photograph courtesy of Canadian House & Home
On Tuesday one of my favorite blogs Style Redux had a post (see HERE) on upcycling shopping bags as art work. While reading Canadian House & Home's special issue on Condos, Lofts & Apartments (which I found at my local Borders earlier this week while stocking up on reading material for the long weekend), I spied yet another example of shopping bags-turned-art in the guest room of a chic and feminine Toronto penthouse.
While certain high end shopping retailers and designers undeniably produce some outstanding packaging (I can think of few businesses that have managed to brand themselves better than, say, Tiffany's), I can't help but think this is the home decor equivalent of wearing a Gucci logo t-shirt; in other words, it's brand over style. Ultimately though, the question of whether we are attracted to the beauty/value of the thing itself or just what store it comes from it may be a bit like asking if the chicken or the egg came first. I just can't say unequivocally that Chanel No. 5 would smell as sweet if it were called by any other name and sold at CVS.
On the other hand, maybe I'm just overthinking this. After all, I do like the idea of reusing these admittedly attractive bags and framing them as art -- especially in a dressing room or large closet, should you be so lucky to have either -- rather than simply throwing them away. And maybe I should just leave it at that. Since I'd love your thoughts on the matter, I'll open this up to a vote.
