By Sarah Rainey
Daily Mail
Oct. 10, 2016
Handbag heaven! Desperate for an It-bag but can't stretch to designer prices? Time to sharpen your elbows and join the other savvy women flocking to new auctions of rare and coveted bags.
A hush spreads through the auction room as Lot 259 comes up for sale. Handcrafted, in pristine condition and incredibly rare, few are lucky enough to lay their hands on something so beautiful — let alone buy one of their own.
There’s a flurry of excited whispers as bidding starts at £6,000. Within seconds it’s jumped to £6,500, then £7,000.
Smartly dressed women are nudging one another — and their husbands — as they crane their necks towards the back of the room, where a glamorous blonde in skinny jeans and a baby blue cashmere jumper is refusing to back down.
She raises her bidding card to signal £7,200. An online bidder offers £7,400. The woman pauses, sighs, and raises the bid to £7,600.
Silence descends on the room again. ‘Going once, going twice . . . sold to the lady in the back row!’ declares the auctioneer.