Monday, November 7, 2011

A new bag in town - well, two



This lovely bag is made from "Italian Tapestry" (I'll take their word for it) and does in fact come from Italy. It new (to me) and absolutely pristine. So charming - serenading his lady-love in the refined Italian countryside. There's no question that a bag like this cries out for a structural pairing with say a menswear-inspired ensemble.

I am a sucker for needlepoint bags and the good ones are getting harder to find. I curse myself for every one I let pass by thinking the real mccoy was just around the corner. Although it's tapestry rather than needlepoint, I couldn't let this one go. I love the clasp which snaps-to with a secure click.

Then for something entirely different - a buttery shoulder bag.



This is beautifully lined with an equally supple leather lining and compartments. It has that slight hippie look and feel that is satisfyingly '70s. The challenge I find is with the strap: I'm so accustomed to a handbag that a shoulder bag distracts my usual gait - I'm constantly tugging the thing back up onto my shoulder.

Although from an ergonomic perspective, the handbag is no better than a shoulder bag ... neither do us a lick of good. We should all wear backpacks.

Here's what Rebecca Willis of The Intelligent Life had to say on the subject:


Shoulder bags make us raise one shoulder to keep them in place, at least until evolution presents us with a little hook on our clavicles. Bags held in the crook of the elbow put pressure on the lower arm, and even the cross-body style of bag, which leaves you enviably hands-free, is still lopsided.


So true and yet, how could one possibly end it all? I can't say I've spotted a single women in l'age looking fine sporting a backpack. Serious efforts have gone into designer, leather, textured and so on, backpacks but to no avail. They just look stupid.

I'm still trying to forget this idea ...



An improvement, but who are we kidding ...


Nothing beats a bag.



More on layering and menswear/womenswear next.