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KDH popped in to The Perfect Purse in Southampton today to chat with owners Mark Deleon and Alan Stolz. The boutique carries perfectly restored vintage/previously owned specialty designer bags including: Hermes, Chanel, Gucci, Dior, Prada and Louis Vuitton. Check out my KDH video diary above to see some of the beautiful bags that are in-store now, and more perfect pix below. Why not treat yourself to a dream bag to kick off 2012 in style!

KDHamptons: Tease our readers- fill us in on some of the bags you currently covet at The Perfect Purse..
Mark de Leon: We offer everything from designer purses under $100, to highly collectible Birkin bags, to $36,000 orange crocodile Kelly bag.

KDH: [trouble breathing] But you can barely buy a Birkin in the New York Hermes boutique! How do you acquire so many?
MDL: 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: So here’s the $36,000 question: How do we know the bags “are real” at The Perfect Purse?
MDL: 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: If the house were burning, I would grab my black Birkin bag. What really makes Hermes the kingpin of the luxury goods market?
MDL: 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?
MDL: 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?
MDL: 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: Even though your prices are considerably lower than retail, these bags are certainly not cheap. Any tips for getting over the sticker shock?
MDL: 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!

Location: The Perfect Purse, 20 Hampton Road, Southampton; 631.283.3360

*see my photo gallery below for KDH favorites that are in store now