Hello Bags!

I've recently started to collect Hello Kitty bags.  Purses, tote bags and messenger bags are my favorite.  Since I am getting a little older I prefer my bags to be a little more fashionable, practical and not like I "borrowed" them from one of my preteen nieces.  


LOUNGEFLY


The brand Loungefly.com has a ton of super cute and functional Hello Kitty bags.  I currently have two of them but would love to buy more.  Click on the link to see some of their great bag selections.  The two Loungefly bags I own are bigger bags, which makes them great for taking things to work, like my lunch or books for school along with all the other day-to-day things I need to carry around with me.  The top bag is a purple and black tweed print with faux black leather detail and silver stud details.  OK, I know the Hello Kitty skull bow and crossbones on the bag are a little immature but I do like that kind of thing when it is done in moderation or when I wear something very girly or something kind of serious and have something like this to kind of punch up the outfit.  The second one is a quilted faux leather Hello Kitty face tote with a 3D padded bow.  I love how it is a big Hello Kitty face but is also quilted and looks like patented leather even though it's faux leather.  

Loungefly also has these shiny tote patent faux leather bags with embossed detail that I want to buy.  They come in different colors.  They are definitely on my wish list, along with the matching wallets!  

MESSENGER BAGS

If you've read my Hello Travel! post from a few weeks ago, you will remember this blue Hello Kitty messenger bag.  This is one of my favorites because it is big and roomy and great for using when I travel or for going to work.  

I also have a few smaller size messenger bags that I use.  The one on the left I bought at Hot Topic years ago.  While I still love it and think it's cute, I don't use it all that much because I think I may be getting a little to old to wear it out.  Unlike the bag above with the skull detail, I think this one is a just a little to young for me at this point.  That said, I have no plans to get rid of it though!  The bag on the right is a favorite of mine.  It's a black faux leather Hello Kitty messenger bag that a friend got for me in Portland.  I use this one a lot.  Especially for work when I am not totting around a schoolbook or lunch from home.  

SPECIAL BAGS

Finally, here are two, sort of special bags I own.  They are both hard shelled and are on "display" as opposed to bags I would use in everyday life.  The bag on the left is round and has a Rockabilly Hello Kitty on the front.  The sides and back are black with cherries on it.  Very cute.  The bag, or box, on the right was from a Hello Kitty holiday edition many years back.  It is winter white and has faux fur on the top of the case and on the handle.  The image of Hello Kitty is in a snowflake.  

Hello Travel!

I came across this article over the weekend and figured it would be perfect for my next blog post, since I planned on showing off some of my Hello Kitty travel gear.  The article, "EVA Air's 'Hello Kitty' Aircraft Set for a Comeback" from the Focus Taiwan News Channel talks about how Eva Air is bringing back the Hello Kitty airplane to celebrate their 20 year anniversary and hopefully spark new interest in the airline.  The airplane is all decked in Hello Kitty, from the outside of the plane to the inside.  Napkins, baggage tags, boarding passes, and flight attendants aprons will all display Hello Kitty!  I would love to take a trip from Taiwan to Japan and visit the Hello Kitty theme park Harmonyland in Japan.  Yes, there is a Hello Kitty theme park.  I haven't been there yet but hope to one day.  It is kind of like the Disneyland for Hello Kitty fans!
 

I received this red Hello Kitty suitcase as a gift many years ago.  I honestly can't remember who bought it for me or when they gave it to me.  Sorry, gift giver!  I don't really use this one for travel because it is a little flimsy but it is on "display" in my living room. 

My mom found this Hello Kitty rolling suitcase at a garage sale!  I think she spent about $3 on it.  I was super excited when she gave it to me.  I've used this on occasion when I travel.  It is a little small though.  If I had a daughter, she would be strutting her stuff through airport with this suitcase!

This is one of my favorite Hello Kitty bags!  It's a light blue, quilted, faux leather duffle bag that I bought at a Chinatown store in Boston probably about 10 years ago.  It's gone on a lot of trips with me.  I usually travel with this bag instead of a suitcase.  It is a little beat up but it still has a lot of life in it. 

OK, I know this is a backpack but I do use it a lot when I travel.  Especially if I am taking a quick trip home to visit my family.  It holds a lot of stuff and always fits under the seat of an airplane.  This is another bag that has a bit of wear and tear but I will probably use until there is no more life left in it!

I use this blue Hello Kitty messenger bag a lot as well.  It is another great bag for quick trips.  I can fit my school books and clothes in it when I travel.  This is the same bag I was wearing in my New York, Sanrio store picture.  To be honest I can't remember when or where I bought this.  

Finally, these are two pieces of Hello Kitty Large Rolling Luggage are $320 each and are available through the Sanrio Website.  These are on my wish list.  If I had the money I would get one, if not both of them!  The Sanrio Website has a ton of travel bags, luggage, luggage tags and everything else you could ever need or want for your travels. 

Hello Kitty Shopping Across the United States!

HELLO SHOPPING!!!

My pursuit of all things Hello Kitty has led me to many different stores, which sell many different sorts of Hello Kitty items all over the country.  NYC, LA, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Cleveland...  The list goes on and on.  When I am on vacation, I usually will check to see if there is a Sanrio Store in the area.  If there are no Sanrio stores, I will check for authorized dealers in the area.  In addition, if it is a big city with a Chinatown, I will try my hardest to make a trip there to hunt for Hello Kitty.  It seems like the stores in Chinatown that sell Hello Kitty have the best and most unusual items. 

SEATTLE, WA

Here I am shopping for Hello Kitty in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District in 2008. We were at the wonderful Uwajimaya Village.   My boyfriend Jonathan snapped this photo.  Notice how excited my friend Michael is.  I, on the other hand was very excited to be there!  Just look at that big smile on my face!  This place seemed to specialize in Hello Kitty bags and school supplies. 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Below you will see a picture of me hugging a giant stuffed Hello Kitty at the (now defunct) two-story-super-sized Sanrio store in Union Square section of San Francisco.  Imagine my surprise and delight, when I saw the store had two floors of Hello Kitty greatness!  My friends were a little annoyed with the amount of time I wanted to spend going through each and every item on both floors.  I think at one point they left and came back.  I’m not sure how long they were gone, since I was in the Hello Kitty shopping zone!  I believe this picture was taking way back in 1999.  Sadly, the two story Sanrio store is no longer there. 

NEW YORK, NY - SANRIO STORE

Finally, a trip to New York City in 2006.  Not only did I got to the Sanrio Store that is located near Times Square but my boyfriend and I also spent some time in Chinatown as well.  (He's a really good sport when it comes my Hello Kitty addiction!)  Here I am, very excited about being at the store near Times Square, despite the construction going on outside.  (Note the Blue Hello Kitty messenger bag I am sporting!)

NEW YORK, NY - CHINATOWN

This is a shop in Chinatown, NYC, that sells a ton of Hello Kitty items.  I did purchase that very cute, pink, Hello Kitty jewelry box that is to my left.  It is perfect for holding all of my sparkly Hello Kitty jewelry.