KDH: The Perfect Purse has the greatest selection of previously owned designer bags KDH has ever seen. You opened last October- what has been the response to your treasure trove of dream bags?
PERFECT PURSE: Well everyone told us we were crazy for opening in the off-season! We really wanted time to fine tune, and establish ourselves before “the season” started. We are so grateful we did, because the pace now would have been too overwhelming. Ironically, business was quite good during the off-season!

KDH: The store feels like Victoria Beckham’s giant walk-in closet. What inspired the design?
PP: My partner Alan had a furniture and interior design business, so we found really beautiful pieces that showcase the bags. It took almost 3 months to gut and renovate the space with warm wood floors and fabulous antiques.

KDH: Tease the readers- fill us in on the bags you currently covet at The Perfect Purse..
PP: We offer everything from designer purses under $100, to a $36,000 orange crocodile Hermes Birkin bag. Our specialty really is the Birkin – we have about 160 Hermes bags in the store right now!

KDH: [trouble breathing] There may not be that many Birkins available in the NY Hermes store! How did you acquire so many?
PP: I acquire them everywhere. You name it, I have searched it: Regular auctions, online auctions, consignment stores, estate sales. I often fly to LA for the Rose Bowl Flea Market, which is the largest monthly flea in the United States. I take two empty suitcases which fly home filled to the brim. I leave no stone unturned. I once went into a random thrift shop and actually found a real Hermes bag…for $5!

KDH: What?! Okay, KDH will give you $20 for it…
PP: [laughing] I love telling this Hermes story because it proves that you never know where your next great find will come from. It’s my job to find the best bags, so I spend time and effort searching for our customers. If it’s your passion, you can find what you’re looking for.

KDH: So here’s the $36,000 question: How do we know the bags “are real” at The Perfect Purse?
PP: Every customer always asks that same question, and the answer is unequivocally: yes they are real! We guarantee the authenticity of every single bag. We are not a consignment store; we personally buy the best bags we can find.

KDH: Seriously speaking, if the house were burning down, KDH would grab her black Birkin bag. What really makes Hermes the kingpin of the luxury goods market?
PP: Hermes, in my opinion, is the pinnacle of luxury goods. The bags are elegant yet simple, and the quality is the best you can find. They are one of the few houses that still make the bags by hand, and their craftsmanship is unmatched. Every Hermes bag is stamped with a letter indicating the year it was made. I have never dealt with a company that was so great about caring for the quality of their bags even after they were purchased. You can bring in a Birkin bag that your mother had for 40 years, and the store will treat you like you bought it that day.

KDH: Other luxe labels you prefer to carry at The Perfect Purse?
PP: We have lots of Chanel, Gucci, and Dior bags. We specialize in exotic skin bags, mainly alligator, crocodile, and ostrich. My background is in high end, luxury retail; I learned all about designers, luxury goods, and knowing what to look for at Bergdorf Goodman in NY.

KDH: How do you refurbish the bags to make them look so perfectly new?
PP: We personally condition every bag that comes in, but don’t take on the big repairs when it comes to stitching, etc. My belief is that every bag on the floor should be in top condition. That’s why people ask so many questions—they can’t believe the shape they’re in!

KDH: So, if a KDH reader is ready to embark on building a luxury bag collection- where should she start?
PP: Start with Chanel! A classic quilted, chain strap bag. Young Hollywood is obsessed with the classic Chanel bag. The Gossip Girls, the Olsen twins, Nicole Richie… nine times out of ten, the star is carrying a classic flap Chanel bag. A lot of parents come in to buy them for their teenage daughters!

KDH: Any tips for getting over the sticker shock?
PP: Luxury handbags are really something that you can pass down from generation to generation. A lot of the styles we carry have been around forever, especially the Hermes Kelly bag [named for Grace Kelly] which has been in vogue since the 1920s, and is still the hottest bag. Beautiful, classic bags can not only conjure great memories, but also create new ones!

The Perfect Purse: 20 Hampton Road, Southampton, 631.283.3360, open 11-5:30 Thurs-Tues.
*see photo gallery for KDH favorites that are in store now