Phillip Lim says that his design inspirations come from “absorbing shapes, colors, and textures”. Well, his new Lotte Runway bag is inspiring on all three counts. I love the subtle rounded-off edges, the delicate anthracite gray, and the contrasting textures of the goatskin as much as I love the remarkably reasonable price of $475.
The way the shiny, horizontally-striped center detail sets off the smooth grain of the goatskin sides gives the bag a plush, luxurious appeal. The gathers along the seams of the bag soften its square shape and create volume. The suitcase-style handles are padded for comfort, and have a rich-looking embossed appearance.
The bag closes with a practical, double-zip top, and the black metal hardware of the zippers and stud detailing reinforces the neutral tone of the leather. You won’t find any obvious bells, whistles, or branding to distract from the minimal simplicity of Phillip Lim’s design, which I find to be a refreshing change from the omnipresent, oversized logos of so many handbags.
The reasonable-to-carry 12″ x 10.25″ x 6.5″ inch size is great for toting your wallet, organizer, phone, and perhaps a small makeup bag without weighing down your arm, and the interior zipper pocket keeps all those little essentials, like lipgloss and keys, organized and easy to reach.
While the cost of this bag is more than what many of us recessionistas might want to spend up front, you would be hard-pressed to find another designer bag of this quality and subtle beauty at under $500. The combination of affordability and clean design is sure to make the Lotte by Phillip Lim the new favorite for quite a Lotte of us ladies.
More Features of the Anthracite Lotte Handbag by Phillip Lim
- Fine textile lining
- Also available in ultra-violet (purple)
