It Bag. The Chloe Paddington.
I think it was about two years ago that the “It Bag” began its decline. I noticed when I went into Harrods to buy my wedding shoes. (Actually, I was doing a seminar on fashion trends for the Harrods’ staff, and the shoe department did some sort of crazy hypnosis on me which it it impossible for me not to go in there and spend £600 on one of the best pairs of shoes. Ever.) I realized that shoes were very expensive, and I’m not suggesting that I presumed I could find a $20 bargain in Harrods, but really very expensive. Five years ago you could get an awesome pair of luxury-brand shoes for $450, but in Harrods the cheapest ones were $650, and I tried on shoes priced up to $1800 (note: these were not crocodile and covered in diamonds.)
And that’s when I realized that the It bag was over, only to be replaced by the It shoe.
(I’d just like to take this moment to say I don’t like the It shoe. I love an expensive shoe, but I don’t think companies should make the crazy handbag profits on shoes too. My reason is this: when I buy a luxury handbag I use it every day for the next two years, so I get my money’s worth. And a bag can be resold on eBay or handed down to someone. But the It shoe…you only wear the It shoe once a year, because you are so terrified how having someone spill something on it. And they are made of satin with delicate bits. And you worship them. And they don’t last very long. I don’t mind spending a lot of money on a bag, but its always harder on a shoe.)
It bag. The Yves Saint Laurent Downtown bag.
So…I was Googling a lot of the big brand names during fashion week and I was surprised to see how many focus on the word “handbags” way before fashion or clothing or anything on the Google search. Here are some examples:
Loewe, luxury handbags and high quality leather goods. Fashion …
CELINE : marque de luxe, sac et chaussures, mode femme vêtements …
Michael Kors – SHOP BY CATEGORY – HANDBAGS
Marc Jacobs Designer Clothes for Men, Women, & Children. Find Bags …
and I realized that most brands probably still do survive off handbag sales, which is weird since there hasn’t been much talk about handbags in the fashion press. (Although that’s not saying much, because the fashion press don’t exactly represent the majority.)
It bag: The Marc Jacobs Stam.
Sometimes I feel a bit sad that so many fashion brands have to constantly be dictated by products like handbags, perfumes, cosmetics, and eyewear. I love all of those things very much, but the fashion industry should be first about clothes, because at the end of the day, they are the most important part of anyone’s look. In the sixties a brand would be famous for its clothing, but nowadays we know about their bags, perfumes, cosmetics, and shoes before we can name a key item of clothing. I get so excited by all the clothing on the catwalks, but then I realize so many of clothes may never arrive in boutique, or at least, a boutique near me.
I think for fall I am going to spend most of my money on clothes, rather than shoes or handbags. There were so many beautiful designer collections, and the shoes and bags just weren’t as exciting. (Besides, I won’t be needing any shoes for a while, once I get back from London.)
**UPDATE**
I just saw this article, which seems to indicate the It bag may come back. Will that mean shoe prices will go down?
Image sources. Chloe Paddington bag. YSL Downtown. Marc Jacobs Stam.
