Gifts for Mom in the Bag at Tarzana Store
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, it might be wise to nail down that gift before the crunch. Most offspring are at a loss to figure out what size Mom is, which may be why handbags and perfume are favorites as Mother’s Day presents. Today, handbags; next week, perfume.
No other accessory tells the tale like a handbag. Maitre d’s at posh restaurants, I am told, check out a woman’s handbag for a clue to her status. So no cheapies will do. An inexpensive dress can gain a lot of clout with a quality handbag.
Marlene Gains Handbags in Tarzana offers high quality at significantly reduced prices. Whatever a bag goes for in the pricey boutiques, Gaines probably has it for 30% to 35% less.
More than 3,000 handbags are on display here, some of them one of a kind, and there’s a huge selection of white. Most good bags last several seasons, but I seem to need a new white one every year. And so does Mom, I’ll bet.
We found some excellent buys on Sandra Roberts designs, a very dressy, very exclusive and pricey label. Usually these sell for around $500. At Marlene’s they’re tagged at $300. But there are many less expensive gifts to be found here. I spotted a design from Brio, a manufacturer that makes a more casual bag, for $86, that one of the major boutiques tags at $139.
The Susan Gail line, from Italy, is always recognizable. Fine baby lamb in dressy styles from this designer sells here for $116 instead of $189.
It’s not just lower prices on high-end product here; there are also many well-made knockoffs of very popular and pricey manufacturers. The most popular handbag in the world is the small Chanel shoulder bag. For the real thing, we’re talking big bucks--like, starting at $660. But Gaines has a great inventory in Chanel knockoffs, and they’re in some wonderful hot colors these days. Yellows, oranges and purples sparkle among the more neutral shades. The price range on these is $72 to $134.
Even smaller than the Chanel design is the diamond-stitched bag by Bally; the only giveaway that the knockoffs in Gaines’ inventory are not the original is that there is no initial B in the lower right-hand corner. At Bally in Beverly Hills, the price on these petite woven leather handbags is $350. The knockoffs, Gaines says, are actually made in the same factory and are priced here at $77.
Marlene Gains Handbags, in the alley behind 6000 Reseda Blvd., open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: (818) 344-0442.
Geri Cook’s Bargains column runs every Thursday in Valley View. Questions about shopping may be sent to her, in care of Valley View, Los Angeles Times, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth, CA 91311. Letters will not be answered individually, but topics of general interest will be discussed in future columns.
