egyy 48, funny, as well as very opinionated, Erica De Lima is a high-end fashion vlogger that prides herself in telling it like it is. Although she faces criticism for her unpopular handbag opinions as well as unconventional sense of style, she doesn’t seem to be slowing down any type of time soon.
I very first found her Youtube channel, EricasGirlyWorld, about a year as well as a half back while I was searching for on the internet bag reviews. At very first glimpse she seemed to be one more vlogger whose main worry was promoting the quest of a attractive lifestyle; however, the longer I enjoyed her videos, the a lot more I saw a lady with a refreshing technique towards a niche that can as well frequently ended up being bogged down by the strict beliefs of purists as well as gatekeepers.
I scrolled with her Instagram as well as I taken a look at her TikTok. a lot more as well as more, I appreciated her lively character as well as brazen video titles (such as Bags I would suggest to people I dislike as well as The Tackiest Sh!t I Own) as well as began to question what it’s like to speak to somebody who seemed to have so much to state about the world of high-end fashion.
Luckily for me, Erica’s friendly nature isn’t fabricated to pull in views as well as after a short email exchange, she agreed to have a bit chit-chat with me.
Here’s what she had to say:
“I have always been thinking about high-end fashion,” she began. “I am originally from Brazil as well as I feel like ﹘culturally speaking﹘ we truly like our designer labels. We like the great stuff! We like to online it up as well as truly take pleasure in being able to completely experience life so even as a teenager, I always dreamed of having a Louis Vuitton bag.”
Her wish wasn’t unlike lots of others, however it wasn’t up until years later that she experienced the truth of trying to get something as in-demand as an LV purse.
“After I pertained to the us I was a extremely bad college trainee living off of trainee loans, however when I graduated I made a decision to lastly treat myself by getting my very first Louis Vuitton bag,” she explained. “As a newbie, I didn’t understand much about high-end products so I keep in mind going on eBay as well as I discovered a Louis Vuitton Ellipse monogram bag that I absolutely loved. It was only $300 as well as the seller guaranteed it was authentic. At the time I was extremely naive so when I lastly got it as well as realized it was fake, I was devastated!”
“Oof. That’s rough,” I replied with empathy, remembering my own teen mistakes.
“Unfortunately, that was my very first experience trying to get a designer bag,” she admitted.
“I have really kept it til this day as a funny memory as well as since I undoubtedly can’t offer it to anybody else, however I was lastly able to to get my very first genuine bag after a year of working as a chemical engineer as well as getting a bonus offer from my job,” she stated proudly while holding up a Louis Vuitton Sac vintage with cherry blossom monogram print. “I will never get rid of it. It’s a sign of my accomplishments.”
Now wiser to the handbag-buying game, Erica did what lots of of us do after getting our very first authentic bag ﹘ she hungered for more.
“Originally I just desired quantity. I wished to walk into my wardrobe as well as see a lot of bags! However, now that I have been in the high-end neighborhood for 15 years I would rather have a few ultra-special bags than lots of bags that are just okay. now I just want things that are unique. It is truly an evolution. You may begin your journey one method however you will modification over time.”
“True that,” I stated while eyeballing the screen of Birkins as well as woman Diors behind her. “What about your collection? exactly how long did it take you to get to this point?”
“I would get one bag per year after I started my occupation as well as have developed my collection over time as I ended up being a lot more economically stable, “ she explained. ”At the greatest point, I had 40 bags, however I have greatly minimized my collection.”
“How lots of do you own now?“ I asked.
“35,” she chuckled.
So much for greatly reduced. A collection of that size is definitely the dream of many, however it includes the obligation of protecting every piece. I might see her efforts to keep whatever organized as well as cared for, so what would occur if there was an emergency circumstance as well as she might only get hold of one? definitely she would choose her preferred however with several pieces from heritage brands such as Chanel, Dior, as well as Hermès, I can’t picture it would be an simple choice.
“I like my Birkins as well as want to get a lot more of them however they aren’t my preferred bags since they aren’t that functional for my lifestyle,” she began. “If my home was about to shed down as well as I might only get hold of one bag it would be my tiny Kelly. It’s Epsom leather in the color increased extreme with gold hardware. It’s so special to me as well as I don’t believe I would ever be able to get anything else like it.”
Fair enough. Hermès bags absolutely aren’t as simple to find by. however I wondered exactly how somebody with such a purchase history might feel that anything from the brand was still out of their reach.
“Sometimes I desire Hermès was a bit a lot more contemporary,” she confessed. “I get that they requirement to preserve a balance between classics as well as patterns however often it feels like they are a bit sluggish to find up with new things. If they had a lot more younger ready-to-wear pieces I wouldn’t have a issue satisfying the buying quota, however there are only so lots of Clic H bracelets you can buy…”
Admittedly, it was a issue I will likely never know, however I comprehended her moderate dissatisfaction. definitely somebody as innovative as Erica would discover a method to make things work. After all, she had already publicly dedicated the utmost transgression of the high-end fashion world: she added a non-standard adjustment to her custom-made Birkin 35 by attaching a leather strap she gotten from Etsy. Sure, it made the bag much easier to bring however didn’t she understand that what she had done was sacrilegious?
“If Hermès did lastly offer a strap I would get it however considering that it doesn’t offer something that fits my needs, I am okay with making a modification like that. I get that some people are purists as well as only want the Birkin to be provided in its original state. I respect that viewpoint however I want my bag to be beneficial for my daily life. If I want to embellish it in some way, I am entitled to do that,“ she explained. “As a material creator, it’s my function to show novelty to my followers. To let them understand they have options.”
Erica was unashamed as well as positive in her decisions. She regards her capability to work difficult as well as to always be herself to be what brought her the success as well as prominence she has today.
“Last year I got to go to the Zuhair Murad couture fashion show in Paris. It was gorgeous as well as like dream. It was an emotional experience for me since unlike lots of others in this community, I am not incredibly rich or young or the best vision of beauty, however I am positive in who I am. It was a surreal experience as well as I wept at the end of the show since it was whatever I had worked for.”
Despite her newfound notoriety, she still desired me to understand that things aren’t always as they seem when you mix high-end fashion with social media.
“Influencers’ lives are not fairy tales 24/7 full of a million bags as well as regularly going to Dior as well as Chanel events. We are all humans. Sure, I have lots of gorgeous bags however behind the scenes, I still scrub my own toilet as well as clean my cat’s litter box. I came from nothing as well as I work difficult for my money. It didn’t occur overnight,” she said. “We all like great things however don’t ever let high-end make you feel poor about yourself. Don’t ever sacrifice yourself for it.”
Well said, Erica.