My partner will have to look at it every night when he goes go bed - he’s not the biggest fan of the Catalonia art giants.
I walked in prepared to try the small featherlight puzzle in pecan, but the SA brought me a nubuck as well…and I fell in love instantly. On top of the gorgeous nubuck (I told him I love leather that ages), it’s the only version that comes with silver hardware in the small size! The lining is lambskin. I know the puzzle is not everyone’s cup of tea but I love it!
So glad I got these before my trip. I am going to wear the heck outta these (currently) white sneakers. I love the little orange surprise in the back.
Experts, I need your H bias to de-influence me. I’m going to be in Spain very soon and for the trip I was going finally pull the trigger on the Loewe Puzzle as a first-time-in-Spain-yay souvenir.
I’ve admired Anderson’s work (from afar) ever since he surprised me with the Puzzle Men’s duffle in 2015. When I saw they were launching a super slouchy nappa lambskin version in pecan last year to celebrate the bag’s 10-year anniversary, my radar was on high alert.
Since then, however, I have also gotten the Kelly Messenger GM in noir togo as a Thanksgiving self-care gift and I love it. I guess I like it so much that I’m thinking of adding the PM size which is about the same size as the small puzzle.
Puzzle pro: easy to get (checked inventory and it’s available at the Maison Loewe right by my hotel), love the construction and idea, smooshy lambskin, love the buttery pecan leather, a true souvenir, 1/4 the price of the alternative so I save over 10k! 12k if you factor in taxes (10+% sales tax here) and lower retail price of the Puzzle in Spain and VAT refund.
Puzzle con: over exposure on social media so I might be influenced, scratches easily
KM Barenia Faubourg pro: I know it’s useful already, BF will patina in a lovely way, more scratch resistant because of the grain, contrast stitching which is cute to me, known commodity.
KM BF con: more structured, already have the GM size so it’s not adding that much other than size and color, it’s 4X the cost, will have to check website pretty regularly (well, one is available on the US website now but won’t last).
Puzzle or KM?
Background: Not a VIP or high spender like many of you fine H experts here. I just started visiting my local boutique a couple months ago, worked with three different SAs on each of my three last minute drop-in visits. I’m not after a quota bag (I’m a shoulder carry/crossbody boy, need those free hands for coffee and checking email on my daily walk to work). Two of the three SAs I’ve worked with have sent me personalized, handwritten notes (got one today by mail). I know this is simply part of client development but these gestures matter and they work - at last for me. The fact that they would take the time to do this for a drop-in shopper speaks volumes about their work ethic.
Question: Is it weird to work with two SAs from the same boutique moving forward? I’m not playing the game so I don’t really have a compelling reason to work with one exclusively. On the other hand, I don’t want to stir drama if the expectation is to have one SA be responsible for one client. I genuinely enjoyed working with both. I’ve already been in communication with one of the SAs about certain items and she’s been so responsive and helpful. But abandoning the other seems so…mean. Ugh.