Handbag Hype

When we think of fall and winter bags we often think of dark colors. In terms of material, many people go with leather, thick cloth, tweed or suede. Typically the latter two are often only worn in those seasons.

Of course it depends on your geographic location; seasons can be different and what you wear during them as well. Some people turn to caviar leather bags, others spray their leather bags with a weatherproof coating, and some use less delicate bags to avoid the problem altogether.

Personally, I find suede more ‘cutting edge fashion’ than tweed — but tweed is more classic. It depends on what type of style you are expressing that day. [Although suede in the Kelly shape is definitely an exception! Suede on a more structured bag comes across as classic/older in style.] Most suede bags are slouchy/not structured, which conveys an element of youth [or non-formality.] They are perfect for informal errands, events and life.

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Tweed is in a sense no nonsense, but if it’s a Chanel Boy bag or classic flap in tweed, you’re expressing more of a tendency towards fashion and expressiveness. It’s a statement, or a signal. Unfortunately, many tweed bags are very unstylish in shape/design, so it’s important to choose wisely [unless you need a simple utilitarian tote.]

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My preference would be a tweed bag without an obvious label–if you want a designer option then a Chanel reissue in tweed fits the bill. Otherwise, cast your eye about. Tweed does inescapably [usually] convey a sense of age, restraint and pragmatic nature. [The Dubliner Tweed purse has a great modern look to it, actually.]

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It’s the Delvaux medieval-style handbags collection [officially called the Couture Exclusive Collection], there are four [all very Game of Thrones style]: the Black Beauty [all black flowers of Hades on a mesh chainmail style background], the Golden Glory [very much the Sun King in style], the Iron Shield [very metallic, dark silver Joan of Arc armor], and the deep purple Queen’s Desire [looking almost Celtic.]

If you’re looking for a more subdued, plain bag in any kind of color, they have a lot of different styles in the preloved market. Their current offerings are more limited to the Le Brillant handbag [front buckle] and the Tempête flap bag.

I think many of us purse enthusiasts are guilty of buying bags and displaying them–enjoying them as pieces of art and not as fashionable, usable items. While I love to see bag collections that are displayed in an organized and visible tower or shelves, I do think sometimes bags rule the wearer.

Always take a moment and recall that your things are meant to be used. Enjoy your life and have a moment of happiness using your things. If you are worried about your bag being damaged be sure to be on guard for color transfer and only carry it when doing the most mundane of errands [ie. getting a coffee or mocha frap.]

Your possessions are your nice trinkets, do not put them above yourself. They are there to be enjoyed, even if just by the eye!

There are two ways to define a classic: long-lasting in fashion history or special to you. I think some people try to pinpoint classics and adopt that wardrobe but there is more to fashion–and to life–than that in some cases.

Now, the classics [in this case classic handbags] truly appeal to some people and that’s great. Each time period, geographic location and socio-economic class has it’s own classics anyway. However, consider how much an item means to you. It can be more meaningful and special to wear something a loved one gifted you [or that you inherited] instead of simply reading a list of classics and ordering one online.

Now usually, I’m all for the classics. But one cannot have a slavish devotion to them. If you do tend towards this, be sure to inject a personal touch in your accessories or bag. I’ve often seen this discussed in the watch enthusiast community–some people wear non-formalwear watches to formal events because they have a personal/emotional heft to them.

Now, there are many people this does not apply to. This is just a note for those of us who have a difficult making totally independent decisions about fashion [which is loads of people, as many are more concerned with their work, family, vocation, friends, travels, hobbies, pets, charity work etc.]

Sometimes, someone who looks unique can be more ‘classic’ than someone copying that idea/image to a tee.

Many people, especially in the United States, have an interest in Britain. The afternoon tea sandwiches, authors, television shows, mysteries, country houses and culture are all of interest.

For the bag-loving Anglophile, there are a lot of bags to look at and consider [whether these bags are 100% made in England/Britain is another thing to consider–do your research! Things are changing constantly. In the case of Mulberry be sure to buy vintage/preloved as they were made to last in the past]:

–Smythson [the Maze bag used to have a conservative political edge but some of their style are quite nice; others are too off the cuff]–their wild new bag the ‘Bond Feather loop chain bag’ is really modern art-esque; they also sell their famous nile blue paper/stationary]

-Mulberry [buy preloved for long lasting bags, buy modern for trends]

-Burberry [the old plaid is still controversial but the new designs have a few good pieces in there; don’t rely on quality though]

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-Milli Millu, Alife Douglass, Bionda Castana, Stow London, Victoria Beckham, Radley, Osprey [a bit like Brahmin bags but more work-like and sedate]

-Harris Tweed [Scottish–it’s still so reliable] and Asprey of London [similar to Nancy Gonzalez bags but with more shapes available, not just classic ones]

-Lulu Guinness, Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Golden Lane, Anya Hindmarch [for trends], Aspinal of London [lower quality, buy for trends]

-Launer [the bags of QEII; they do bespoke as well–though they have lots of color combinations readily available]

Puzzle bag? You have a creative side and like the uniqueness of the bag. If you have one where some of the ‘pieces’ of the puzzle are different colors you see the bag as standing out in the painting of your style, instead of blending in with fewer colors. You could also want to use it as a statement piece against the more neutral backdrop of your clothes.

Hammock bag? You obviously care about fashion over function and like standing out. Céline was not enough for you, you need bigger wings!

Gate bag? You love classic shapes but like the extra edge of country/riding life that the tie/knot on the front gives this bag. If you have one with stripes or multicolors, then you are a fashionista that prefers classic shapes as a canvas for louder colors.

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If you have the Gate Bucket bag, you are a real inspiration as a fashionista, because I can’t imagine finding things in such a narrow, tall bucket. I tip my hat to you!

And if you have any of the other more sedate, older bags in classic shapes, you are someone who values practical, long-lasting fashion for its ease of use, how it saves time in choosing outfits, etc.

There are some louder Loewe prints, like on their ‘Cushion floral tote bag’ [there is even a mini Puzzle bag with this design on it], but I view these as accessories for people who have an abundance of cheerfulness, who love color, or for people living in tropical climates [or going to the beach/on vacation.]

Now, Loewe’s animal bags and charms are quite cute–but they are rather personal. I find that charms say a lot on a bag, and I prefer to restrict myself to just the bag’s statement alone. It’s a quandary. I don’t mind a small charm, but a big one stands out. To me these charms are a very personal touch.

I think this question has an inherent flaw: it implies that the bag you happen to be carrying is directly connected to who you are. Now, does your bag sometimes reflect your style? Yes. Does it sometimes reflect the fact that you wanted a color or size that matched what you’re doing today? Also yes.

I think there is something to be said for matching your attire [and accessories] to your what you’re doing currently. If I’m out at a local polo match [out in the sticks, not a serious match], how I dress is very different than tea at Claridge’s.

The bag we carry also implies what style you’re ‘feeling’ that day. Depending on the season, place, event/activity and other factors, we all lean in different directions stylistically. Even if just minutely.

Other people truly have ‘one’ style that they stick to, which is fine–just be sure you haven’t boxed yourself in and that you still feel comfortable in whatever style you’ve chosen.

Regardless, a lot can be told from a bag. I do think it says certain things if you are carrying a classically stylish but hard to identify bag. It says something else if you’re carrying a bag that’s all labels in all caps. I think we can feel happy for all groups and all styles–as long as they are being respectful of others and polite.

I find that most people pick bags based on color schemes–what goes best with a majority of their clothes, what tones look best with their hair color, other accessories, skin color, shoes, jewelry etc. Some people wear bags as trophies they are proud to display; others wear them as practical ‘holders’ of necessary goods.

I find that many people have a problem with more ‘loud’ bags, feeling they are gauche. I enjoy seeing more than a sea of black and neutrals, though I don’t always choose bright or tropical shades for myself. I like to see a wide panoply of colors, designs, brands and shapes [in terms of purses.] I wouldn’t wear the Anya Hindmarch ‘Space Invaders’ leather crossbody bag, but seeing it out in the world on someone is so fun!

Undecided?

One question that is hard to clearly pin down is whether someone should buy a purse made by a company that focuses primarily on the manufacture of other goods. For example, would you buy a purse by Christian Louboutin, Cartier or Tiffany? They focus on shoes and jewelry, specifically. 

When I think of Tom Ford I immediately come up with images of his perfume and makeup line — not his purses which feature enormous turnkeys on the front.

This is a much less on point example, but when I think of Valentino I think of couture and shoes, not their purses first. When I hear Mikimoto, I want another strand of pearls and not a purse. I prefer Bulgari’s low key jewelry in particular and don’t really care for their serpent head handbags.

There are big exceptions though — the Bulgari leather Serpenti viper top handle bags are low key, subtly branded and look very interesting. They are extremely impressive. The shape is close to classic but not plain. There are color options that are bright, multi-color, light shades etc as well as all black for those of us who prefer that. These are not as easy as the other more well known [serpent head] bags to find! There’s a few on Vestiaire Collective.

Whether as a box for keepsakes or as a clutch, this black and white chessboard piece by Valentino is a great gift [either for any holiday, a birthday or Christmas.]

After coasting for years on their Rockstuds bag/shoe success, Valentino has a new bag that will appeal to people who aren’t looking for a letter logo [the ‘V’ closure on some of their bags] or the immediately recognizable rockstuds.

They have a few totes that are without obvious logos/studs but they are few and far between. They are now making bags that resemble Kelly bags [in the way that the YSL Sac du Jour resembles the Birkin; ie., vaguely but not exactly.]

They made a beautiful beaded red one that seems quite rare, for example–I believe these backs are called the My rockstud [despite few of them appearing here] textured-leather tote [though it does not seem like a tote]: