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My Backpack Obsession - Hello G.I.L.I.!!!

by on ‎03-17-2015 01:29 PM

I have an obsession. If you look in my closet, you would see an obscene amount of backpacks.



Travel backpacks, fabric backpacks, leather backpacks, convertible styles, solids, and prints. I know it may seem over the top, but if you give it a solid try, it's extremely liberating. I have been wearing them for years, but oddly enough, I never used them in school. I went from the "book bag" of the late 70's and early 80's to "pocketbooks" (as we called them in my house) for the rest of my schooling years. Needless to say, I had very toned arms from carrying those enormous textbooks in my hands! I only wish I had discovered the benefits of backpacks then. I started using them when I worked in Las Vegas, because I always had to bring costuming pieces, shoes, makeup and wig accessories back and forth, and I really wasn't a tote person. Totes were too big and clunky for me, and I felt they dragged me down. Backpacks gave my hands freedom, and the bag just became a part of my body, with so much less fuss than a regular bag.



I liked using them so much for work, I started looking for smaller versions for everyday. They were hard to find back then, and weren't as fashionable as I wanted them to be. Imagine my delight when the high end designers started embracing them, and making them gorgeous! The only flaw, was that they were only backpacks, and weren't as comfortable with a single strap over the shoulder.


 



Hence, the convertible backpack was born. I tried my first convertible about three years ago, and never looked back. Comfy and adorable on the back, chic and ladylike on the shoulder. My first one was in fabric, but I really wanted leather. G.I.L.I to the rescue!


Here I am with one of our handbag buyers at our Accessories Style out holding one of the newer, smaller GILI backpacks that were coming as today's TSV!  




I have the larger version of this bag in three colors, and it suits all of my needs. (I was actually carrying my black large GILI backpack when I first saw the newer, smaller size that was coming!)  Because there were so many requests to make the bag smaller and lighter, our Buyers went back to the drawing board and this is the result.



Here are the two sizes - side by side so you can see the exact size difference.


The smaller size is perfect for spring and summer, as our wardrobes get lighter and hemlines get higher. Not to mention the gorgeous tassel detail that is a signature of the G.I.L.I brand. I went back to Vegas to visit family last summer, and wore the original version there. I received tons of compliments in restaurants and at shows!


This is definitely not your daughter's backpack! Functional during the day, and hot stuff at night...what more could a girl ask for?