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The first time I decided to buy myself an expensive bag, and by expensive I mean anything more than P1,000, I got myself a Longchamp Le Pliage. I bought it at the Hong Kong airport in 2010, on my second trip there in a month, after first checking several Longchamp branches if they differ in price and comparing them to the pricing in Manila. Effort, makatipid lang, haha!

I’ve been noticing Longchamp Le Pliage’s bold colors and classy design before a friend even introduced me to the brand by calling it “the best travel and everyday bag” because of its quality and durability. I fell in love with its simplicity and functionality while giving my #OOTD a touch of subtle luxury. The best part is how you can just fold it up and store it easily, making it such a temptation to hoard them. Since then, I’ve been frequenting Rustan’s—where it has been available in the Makati, Shangri-La Plaza, and Ayala Center Cebu branches for over two decades—checking the Longchamp bags on display.

At dahil mahal magpunta sa Hong Kong (or Paris, where it was founded in 1948, for that matter) just to shop, I’m glad that FINALLY, the world-renowned French luxury leather goods brand opens its first stand-alone boutique in the Philippines, located at Greenbelt 5 in Makati. The handbags and accessories it is well-loved for are prominently displayed and highlighted in the brightly-lit and elegant shop. The light stone floors and muted wall colors in white and shades of brown give it a contemporary charm.

Longchamp Greenbelt 5 store front during the opening

The grand launch of the store also featured a fashion show that presented Longchamp’s Spring/Summer 2015 Collection, specifically the timeless and chic leather bags from the Le Pliage Cuir and Le Pliage Héritage lines.

Longchamp Le Pliage Heritage

The Le Pliage Cuir follows the silhouette of the iconic Le Pliage but comes in an assortment of colorful hues of metisse leather, a hybrid of lambskin and goatskin.

The Le Pliage Héritage bags, meanwhile, offer a distinctive combination of contemporary style and traditional craftsmanship with its striking trapezoidal structure inspired by the timeless Le Pliage as well. For Spring 2015, Longchamp debuts three variations of Le Pliage Heritage. First, there’s Le Pliage Heritage Mini, which, though downsized, remains roomy enough for everyday essentials. The mini formats come in new seasonal shades—Acid Yellow, Electric Blue, and Vivid Coral—alongside the existing Black, Carmine, Amber, and Ecru.

Longchamp Le Pliage Heritage

Eye-catching color is the talking point of Le Pliage Heritage Neon, which combines smooth calfskin in sophisticated neutral shades with neon-bright edges that highlight its graphic structure. Subtle Beige is paired with flashes of Emergency Orange, elegant Navy with Acid Yellow, and classic Black with Shocking Pink.

Longchamp Le Pliage Heritage Neon

Finally, Le Pliage Heritage Luxe is back this season with a striking new pattern. The front of the bag—in calf hair—is printed with irregular brown or black stripes tinged with delicate pink or blue hues inspired by the Aurora Borealis. Meanwhile, the back and sides of the bag, as well as its flap and handles, are crafted from ecru calfskin.

Check out the latest handbags and accessories from Longchamp in the gallery below. Click on a thumbnail to launch the slideshow and view the details of each model.

We also spotted familiar stylish ladies Tricia Gosingtian, Nicole Andersson, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, DJ Katrina “Katsu” Razon, Martine Cajucom, and Divine Lee at the Philippine store launch. Click through the gallery for celeb and fashion show photos.

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