Custom Design

One thing that a lot of designers seem to have a very hard time doing is creating a bag that is both expensive-looking and covered in animal print. It’s not surprising since animal print is historically “tacky chic” at best, and at worst, just plain tacky. Getting past the initial “eww, is that zebra?” thought is a difficult sell for a lot of handbag customers in particular, since most people prefer their expensive bags to be neutral and timeless.

Somehow, though, the Roger Vivier Zebra Tote manages to look luxurious and chic in a traditional way, while still being boldly and obviously animal print. How did the designer pull it off? I have a theory, of course.

The folks at Vivier did two things very, very right with this bag: first, they kept the materials high-end. Most designers resort to non-leather materials when they want to make animal print because leather is difficult to dye in precise patterns. Choosing something like cotton canvas automatically downgrades the look, making the print look cheap by association. Instead of making that mistake, the designer used calfskin, giving the bag a richness that it would likely not have otherwise.

The second thing that the designer did correctly was not assume that simply using a pattern would be enough attention to detail. If the goal was to make something modern and minimalist, that would have been fine, but in this situation it probably wouldn’t cut it. Instead, the fine color variation in the dye makes the bag look well-crafted and beautifully wrought, increasing the style quotient exponentially. Vivier should teach classes in this sort of thing. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $2451.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Exotic bags are always a hot topic of discussion, both around here and on our Forum. Some people love them, some people hate them, and others sit in the middle, fretting about their ethical implications without being able to completely convince themselves to dislike the bags. I was a member of the last group for a long time, but I finally came to a decision about it a while back: as long as the bag uses the skin to its fullest effect, I have no quarrel with it. And I certainly have no quarrel with the Salvatore Ferragamo Miss Vera Denise Python Hobo.

With this hobo, Ferragamo has really taken the natural texture and pattern of python and made it the focal point of a gorgeous bag. The large, centralized pleats work perfectly with the scales’ variation in size and shape, and it’s obvious that great care was taken to make sure that both the natural and man-made design elements worked together symbiotically. Even the color is working for me – I’m not one to slather unnecessary praise on brown or tan bags, but caramel was the perfect choice for this hobo. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $3360.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Exotic bags are always a hot topic of discussion, both around here and on our Forum. Some people love them, some people hate them, and others sit in the middle, fretting about their ethical implications without being able to completely convince themselves to dislike the bags. I was a member of the last group for a long time, but I finally came to a decision about it a while back: as long as the bag uses the skin to its fullest effect, I have no quarrel with it. And I certainly have no quarrel with the Salvatore Ferragamo Miss Vera Denise Python Hobo.

With this hobo, Ferragamo has really taken the natural texture and pattern of python and made it the focal point of a gorgeous bag. The large, centralized pleats work perfectly with the scales’ variation in size and shape, and it’s obvious that great care was taken to make sure that both the natural and man-made design elements worked together symbiotically. Even the color is working for me – I’m not one to slather unnecessary praise on brown or tan bags, but caramel was the perfect choice for this hobo. Buy through Luisa Via Roma for $3360.

Original post by Amanda Mull

I can abide a lot of weird stuff from Marc Jacobs. In fact, Marc Jacobs is usually at his best when he’s at his weirdest, even if not everyone gets it.

Sadly, though, when I saw the Marc Jacobs Beaded Daisy Shoulder Bag at Saks last week, I found myself feeling like one of those haters that I usually dismiss: I just didn’t get it. Not even close.

I will admit one thing, though, even though I don’t like the bag – it made me stop and look at it. Since I look at handbags 40 hours a week, I rarely stop and examine bags closely when I’m in a store, unless it’s something I really need to touch or something that I would actually consider buying. Other than that, this job sort of takes the magic out of going to the mall. With this bag, though, I wanted to touch the beads to see what they were made out of and if they were heavy. My best guess is that they’re ceramic, and they definitely added a bit of weight to the bag.

I wouldn’t say my interest was a positive thing, though – it was merely such an odd thing to see that I couldn’t help but investigate. If you’re looking for attention at any cost, then that might be positive, but mostly I felt like I was looking at it in the same way that I would look at a tacky holiday sweater. In fact, that’s what the hanging beads reminded me of the most – the extra, unnecessary crap hanging off a glittery, ironic-but-not-on-purpose Christmas vest. Perhaps its the contrast between the beads and the relatively boring design of the bag itself that makes them seem extra weird – I’m not sure. Buy through Saks for $1995.

Original post by Amanda Mull

If I had to pick one phrase to describe the Gucci Secret GG Satchel, it would be “exceedingly grown-up.” Make no mistake about it – this bag is for a grown woman and it means business.

It doesn’t appear to be exactly the right size or shape to carry actual paperwork, but it does give the distinct impression of being an all work/no play sort of handbag. Perhaps its the sharp right angles or the rectangular, stiff shape. Perhaps it’s both, plus the dark-chocolate brown leather and crocodile trim that reminds me of the materials that are often used to make fine briefcases.

Whether or not those are negative things probably depend on your own personal style. Even though this bag isn’t exactly in line with mine, I can’t help but admire its elegant lines and the rich-looking materials that comprise it. I’d rather have avoided the logo fabric at the sides, but you can’t win ‘em all. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $1950.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Help me out with this one, folks. The Donna Karan Sabre Shoulder Bag is reminding me a lot of Gucci and I can’t quite figure out why.

Is it the shape? Gucci tends to make a lot of big, chunky shoulder bags. Or maybe the color? I’m not a big fan of tan, but Gucci’s tans have always held a special place in my heart – I think they get the amount of orange undertone just right. This one doesn’t seem quite the same, but it’s reminiscent, I think. Maybe it’s the “rustic” accents? There’s no Gucci-signature bamboo, but the claw-like (or tooth-like?) closure still reminds me of the kinds of things they like to do. So are you seeing what I’m seeing, or have I looked at so many handbags that they’re all starting to blur together in my mind? Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $1895.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Is it just me, or does the Fendi Rose Zucca Chef Bag look like it really wishes it was born a Louis Vuitton instead?

When you’re dealing with a design element as obvious as graphic roses layered over logo canvas, it’s hard not to draw parallels between this and the Stephen Sprouse collection that garnered so much attention last season for Vuitton. I wonder if Fendi’s accessories designers would even be able to keep a straight face while they were claiming that this isn’t a ripoff.

And it’s not even a halfway attractive ripoff. The Vuitton bags were successful because not only did they feature the art of a widely respected pop artist, but they were also visually quite interesting. The roses were robust and colorful, and they overshadowed the traditional monogram on which they sat.

The Fendi, on the other hand, is just kind of sad. The roses are boring and small, and they do nothing to spruce up the zucca print fabric that we’re all used to seeing. Find your own gimmick, Fendi – Vuitton’s already got this one on lock. Buy through Nordstrom for $940.

Original post by Amanda Mull

It’s a testament to a bag’s inherent beauty and good design if the color it’s featured in is baby puke brown and I still absolutely love it. I’m opposed to all forms and iterations of brown and tan, but the Gucci G Wave Large Leather Tote is easily beautiful enough to shine through a color choice that I may not particularly care for (and that a lot of people may really like).

When Gucci gets something right, they get it right, and this bag is all kinds of right. The leather looks absolutely touchable and soft, but still thick and a bit rugged, which is perfect for Gucci’s slightly exotic aesthetic. Not only that, but the bag looks utterly functional, and is probably not too showy to use as a work bag, as long as your office isn’t particularly conservative.

But my favorite part of the entire design is the details. When details are bad, it can sink the whole bag (and, quite frankly, lessen my opinion of an entire brand), but the details on this one are so spot-on. I love the braided details, which appear to be an emerging trend across the handbag landscape, but obviously my favorite aspect is the crocodile trim. I wish more brands incorporated exotic accents into their designs – it’s a great way to add texture and visual variation to a bag, not to mention a note of luxury, with a relatively minimal expense (compared to making an entire exotic bag, of course). Gucci gets it exactly right with this one. Buy through Saks for $2900.

Original post by Amanda Mull

I’ve got to say at least one nice thing about this bag: Dolce & Gabbana, I like your enthusiasm.

No, actually, I love it. Because the kind of chutzpah it takes to put together seven (that I can count) types of fuzzy animal print onto one bag is the kind of chutzpah that it takes to occasionally create a stinkin’ awesome bag. But at this point, ladies and gentlemen, I have but one caveat: the Dolce & Gabbana Miss Martini Flap Bag is not that bag.

Oddly enough, I think that what this bag suffers from the most is not that there are too many patterns, but that all of the patterns are too similar. Instead of creating contrast and visual interest, they all sort of meld together into one big tan animal print glob, and the result is decidedly “craft store.”

Not that it would have been any better had they added in, say, zebra print or snake print. This idea was more or less dead in the water from the get-go, but if it takes making a thousand ridiculous bags to finally get to one that’s genuinely great, then I’m okay with that. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Buy through Nordstrom for $1075.

Original post by Amanda Mull

Original post by ChicInspector@gmail.com (Chic Inspector)