You can always count on Timmy Woods to create a head-turning purse. The designer might sometimes miss the mark, but her accessories are never boring.
I’m in two minds about this Mariposa purse. It’s made of the same smooth acacia wood that we saw in the Faith and the Charming clutch. But that butterfly shape makes it a little kitschy. We’ve seen Timmy Woods create purses in the shape of everything from Kris Kringle to a champagne bottle before, so such an unusual design isn’t entirely unexpected. But it will polarize audiences: some may love the fashion risk while others will long for a less obvious design.
I can’t fault the execution though. The wood has been hand carved and painted with black and golden ink to create the butterfly’s wings. It’s a beautiful thing, more a work of art than a handbag. So it’s a shame Timmy Woods pairs her butterfly with a black rope strap. It looks cheap frankly, and the Mariposa deserves better. I’d rather carry this purse in my hand clutch-style than sling that over my shoulder! What a shame we can’t remove it, at least not without scissors!
Another disappointment is the storage space on offer, although this isn’t entirely unexpected. That winged shape was never going to give us a large interior, but that doesn’t make packing it any easier. I do love the silk lining though. What a shame to keep that luxury inside when the tacky rope strap is always in plain view!
If you’ve fallen for it though, the Mariposa’s shortcomings aren’t likely to faze you. At $338 it’s hardly cheap, but such an original purse rarely is!
More Features of This Timmy Woods Butterfly Bag
- Matte gold-tone hardware
- Molded sides with interior elasticized gore
- Hinged flat bottom
- Logo-embossed, snap-lock closure
- An elasticized patch pocket inside
- A rope strap with a 23 inch drop
- Measures 5 x 2 x 6.5 inches
- Comes with a drawstring dust bag
