Oct 8, 2008

It's ALL about the Bag

Handbags, clutches, purses, backpacks, luggage, etc. were a huge accessory must have in 2000. Bags with animal skins were a key look this year along with high-shine patents. A hot look that went down the runway this season was plastic. The season's focus was on glamour and sophistication. During 2000 bags varied from hand-held, to shoulder strapped, to wrist strapped all the way up to a big luggage bags.

The Context:

Cultural-
Equestrian
80's
African Styling



The Product:

Color-
bold brights
sweet pastels.



Fabric/Fiber/Finish-
reptile skins
sheared furs
pony skin
Re-colored patents
high-shine wet-look
tie-dye effects
all-over prints
fresh gingham checks
embroidery or beading
3D floral
Multi-strand beaded fringes.
Hessians
silks
linen
denim
ostrich skin
skin treatments
metallic leathers
eyelet treatments
leathers







-Animal Instincts: Follow your animal instincts and go for this season's two key fabrications - reptile skins and sheared furs or pony skin. Key looks include re-colored treatments on python or lizard - looking best in multi-colored effects or stripes.


-Patently Clear: Re-colored patents and high-shine wet-look finishes are key fabrications for accessories this season - looking best in bold brights or sweet pastels.


-Fantastic Plastic: Plastic looks fantastic this season and takes on designer status with looks featuring on the catwalks of no-lesser luminaries than Jean-Paul Gaultier, Ralph Lauren and Celine. New finishes include tie-dye effects, all-over prints and fresh gingham checks.

-Ego-Logo: Forget 90s stealth - wealth the message for the millennium is that brash - cash is back and this season you can sport your designer logo with pride.

-Embellished: Decoration continues for feminine or novelty bags, with embroidery or beading treatments, applied 3D floral and multi-strand beaded fringes.

-Bags of Fabric: For more casual looks with hippy or handcrafted overtones, go for drawstring Dorothy bags or easy satchels in Hessians, silks, linen or denim - complete with decorative embroidery treatments.

-Well handled: The double-handled bowling bag is top of this season's must - have list - looking best in ostrich skin or re-colored patents, other key looks include the document case and the novelty tote.


-In a Clutch: The season's glamorous and sophisticated looks put the spotlight back on the clutch purse or envelope bag - looking best in re-colored snake skin’s and high-shine patents.


-An A-Wristing Sight: A new look from the catwalks this season is the wrist strap bag, seen at all the leading accessory houses as well as cutting-edge labels like Costume National.






-Hand in Hand: The season's ladylike influences put the emphasis on the small hand-held bag, looking particularly key in luxury leathers for a sense of bourgeois chic.


-Shoulder the Load: The shoulder bag makes a come-back for girls on the go. New looks include skin treatments, metallic leathers and eyelet treatments.

-Equine: Equestrian influences were the mission statement at Dior with neat shoulder bags inspired by saddles and riding tack - a look tipped to replace the ubiquitous Baguette. Equine looks were also seen at Hermes who drew on the house's reputation as a luxury saddler for witty inspiration.



-A Novel Twist: Some of the more novel bags and accessories featuring this season.
Its fab: The new finish for accessories this season is fabric; key for coordinating outfits from head to toe. Printed, patterned, graphic or ethnic, fabric bags are generally bright and large scale.



-Neon Wave: 80s styling has invaded the accessories scene this spring/summer season. Fluorescent neon accessories are undeniably one of the hottest looks going. Opt for translucent plastics for fast junior looks, and luxury glacé kid for more up market styling.

-Customized: Louis Vuitton and Bottega Veneta are the two premier players here. Customized leather was not a huge trend across the catwalks, nonetheless the look will translate exceptionally well into the commercial realm. These hand-painted logos and hand sprayed stripes will easily make the transition in (and out) of fashionable arms for a short-lived successful trend. Fast in, fast out.

-Framed: For a chic summer outing, don’t forget to borrow one of Granny’s purses. Her formal framed collection of purses (think doctor bags) is all a girl needs to be up to date. This season’s bags are updated in luxury leathers often with minimum detail.

-Be Square: The new direction for bags this season is a boxy silhouette. These bags are reminiscent of the old lunch pail, or your mother’s vanity case.

-Clutch: 80s apparel trends have prompted a rash of similarly styled accessories. The clutch bag, carried in at the waist, emphasizes the broad shoulder lines and belted garments and as such is the perfect compliment.

-Its all in the wrist: Clutch bags, despite their elegant and streamlined look, are notoriously difficult to manage. Simple functional wrist straps ensure their wear ability.

-Military Appeal: Functional no fuss military styling is looking very fresh these days after seasons of beading, and over the top exotic skins. Durable canvas straps, over sized buckles, and fastenings, binocular case silhouettes and body and belt bags make for styling worthy of the urban jungle.

-Out of Africa: Fringing, shell trims, raffia, interwoven and knitted leather, vegetal colors all make up an African styling story. Kenzo and Anna Sui are the key players here.

-Demure Lady: Small scale, dainty, lady-like purses with clip frame fastenings are a refining finishing touch to any outfit. Pay special attention to the unique shapes and finishes at D&G.


Autumn/Winter Bags:
http://www.wgsn-edu.com/members/catwalks/keyitem/reports/cw1999feb15_921003bs?view=Standard

-Unstructured: The new bags for Fall are essentially simple in construction, with soft tactile qualities and yielding unstructured silhouettes moving last season's Porta-wear trend into another dimension.

-Portables: Neat and sweet are the buzz words to describe the latest mini-handbags.

-On the Move: Luggage is BIG business - quite literally this season - with over sized pieces making a major statement with plasticized and PVC finishes, drawstring details and passenger-belt fastenings.




Major Designers/Competition-

Kenzo
Anna Sui
D&G
Louis Vuitton
Bottega Veneta
Dior
Jean-Paul Gaultier
Ralph Lauren
Celine
Fendi
Calvin Klein
Gucci


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