Chinese Laundry has brought a modern attitude to the shoulder bag with the Olivia, part of its fun new fall collection.
The front is adorned with layered flaps, which are cut diagonally to add edgy interest. Layers can look feminine and fussy, but the surprising angles give the bag more of an uptown vibe. I just wish we saw them on the back of the bag as well. Without these accents, the plain back looks boring and unfinished.
Chinese Laundry keeps the price to a recession-friendly $99 by sacrificing real leather for a synthetic. This manmade material is stylish with its mottled design and subtle gloss, but I don’t expect it to last as long as its more luxurious counterpart.
The interior space is simple and slim: perfect for hugging close to your body but not ideal for carrying bulky goods. The manmade material may stretch to accommodate a bulky novel or two, but then you risk shortening the synthetic’s life even more. The zippered pocket is a real drawcard though. It extends across the length of the bag, so it affords more space than the average compartment.
This pretty purple is my pick, but if you’re more of a traditionalist you may prefer the olive green. This darker shade is so close to black, it could easily pass as a neutral.
More Features of This Chinese Laundry Layered Shoulder Bag
- Nylon lined interior
- Zip top closure
- A rolled knotted strap with a 9.5 inch drop
- Measures 12 x 17 x 4 inches
- Made in China
