Not that eelskin was ever "in" to go "out," but I do remember a point some time during my late elementary school days when every wallet, handbag, belt, and briefcase was made with eel-skin. I am not sure if it had something to do with the fact that my parents were going overseas a lot and coming back with eelskin as gifts from Asia, or that it truly was a fashionable material at the time, or that it was a cheaper way to luxe animal skins, but I just remember thinking "Gross. Eels."

I hadn't seen eelskin on anything in almost 15 years until a few days, while shopping around for shoes. I came across Pelle Mode's Xcite Pump (a total Louboutin biter, of course) in a nude colored eel-skin. I think I might have *gasp!*-ed at the sight, but realized that eelskin is...pretty hot. As much as you all may laugh, I went back to my closet, dug out an old suitcase, dusted it off, opened it, dug through all the things I have kept for over 15 years insisting that perhaps someday I will be able to use/wear it, and pulled out an enormous eelskin bag.

You better believe my "vintage" eelskin bag will be seen on the streets this Spring.