By RICHARD CARREÑO
[WC News Service]
MONTREAL -- In the surreal world of ultra luxury shopping and privilege, nothing better conveys a lady's status as a regal One Percenter than a handbag from Hermès, the Parisian leather, scarf, and lifestyle goods maker and purveyor. Especially if that accessory is demurely coded as a Kelly bag, eponymously named after the blondish Hollywood movie star, fairy-tale princess, and Philadelphian.
Indeed, the bag might be another kind entirely, one that fits as comfortably over a saddled horse, as does Kelly nestles in the crook of an arm. Yes, a saddle bag -- and, yes, it's among an extensive array of horse furniture, including bridles, girths, saddle pads, and saddles themselves (starting price, from $6,750) that Hermès turns with the same kind of faithfulness to quality and the high art of customized workmanship that's imbued in other of its products.