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Stashing that monster 'it' bag, at least for this season
By Michelle Zhang |
February 13, 2011, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AFTER years of hauling heavy but oh-so-trendy maxi bags, your shoulders, back and neck will thank you for the latest style trend: mini bags are a maxi trend this season.
Stylish, busy ladies who never saw an uncomfortable must-have accessory they didn't just adore (especially with ostentatious logos), are used to lugging those oversized, "carry-it-all" bags around town.
From Chloe's most popular Paddington lock tote to Givenchy's Nightingale bag with studs, from Chanel's largest Maxi flap bag to Louis Vuitton's oversized boho-chic backpack with fringes and metal hooks - every woman must have one or two maximum-sized bags for their wardrobe.
A bagaholic myself, I have a gray Marc Jacobs chain bag that weighs 1.5 kilograms itself. No joke. Just imagine how heavy it could be when I add my wallet, cell phone, iPod, make-up bag, key chain, notebook, A4 documents, a novel, an umbrella, a bottle of water, snacks and other essentials.
The truth is: no matter how big your bag is, you can always find a way to fill it up.
However, in an age when everything can be done with your iPhone or Blackberry, how many essentials do we need every day? As long as you have your phone, a couple of credit cards, cash, a favorite lipstick and car/house keys, what more do you really need?
"Maxi bags are out," said Moka Shen, fashion editor at Modern Weekly. "Women today no longer want to wear shoulder-padded suits or carry giant-sized briefcases like men do. They want to be ladies, just like Madonna in the advertising campaign for Dolce & Gabanna, in which she appears to be an elegant, fragile yet loving housewife."
Most of today's mini purses are inspired by Chanel's iconic 255 flap bag designed in the 1950s, featuring small pockets inside for different use and an attachable strap to free the hands when necessary. Strap lengths can be long enough for messenger-style across the body, or shorter to be worn over one shoulder.
"This season's mini bags are versatile," said local fashion writer Toni Chen. "While tiny purses have always been de rigueur for evening events and red carpet occasions, this season's new styles are designed to be worn both in day time and to cocktail parties at night."
They go well with classic vintage styles - think of the models wearing big A-line skirts on the Prada fall/winter 2010 runway, and the 1950s elegant lady-inspired styles on the Marc Jacobs fall/winter 2010 runway. They can also match the country style dresses in floral prints - a key piece in the upcoming spring/summer season, or bohemian-style long skirts to create a contrast. Or, you can wear them with your casual street wear pieces - denim shirt, leather biker jacket, a pair of jeggings, sexy ankle boots, and a charming little bag casually slung from one shoulder to the waist.
Every major designer is showing a mini bag this season.
Mini bags are especially appealing when they have the details of their big "sisters." Labels from Hermes to Roger Vivier have been introducing mini-versions of their core styles, the former making the tiny versions of its iconic Birkin and Kelly bags, and the latter a reduced version of the Miss Viv bag, which was the choice of Madam Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
Last but not least, mini bags cost less but don't sacrifice on style. They are a great extension of iconic styles, but they are also more affordable.
Chloe's mini-sized Marcie pouch, for example, retails at 3,710 yuan (US$562), while the standard, bigger version is over 10,000 yuan.At Céline, the house's most popular "it" bags, Classic and Luggage, are also available in much smaller sizes at much lower prices.
Stylish, busy ladies who never saw an uncomfortable must-have accessory they didn't just adore (especially with ostentatious logos), are used to lugging those oversized, "carry-it-all" bags around town.
From Chloe's most popular Paddington lock tote to Givenchy's Nightingale bag with studs, from Chanel's largest Maxi flap bag to Louis Vuitton's oversized boho-chic backpack with fringes and metal hooks - every woman must have one or two maximum-sized bags for their wardrobe.
A bagaholic myself, I have a gray Marc Jacobs chain bag that weighs 1.5 kilograms itself. No joke. Just imagine how heavy it could be when I add my wallet, cell phone, iPod, make-up bag, key chain, notebook, A4 documents, a novel, an umbrella, a bottle of water, snacks and other essentials.
The truth is: no matter how big your bag is, you can always find a way to fill it up.
However, in an age when everything can be done with your iPhone or Blackberry, how many essentials do we need every day? As long as you have your phone, a couple of credit cards, cash, a favorite lipstick and car/house keys, what more do you really need?
"Maxi bags are out," said Moka Shen, fashion editor at Modern Weekly. "Women today no longer want to wear shoulder-padded suits or carry giant-sized briefcases like men do. They want to be ladies, just like Madonna in the advertising campaign for Dolce & Gabanna, in which she appears to be an elegant, fragile yet loving housewife."
Most of today's mini purses are inspired by Chanel's iconic 255 flap bag designed in the 1950s, featuring small pockets inside for different use and an attachable strap to free the hands when necessary. Strap lengths can be long enough for messenger-style across the body, or shorter to be worn over one shoulder.
"This season's mini bags are versatile," said local fashion writer Toni Chen. "While tiny purses have always been de rigueur for evening events and red carpet occasions, this season's new styles are designed to be worn both in day time and to cocktail parties at night."
They go well with classic vintage styles - think of the models wearing big A-line skirts on the Prada fall/winter 2010 runway, and the 1950s elegant lady-inspired styles on the Marc Jacobs fall/winter 2010 runway. They can also match the country style dresses in floral prints - a key piece in the upcoming spring/summer season, or bohemian-style long skirts to create a contrast. Or, you can wear them with your casual street wear pieces - denim shirt, leather biker jacket, a pair of jeggings, sexy ankle boots, and a charming little bag casually slung from one shoulder to the waist.
Every major designer is showing a mini bag this season.
Mini bags are especially appealing when they have the details of their big "sisters." Labels from Hermes to Roger Vivier have been introducing mini-versions of their core styles, the former making the tiny versions of its iconic Birkin and Kelly bags, and the latter a reduced version of the Miss Viv bag, which was the choice of Madam Carla Bruni-Sarkozy.
Last but not least, mini bags cost less but don't sacrifice on style. They are a great extension of iconic styles, but they are also more affordable.
Chloe's mini-sized Marcie pouch, for example, retails at 3,710 yuan (US$562), while the standard, bigger version is over 10,000 yuan.At Céline, the house's most popular "it" bags, Classic and Luggage, are also available in much smaller sizes at much lower prices.
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