Am I Weird or What?

This is Lancel’s Balconnet Croco Pattern Leather handbag. Its recommended retail price in France, including VAT, is €699. In Malaysia, it retails for RM4,980. But remember the Malaysian Mega Sale that I was telling you about in a previous post? Well, thanks to that sale, plus the fact that Lancel just opened a new shop in Suria KLCC, this beauty is on sale for RM2,499. And it’s on sale until this Sunday only.

I especially love the chain link accent at the front of the bag, with the crocodile pattern a close second. The colour is black with a tinge of deep maroon-brown, so it can easily match any colour outfit, but is not as drab and boring as regular black.

The Lancel Balconnet is designed as a bucket bag with a drawstring, thus it can look small and slim when relatively empty, but it can also expand and handle a lot of things should one decide to stuff it. A long removable leather strap is included, should one wish to wear it across the body, such as when travelling.

Photos from www.lancel.com

Lancel is a luxury brand with roots that go as far back as 1876, founded in Paris, France. Its most historic boutique is located at Place de l’Opera and its largest display window is on the Champs Elysees. However, being relatively new in Malaysia, Lancel is not as well-known or popular as Louis Vuitton, Gucci or Coach. Which is exactly what I want — individuality and uniqueness. You see far too many LV’s and Gucci’s and Coaches in every street corner these days, knock-offs from China and Korea included!

This, on the other hand, is the Nikkor 18-200mm VR lens. Its recommended retail price in Malaysia is RM3,188 but it can be had for around RM2,500 if you shop around (yes, Virginia, that’s the price for the lens alone!). I’ve tried this lens when we went to Bintan recently and I was in awe of the resulting crisp, sharp, crystal clear images such as this one of Twin2 at the pool of Angsana Bintan Resorts & Spa (click on the photo below to see a larger photo).

This photo had no Photoshopping whatsoever other than a slight lightening using the Fill Flash.

Assuming I had the RM2,500 cash right now OR would consider using my credit cards 12-months interest-free instalment payment plan to purchase either item, I think I might just possibly be the only woman in this planet who’d forgo a designer bag on sale — at 50% off, no less! — in favour of a piece of glass. And I’m not even a professional photographer.

Am I weird or what?

Tags: Lancel