Ahhh, the first sign of Spring. Not when stores start to jettison sweaters and coats in December, or when Barney's announces it's warehouse sale, but when my favorite daily, the
NY Posthas their week long Spring accessory feature! What could be more exciting than a centerfold of handbags?
I generally like this feature, because it is a pretty good hodge-podge of looks, with aspiring IT bags, some ugly bags, and some pretty random choices too.
It also gives a pretty quick idea of the trends their editors are looking at.
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There are definitely a fair share of Birkin-esque bags shown, among them, a definite sleeper, Ralph Lauren's Legend, on the far left, in black patent and yellow. The vertical belt detail is a nice twist on the look. The Legend is $3,095 at Ralph Lauren Boutiques.
The insta-IT YSL Muse Two AKA Forever, also has a similar vertical detail, it is not a full belt however and makes it easier for non-Houdinis to get into their bag. On the downside, the handle is attached to the top flap, so if you aren't scrupulous about closing your bag, it will literally hang agape. It's $1,645 in the medium size.
A bag that I thought might not make it off the runway, the Jetsons looking Vuitton Motard Firebird has landed for spring. It's $5,250 of "what were they thinking?". maybe some consumer will think it so ugly, it's cool, like a Cabbage patch Kid or something. It looks like a bag of Easter hued fug to me.
Not much left to say about the bag on the right, it's the uber-hot Versace Bubble Bag. At $3,830 worth of gorgeousness, you can't get one in orange as reported
right here last week.
Patchwork seems to be the newest big look, and it hadn't really sunk in until I saw 3 of these on one page. The leftmost bag, Miu Miu's woven looking patchwork of diamonds in shades of red, pink, and mauve is adorable. I like the "peek-a-boo" lining popping out over the gathered top. The braided handle gives it a deluxe pouch look. It sells for $1,595 at Miu miu.
The middle top bag, from Dolce & Gabbana is the Ayers Patchwork Miss Pocket bag. Now this is what I think of when I think patchwork...and I shudder at the thought. This looks more like Coach, or Lucky Brand (which has been selling a patchwork bag for years) than Dolce. even if it is made from colorful blocks of snake, it looks cheesy, and not like $3,995 bag. The style, on the other hand, is pretty nice. It's folded into a clutch here, but it is a cute satchel with a front pocket when unfurled. It is listed as available at
Bergdorf Goodman, but is not on their website yet.
Another bag, also featured
here a few posts back, is the Stripe bag from Prada. This is patchwork done right. This particular style is $2,360, from Prada. I love the juxtaposition of the Prada and Miu Miu bags. Both are so similar, and so different...I can see the Miu Miu as a younger interpretation of the Prada.
Not patched, but pleated, Mulberry's Poppy bag is at the bottom middle. I like that this bag is just unlike anything else. It's mot as heavy looking as Mulberry tends to, and I think the pleats are elegant and timeless. Of course, being Mulberry, there is some big hardware in the way of a brass side zipper. It's $1,795 from Mulberry.
Another apparent trend which is still clinging on, is shiny stuff. I really haven't embraced patent...could be the fingerprints on the bags I pick up in the stores...I mean if they show smudges that easily... Still there is nothing like a shiny red anything to make me think "I want" and Alexander McQueen's Flapper bag, top left does just that. It looks like a cross between a YSL Downtown and a classic bowling bag...with a Muse of a turnlock thrown in. It's $1,1690 at Alexander McQueen stores.
Moving counterclockwise, is a shiny-ish Fendi, which is really not done justice in the photo. It's a bright cherry red perforated leather with black twisted rope handles and side detail. The attention to detail is amazing...tiny logo double Fs adorn the trim around the handle loops...if only they had stopped there, because one of the notable things about these bags was the subtle take on logos and branding for nearly all of them. The giant FF is heavy handed and spoils the bag for me, maybe if those were actually my initials... It's $1,680 from
net-a-porter.
Next, is a bag that is another beach ball shaped bucket, this one from Stella McCartney. I love the color, and it is probably more worry free care-wise since it is doubtlessly man made materials. The $995 price tag bothers me because by any name or for any cause, it is still plastic, and call me behind the times, but I can't get over that for more than a few hundred bucks...not even for Stella McCartney. It is available from Intermix.
Last, in the top right, is a bag that brings us full circle. Shiny and silver, this East/West version of Lanvin's Kentucky Tote is another Birkin inspired look. It too has vertical straps, as well as the traditional horizontal one. I love that the foiled silver is paired with gold tone hardware, and brown handles, not the expected black. A little unexpected, but subtle. It is $2,385 and available at
Bergdorf Goodman. The tote version is $2,540
Barney's .
Origami folds really make this jacket, made of ticking stripe linen fabric.
Channel a modern Jackie O. in this dramatic funnel neck trench coat.
Want to show that your life runs like clockwork? Wear these cuff links made from the parts of a Swiss watch.
Stroll down the streets of the South of France with this chic cardigan.
