We all love a beaded evening bag or a silky clutch. Yet while these mini purses capture our hearts, they’re not setting the fashion world alight. That honor goes to the more practical oversized handbags.
Paris is the fashion capital of the world, so it’s little surprise to see the French are leading the way. Think the robust Louis Vuitton Speedy, the generous Yves Saint Laurent Muse, or the spacious Hermes Birkin.
But these modern it bags look tiny next to the new kids on the block. The Dior Soft bag dwarfs Italian actress Monica Bellucci in the designer’s recent ad campaign. YSL didn’t even release a small Muse Two, skipping straight on to medium and large. More than half of the handbags in Chanel’s winter 2008 collection are oversized shoppers and totes.
So why when cell phones are becoming smaller, when digital readers are replacing bulky books, and when Blackberries are superseding conventional organizers are our bags getting bigger?
“The big bag is sexy and mysterious,” said Erotokritos, a Parisian designer embracing the oversized trend. “In an era where everything is getting smaller and more high tech, the big-bag lady looks like an urban gypsy, ready for anything, an extra pair of heels for a night out, ready for the gym or ready to catch a flight for the weekend.“
And style icons on the street seem to agree.
Marketing assistant Cordelia Smith carries oversized bags loaded up with girly goodies.
“I think that it is more elegant to carry a large bag,” she added, rather than “a small bag crammed with stuff.”
Tightening household budgets are also a consideration for many. We all know a smaller handbag doesn’t always mean a smaller price tag!
“Personally, not having a budget that allows me to buy lots of bags, I prefer to spend in one go a large sum and buy a bag that I can carry all the time,” said press assistant Emilie Audry. “It’s more understandable to spend €1,000 on a bag that you can take everywhere than €600 on a bag that’s pretty but into which you can barely fit your cellphone.“
[Image Source: David Shankbone/Wikipedia Commons]
