10 Luxury Questions with Penny Karabey from Luxury Next Season
At Collecting Luxury, we are always wanting to hear about our fellow collectors and how they were able to grow their fabulous fashion collection over time. We have a series of Collecting Luxury Top Collectors and we have had the privilege of interviewing each of them about their distinctive fashion style, their absolute favorites and so much more!
Our first interview is with Penny Karabey from Luxury Next Season! We have been following Penny for a year or more now and we just love her chic iconic style. We asked Penny to do this interview first, as she is one of Collecting Luxury Top Collectors and we wanted to hear more from Penny herself about her well rounded fashion collection.
As for each of our interviews, we have our Top 10 questions that we will be asking for each collector. We have accumulated these specific questions from all you fabulous collectors out there who responded to our social media poll on what you wanted to read about most! Enjoy our interview with Penny below:
Q1: Social Media Handle(s):
A1: @luxurynextseason and @Penny
Q2: Name on Social Media:
A2: Luxury Next Season and Penny Karabey
Q3: What designer is your favorite to collect?
A3: Fendi and Dior are currently my favorites. Over the years I have fixated on certain brands for certain periods of time like Gucci, Celine, Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta and I love each and every piece I have collected, but I would say the ones I enjoy most are Fendi and Dior because identify with the codes of the houses and find their pieces alluring season after season, and Hermès because I enjoy the thrill of the hunt to find the exact bag I am looking for! I am currently on a mission for a Blue Zellige Mini Kelly!
Q4: How many bags do you have in your collection?
4: I haven’t counted! I like to think that if I don’t actually know how many I have, nobody can say I have too many! I will say that I am fortunate enough to have amassed a bag collection that provides me with enough variety that I never seem to get bored.
5) What would be one bag or designer item you would never sell from your collection?
5: There are many pieces in my bag wardrobe that will never leave it. The first that comes to mind is a Fendi patterned velvet medium Peekaboo that is an one of very few. I have never seen another one like it anywhere in the world. Even the team at Fendi comments on how special it is each time they see it on my arm. My favorite story was when I ran into Silvia Fendi during a fashion week event and she recognized my bag, telling me I must be very special to have such a rare bag! My heart still skips a beat every time I see the bag.
Q6: What is the rarest bag or designer item you have in your collection?
A6: I have many rare pieces as those tend to be the ones that capture my attention, but the most special bag in my closet is a made-to-order Fendi mini Peekaboo in the most stunning shade of green. It is almost an emerald shade, with mint green crocodile trim and a nameplate inside the bag engraved with my name. When I received it, it came with the most beautiful note from Silvia Fendi. It is one of one which makes it irreplaceable. I will also say that I adore my Moutarde (Mustard Yellow) Birkin 35 from Hermès. I don’t think I have ever seen someone else carrying a yellow Birkin, especially in a larger size. The bag makes such a statement and always garners compliments when I am walking down the street. The most special piece of clothing in my wardrobe would have to be my Fendi mink bomber jacket with pearl trim. It was one of those pieces that took my breath away the moment I saw it. It was one of the most expensive things I have ever purchased for myself but it was worth every penny. I love the fact that I can wear it casually or more formally. I have worn it to school to pick up my son and also to fashion shows. It is a timeless and unforgettable treasure!
Q7: What is one of the biggest luxury designer buying mistakes you have encountered?
A7: Buying something you aren’t 100% in love with because it is the must-have piece at the time or it is trendy. I only buy pieces I absolutely adore. After all, the pieces I like are quality pieces that come with hefty price tags. It is an expensive mistake to buy something you do not love. If I don’t get excited every time I look at something, or if I don’t feel like I will be excited to wear something every time, I do not buy it, regardless of how popular or trendy it is.
Q8: What luxury bag would you not purchase again and why?
A8: I try not to have regrets, but looking back I likely wouldn’t have purchased a Chanel Boy bag. I am not a Chanel devotee, but every once in a while a piece captivates me and I purchase it. I loved the Boy bag for a short time but have not worn it in years.
Q9: What is your favorite color you tend to gravitate towards when shopping for a luxury bag? Seasonal or trendy colors? Classic colors?
A9. I am known for my love of color, I do not wear black often. My collection of bags is truly a rainbow, but with green being my favorite color, green bags are my favorite to purchase. However I have found myself reaching for more neutrals and muted tones lately such a dove gray, taupe and pale yellow.
Q10: What advice would you give a bag collector who is just starting out their collection?
A10: Collecting handbags is a marathon not a sprint! Take time to enjoy each bag and purchase. Buying a luxury bag is often an experience and it can be such a fun process. It has taken me over a decade to build my collection and it has taken that long because I want to love, enjoy and use every bag that I have. I do not buy for the sake of having more. Beautiful things are meant to be used.
Thank you so much Penny for this amazing interview and letting us in a bit into your personal collection plus super iconic style!! We love love love you and we admire that you a bag collection which represents a rainbow! That is always our dream when we collect our bags as well! <3 <3 <3
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