topic Re: Aimee Kestenberg in Handbags

Aimee Kestenberg

pegomyheart — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 14:50:54 GMT

Is it just me, or do you find a lot of the colors/prints of her handbags, well, garish? I have seen several styles I like but the color choices are awful. (Blue snakeskin). I realize she is trying to be different, but I think she is off the mark in what women want to carry.

She should take a hint from the Brahmin designers. They mix animal skins and colors in such beautiful combinations.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

mac116 — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:00:11 GMT

I do not like camo handbags. Both Aimee and LUG use a lot of camo in their designs. That is just not for me. In my city I never see anyone wearing camo unless they are going up north to hunt

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

Meowingkitty — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:02:45 GMT

I agree. While some of her bags are pretty, they aren't for me because I'm basically a brown, black or if I really want to go wild i will wear a beige in summer. Brahman bags are also beautiful and my first choice.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:19:57 GMT

I agree with you. It's not like I'm out and about in a professional setting (I'm 70 and haven't worked in 43 years) but I do get out and live minutes from DC where many professionals work (i.e. people who are in the work force and must dress nicely) and I don't see people carrying those camo (is that how it's spelled) purses or anything camo.

As for me, I don't like it either. It's just a matter of preference, I guess.

So I bought the today's special. There weren't many good colors even to start with. I ended up with the baby blue one! I liked the way it is made but I'm pretty sure I'll send it back due to the color. I actually have a much smaller bag of her's in that pink color I use in the summer. I have a bad back and knees so sometimes I change into a small bag.

I tuned in when the purse was a TSV maybe a short time after midnight and one or two of the 'normal' colors were gone. I didn't get the black because I felt like the designs faded into the bag with the black. They always make the purse (my opinion) heavier than it would be otherwise so I figured if I'm going to put up with the extra weight, I want it to be seen. (Crazy/stupid, I know.)

I do get compliments on some of my purses. It's strange the things people notice. I gave a dear friend an expensive Dooney bag. She'd never heard of Dooney and didn't like it, so she gave it back and I sent it back. It wasn't a weird color or design, she'd rather carry the ugliest canvas (yes, gray canvas bag) that looks like it was carried during WWII through battle! We are good enough friends (and a purse is a personal thing) that it didn't bother me that she gave it back. I'd rather that than have it sit in the back of her closet.

Incidentally, I know the TSV I bought was O'Yany. I guess it sounds like I think it's Amy's. I mentioned the TSV I bought because (in my opinion) those colors she had are almost as bad (though not camo) as O'Yany's.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

stevieb — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 15:31:50 GMT

Not a fan of most of her bags either... and find her somewhat annoying when presenting. Too much snake and too much camo... Too many streamers, bells and whistles. Personally, I think these designs will prove to be dated sooner rather than later.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

mistyada — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 16:41:37 GMT

I think the bags for GILI, Aimee and Lug reflected the taste of the QVC buying team. I do not see camo, lots of tassels, etc at Saks, Nordstrom or Nieman. The sites that carry Lug that I have shopped only carry solids.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

stevieb — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 16:46:35 GMT

@mistyada wrote:
I think the bags for GILI, Aimee and Lug reflected the taste of the QVC buying team. I do not see camo, lots of tassels, etc at Saks, Nordstrom or Nieman. The sites that carry Lug that I have shopped only carry solids.

I agree... I don't see the 'trends' they're touting out and about... Moreover, many of these designs, at this point, are several years old, perhaps because they refuse to offer true 'clearance' prices.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

jaxs mom — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 17:40:01 GMT

I like some of her leather treatments, like the silver foil over black and her pewter leather. But her line has way too many snake/exotic treatments and it limits other color choices.

I'm also not particularly impressed with the quality of her leather. I've had cloth bags that have better structure than her leather ones. And don't get me started on the organization. Too many of her pockets ( inside and out) are just so tiny as to have no practical use. I like a stylish bag but it has to be usable also.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

Goldengate8361 — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 19:10:07 GMT

I really dislike her style, too. She also doesn't really design very functional crossbody bags, either. But, hey....to each their own, right?

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

meem120 — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 22:00:45 GMT

Some of it reminds me of the Kathy Van Zealand bags..ugh!

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

TY — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 10:06:08 GMT

I like some of Aimee's designs and I like the way she designed the inside cell phone pockets. I don't like that she makes her bags with magnetic snap closures and the quality of her metal zippers is average.

Sueded leather printed to look like snakeskin isn't hard wearing either as the dye on some is on the surface and not all the way through.

I believe that her bags, G.I.L.I., and Isaac Mizrahi bags are made by Li & Fung's Global Brands Group as there is a similarity in their quality, linings, and findings.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

Caaareful Shopper — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 14:19:28 GMT

Aimee is a big success globally, winning design competitions abroad and in the US. But I have to agree, I just haven't seen anything yet that I like. She studied industrial design in her home of Australia; I can definitely see that esthetic in her handbags, which have a lot going on with them.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

adiebaby — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 06:12:45 GMT

I consider myself a bit of a handbag snob and I have to disagree with a lot of you out there. i have one of aimee satchel bags the "soho" It is one of the best designed bags I own and I have dooney and bourke, oryany, coach, mk, etc. In fact I liked this bag so much I ordered another one. Yes some of her leather treatments are a bit much but her leather is quality and the hardware is beautiful AND I love her camo!!! come on ladies give her a break.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

libbyannE — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 06:19:58 GMT

Agree. Ditto with Brahmin. I like leather that looks like leather-- like a favorite saddle or pair of good boots. Not into faux reptile, metallic leather, etc. I know that is just my taste, so I am not saying that the faux treatments are inherently bad. They just aren't for me.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

QuinnPenny — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 07:47:42 GMT

I don't know what they are thinking, making bags with camouflage, not smart decisions.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

jonbon — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 00:30:42 GMT

@libbyannE wrote:
Agree. Ditto with Brahmin. I like leather that looks like leather-- like a favorite saddle or pair of good boots. Not into faux reptile, metallic leather, etc. I know that is just my taste, so I am not saying that the faux treatments are inherently bad. They just aren't for me.

I guess that's what I don't always like about Brahmin -- virtually everything has that faux croco texture. I do think that many of the bags are very pretty, but they have a heavy, stiff look to me.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

SahmIam — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 01:12:32 GMT

OP: Yes.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

QuinnPenny — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 08:31:02 GMT

I like some of Braham bags, but they are very stiff, I have 2 bags. I have 2 of Amy's bags also, and Coach, Tenanillo, B Mac, and a lot of others. I think I have tried just about all the medium priced bags, and I have come to the conclusion that Dooney bags are the best quality for the price. I'm going to stick to Dooney, and give away all the rest.

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

Susan107E — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 17:05:01 GMT

Considering how successful she is, clearly women who are buying bags dont agree with you. I also think you probably have too much time on your hands to write a negative post about someone just trying to make it.

You need to get a hobby. Or better yet, build your own handbag line!

Re: Aimee Kestenberg

stevieb — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 15:59:14 GMT

@jaxs mom wrote:
I like some of her leather treatments, like the silver foil over black and her pewter leather. But her line has way too many snake/exotic treatments and it limits other color choices.

I'm also not particularly impressed with the quality of her leather. I've had cloth bags that have better structure than her leather ones. And don't get me started on the organization. Too many of her pockets ( inside and out) are just so tiny as to have no practical use. I like a stylish bag but it has to be usable also.

I agree @jaxs mom for bags at mid-range prices and above, it isn't a matter of form OR function, for me, a successful design has to offer both... That said, with most of her bags, I'm rarely 'wowed' by either.