The It Bag
It’s
Not
Just a
bAG-
iT’S
pRADA.
-Marlon Wayans,
White chicks (2004)
The “It Bag”. What makes a bag “It” ? The celeb toting it, the fashion bible that says so, or the influencer who got a check to wear it ?
My love for handbags started young. Growing up in Miami, I saw the wives and daughters of financiers, athletes, and cartel bosses lugging their crap in the most desired luxury arm candies.
From runway Chanel to ultra-rare Hermes, I was in awe. By studying these bags, I studied fashion itself. From handbags, to apparel, then to couture, purses were where my infatuation for opulence began.
Continue reading to see me break down the classic bags that defined the times, broke our budgets, and became our portable homes.
The CITY BAG
Balenciaga
Launched in 2001 under the helm of the young and bright eyed chief designer, Nicolas Ghesquière, the ‘‘Motorcycle City Bag’’ became a staple of the downtown fashionistas.
Ironically, the bag almost never saw the light of day. The management of Balenciaga found the bag to be light and impractical, but Nicolas still made 25 prototypes for the runway and had the best publicity:
The It Girls.
Models and fashion titans donning the first 25 prototypes of the bag.
After being spotted on uber-model Kate Moss, the bag rose to stardom. With distressed leather, enamel buttons and buckles, and tassel fringe, the bag added a punk spunk to a very girly and bright Y2K era. Still available, the bag has now been immortalized in various colors, limited editions, and a mouthwatering graffiti print - very true to the handbag’s nature.
the
bAGu
ette
Fendi
If not obvious, this bag holds some sentimental value; I mean, I literally named myself after it.
The Baguette is the early 2000s personified- a purse for your gloss, flip phone, cards, and cigarettes. Very a la Carrie Bradshaw.
In the late 90s, accessories proved to be a major money maker for luxury conglomerates. In 1997, Silvia Venturini Fendi would make fashion history.'The Baguette’ earned its name by the purpose of its structure (to put it under your arm like a French baguette).
In the height of the show’s popularity, Sex and the City became the pulse of fashion itself. Once it was donned by television’s fashion heroine, Carrie Bradshaw, the bag was seen on the arms of tweens and old money elite all over the world. The bag allegedly sold 100,000 units in its debut year.
The handbag has been reiterated over a 1000 times, ranging from furs, denims, exotic skins, and a color wheel of sequins. The Baguette has been a staple for both the luxury resale market and department stores. It even got a one-of-one revamp from the likes of Rihanna and Sarah Jessica Parker in 2014 for charitable auction.
L.V.
BY
TAKASHI
Mura
kami
Louis Vuitton
To write a piece about the history of iconic purses but not talk about the Murakami tsunami that struck in the 2000s would be blasphemous.
Louis Vuitton is the most recognizable monogram in the world, but what happens when that archetypal ‘L.V.’ is remade in a whimsy of street kid fantasy ? Enter the legend himself, Takashi Murakami.
Under the creative direction under American designer Marc Jacobs, the house founded in 1854 went from solely leather and trunk goods to ready-to-wear, accessories, shoes, and jewelry. The first collaboration with Takashi launched in the spring of 2003 and introduced the saccharine rainbow monogram print.
A current obsession of the Jenner sisters, the bags have now seen an increased markup on archive sites and spawned the trend of shopping vintage.
The bags themselves became their own kind of celebrity. Soon later the Cherry Blossom, monogram Camouflage, and other characters made their debut as well.
Whether it was Paris Hilton in the hills of LA or Amber Rose playing dress up, the bags were lived beyond the crook of the arms of the rich and famous. As the notoriety of the bags grew, so did Murukami's fame. He did the artwork for Kanye West’s third album, Graduation, as well as direct the video for ‘‘Good Morning” by Kanye.
Unfortunately, the collaborative hit machine came to end in 2015 as Louis Vuitton decided to end their partnership with Takashi when Nicolas Ghesquière came into the brand as the new creative director of womenswear.
With countless resales on Ebay and Stockx, the cartoony sacks are now immortalized online and a time capsule treasure of the Y2K glory days.
2000 MINI BAG
Prada
Prada or nada, right ? Launched in 2000 as a part of the Italian goods signature nylon bags, the purse made a big crossover as the bag for every woman.
Due to the nylon material and compact shape, it fit the durability standard and the ease of light packing for the new millennium woman. It was cute, practical, and it was Prada.
Now seen on the arms of supermodels like Kaia Gerber and Elsa Hosk, the nylon baguette has been a must have for everyone.
Whether it is for a glam night out or a relaxed tomboy look, the reissue is a solid buy.
Now relaunched, the bag now comes complete with a strap for AirPods and other tech gadgets to match the modern times the same way it did 20 years ago.
the shopping bag
Telfar
Look, I will be honest I did not see all the hype at first… But I’m in love now. The Telfar ‘Shopping Bag’ is not just the new It Bag, but the first one everyone can afford. At a price point of $150-$320 USD, you can serve a look and not get served an overdraft fee by your bank.
In 2017, Telfar Clemens was the first black designer to win the coveted Vogue/CFDA Fashion Fund. He was once fashion’s best kept secret; but after being seen on major trendsetters like Selena Gomez, Solange, and A$AP Ferg, Clemens is now the leader of the cool kids.
Aptly named “The Bushwick Birkin”, Telfar has proven they are the Hermés of Harlem.
The bag itself is a leather tote, made unisex and in three sizes. The handbag has developed a cult following, selling out in seconds and with limited restocking. The rarity of obtaining the bag is arguably the biggest selling point. Alerts of restocks are sent last minute, and sometimes in one-time-only pieces.
Reminiscent to Studio 54, it is about inclusion not exclusion. It is for us and by us, a staple and reflection of the black culture and street style