Lauren Merkin creates a purse that’s a little bit naughty and a little bit nice with this Ava clutch.
The snake-printed leather is pretty in a sugary shade of pink, although I know it won’t suit everyone. There are basic black and warm maize hues available, but my inner girly girl can’t resist this feminine tone. It’s a great foil for the soft pleats on the front flap, although the zippered trim does give this purse a hint of edge.
I’m particularly impressed by the snake embossing. All too often designers fail to recreate the exotic skins they’re inspired by, but not here. In fact, I could easily mistake this for the real deal if I hadn’t already spotted the $295 price tag! That’s not small change, but it’s still a fraction of the cost of a real exotic skin. Using stamped leather doesn’t just keep the price down; it also makes the Ava more durable than it’s more luxurious peers.
The Ava is a fairly large clutch, which makes its lack of shoulder strap disappointing. On the bright side though, at least we can fit everything inside this purse we need on an evening out, and then some.
It’s got its shortcomings, but the Ava is so stunning that we could easily forget about them!
More Features of This Lauren Merkin Pleated Purse
- Magnetic closure
- Striped interior lining
- Measures 7 x 12 x 2 inches
- Made in the United States
