Vidhushi on bags

“A good bag boosts self-confidence,” opines Vidushi Rana, the Managing Director of Zentech International. A former banker and a mother of an 11- and four-year-olds, Rana is an avid bag enthusiast.



For her, a high-end bag stands out on its own because of the quality of its leather and craftsmanship.[break]



“Buying a good bag is more like an investment,” says the petite femme, who looks unbelievably young for a 33-year-old. Commenting on her well-maintained figure, she says, “People think I diet but it’s the high metabolism that has helped me remain fit. And I try to exercise two-three times a week,” she adds jokingly.



Vidushi worked as Marketing Head for Kumari Bank for six years. However, to spend more time with her children, she took a two-year break from work. Now she is brainstorming in new ventures.



“I’m with Zentech International, which looks after rural telecommunications,” she says. “Come January 2010, we’ll roll out an Internet telephony infrastructure that’ll enable Nepalis living abroad to make calls to Nepal at significantly low costs.”


Along with works and business plans, a fashionista also resides in the lady’s mind, which is evident from the selection of her apparels. Fashion for her is when one can mix and match and express one’s personality through her own style.



“I’ve always been surrounded by fashionable people – my mom, grandma, brother and friends.” She recalls. “Actually, it was my brother who introduced me to stylish high-end bags. He had gifted me one when he returned home from the UK after his studies.”



For good effects, she adds, “My husband is the other fashionable person. And he’s the one who has bought me most of my bags. Whenever he travels, he makes sure to get me one.”



But when she buys bags on her own, she prefers her clutches to be chic and trendy. She looks for totes that fit her purse, cell phone, makeup et al and which can accommodate everything and look classy at the same time. After all, a woman carries her world in her bag.



This issue of The Week compiles some of the dos and don’ts from the closet of bagista Vidushi.



Dos

1. Categorizing bags for different occasions is helpful: Leather clutch for cocktails, totes for casuals. And much like a pair of jeans, when a bag is perfect, it shows.


2. Look after your bags and store them in their dust bag covers, or use natural fiber-soft pillowslips. For storage, use bubble wrap to stuff your bags as it doesn’t attract moths


3. If your bag has a chain handle, store the chain inside the bag to avoid scratching the outside leather when the bag is resting.


4. Avoid handling your designer bag after applying beauty products, face foundations or hand creams. Handle your bag, especially lighter ones, with clean hands.

Don’ts

1. Don’t take your special bag for a big weekly shopping unless you’re planning to impress a prospective Mr. Right.


2. Don’t use your special handbag if the weather is really bad and raining.


3. It’s not like before when you had to match your bags and shoes. In fact, I hardly wear red shoes with a red bag. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different hues!!


4. Don’t buy flimsy travel bags. A travel bag has to be sturdy and should have lots of pockets. Meantime, just splurge now and then if a bag catches your eye and invest in it when you know you’ll use it.