaled me with stories of the time frame in which each was bought, some from when she was 18 like her Gucci and other more recent purchases, like her McQueen. My weakness has never been designer purses although I have invested in a few over the years, but I am always in awe when I see them. The quality and craftsmanship of the ones she has kept show even after years in her care. Varying in size, color, and texture we both struggle for the better part of an hour picking out which truly belonged in this series, but in the end we had our favorites. Loading them up on my forearm, I proceeded to pack my car with a few of her most precious purses for our shoot. What follows is the first of our series, Beyond the Label, and captured with each image is a short story behind the bag and it’s significance in this transatlantic Londoner’s life.
Angel Jackson clutch, Smythson neon wallet, Longchamp red clutch
Starting with her collection of clutches, the emerald green Angel Jackson has been with her for many years. What drew her to the clutch was the unusual emerald green which had more of a peacock teal hue to it that has faded into its own beautiful shade of green over time.
“I’ve been on a journey with it.”
The Longchamp has a longer history in her collection, gifted when she was 16 years old, her father purchased it during his travels to Belgium. It’s more of a cherry tomato color than a chili red, and the texture is calf hair. Longchamp has a reputation for long lasting quality and this clutch is evidence of it. And then of course we have the neon wallet. I can see Anick’s face light up when she holds it, her eyes sparkle with excitement. She’s raving at its fun and small size, and the brilliance of how convenient this wonderful find during a shopping excursion in Notting Hill last summer has been. Often leaving the house to run to the store with just her card, a little cash and her keys she is able to make do with just this wallet and her world still functions.
Alexander McQueen Padlock Leather Satchel
This McQueen was a gift from her husband, a thank you for moving to Syracuse. Like any item you buy or are given, you find that the more time you spend with it, utilizing it, the more you come to love something. Holding the bag in her hand, standing in her living room, she says matter of factly, “I’m still getting to know it.” As the neutrals of the season have changed, navy and grey are two of my favorites and I’m hoping she brings this beauty out to brunch.
Russell & Bromley golden bow wallet
And sometimes the label truly doesn’t matter. On a last minute shopping run at Russell & Bromley before an evening out, she purchased this gold bow wallet underestimating how versatile and loved it would be. Often pairing it with her denim for a day with the girls, dressing it down more often than up, “it’s just right for your cell phone and lipstick.”
Sequin vintage clutch
“This is special.” Those were her words when she brought this one out from her closet. It’s a vintage clutch that her mother passed down to her from the 80’s and she has never used it, chosing to protect and preserve it. Soft to the touch, it’s neither gold nor bronze but something right in the middle of both colors. The center tassel is reminiscent of the YSL monogram tassel shoulder bag, a bag coveted by me personally, so this was a favorite of mine to photograph.
Vivienne Westwood cream tote and Russell & Bromley black tote
Being someone who favors the large tote as a go-to myself, I understand these two in her collection. Looking at the Vivvienne Westood she turns to me and tells me, “This was mine as a single girl. This has my 20’s.” I try to imagine the story she is telling, running around Central London, throwing her work, lipsticks, sunnies, and all other random pieces of her day in there. Loving it to the point that the grey tone has faded to a warm creme. If anything, the wear has only enhanced the purse as only time can do to leather. And the grin on her face as she holds the black tote is priceless. With studs on the handles and zippers half way up the sides of it, I can tell why she loves it; it’s badass, plain and simple. We all search for that perfect black purse, it’s the one you never get rid of, like your go-to LBD there is this purse. Years of use haven’t dulled her love for it and I don’t imagine anything will.
“Givenchy”
Setting this one on her bed, she looks at me and asks what I think, I of course rave, adoring the alligator print and tell her that my sister-in-law has a the solid black one. Asking me if I’d ever heard of renting a purse before, I immediately think of Jennifer Hudson in Sex And The City. Well, back in London parading your it bag was one of the big parts of your day, and a friend of hers was very much guilty of this, and often utilized that option to rent, to which Anick always said, but you could OWN one by the time you’ve rented four times that season. So on a recent trip and coffee out, her friend placed this purse on the table and Anick quickly scooped it up telling her she absolutely mustn’t return this one because it was special. Want to know what happened next? Her friend started emptying the purse, lipstick, stunnies, cards, receipts all on the restaurant table and laughing she GAVE it to Anick. Now, my jaw dropped, and that’s when Anick had me come and take a closer look. Turns out her friend laughed and told her to have it because it was a knockoff she had picked up on a trip to Dubai, my jaw dropped even farther, because there truly were no tell tale signs, until she points out the handle’s wear. But that moment, in that restaurant, when she fell in love with it, before finding out it was a fraud, allowed her to hold on to it and earn its right into this shoot.
Prada Top Handle Bag
Gifted to her many years ago by a boyfriend from Paris, this purse made its way into many clubs. Convient in its size, it still fit whatever you needed to go out with and still tucked under your arm. And considering how Prada is more well known for their bold, bright, and large statement pieces, a classic black shoulder bag is one that doesn’t come around that often. It’s simple and sleek and in its own way, timeless.
Russell & Bromley envelop clutches
There will always be a need for the statement purse that is easy to handle. Envelop clutches take that title. Heading out for a dinner with the girls or just quick errands during the day an envelop clutch helps minimize your ability to stuff your whole life into the folds of the purse and yet it gives a little more freedom that a wallet. And Anick has a keen eye for selecting pieces that carry well for your LBD at dinner or a quick coffee run in jeans and a tee.
Louis Vuitton carryall, crossbody, and small purse
If owning just one Luis Vuitton isn’t enough for you then you can join the club with Anick, who has added to her collection over the years. But just like most of the rest of the bags in her collection are unique, the carryall and the crossbody are monogrammed. She bought the carryall in her 30’s, “Just because it was a Tuesday morning” when she her children were young and there were never too many bottles and diapers to pack. Over the years she has claimed it as her airport bag. The blue and purple have helped keep the staid monogramme young and relevant through each season, warming up winter days and adding vibrancy to a summer afternoon. The crossbody and small purse have been with her longer, since her 20’s. She bought the crossbody while working in Brussels. And not even 24 hours into its purchase the strap caught on a car and tore, she says she died, I would have died and I probably would have taken the car with me, but Louis Vuitton was kind enough to not only fix the strap, but also engrave her initials in the strap. I may forgive the car knowing this now. Speaking about the small shoulder bag, it tells a similar tale to the Prada. “This was one of those bags that took you till 4 in the morning.” This was pre-20’s, probably closer to 19 than 20, this purse was the “it” bag back then because it really was an easy go-to for going out on the town. Prior to her move this happened to be up for sale, but when it didn’t sell, she shrugged her shoulders and decided it would make the move with her.
Gucci crossbody
This was her first purchase of her own as a teenager and she giggled while holding it. Having no use for it now, it just followed her across the pond, becuase it now just exists in her collection. It barely fits anything, but during the shoot I found the perfect item for it. My Instax Poloroid fit perfectly during the shoot. And I could see this as an easy go-to for festival season which is now less than a week away. 
So the purses are all back home where they belong, but since Anick writes guest posts for us from time to time I’m hoping a brunch date will add another memory to one of the above beauties. Xo, Maliha Oh and side note, to read Anick’s recent post click here! 😉 
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