let me tell you a secret…
“THE IT-BAG IS DEAD!”
Or at least, the fashion authorities have fondly proclaimed such, at least for once, every year or so since the early 2010s. as well as every time they’ve made stated proclamation, it is usually complied with by a listing including some sequence of the Fendi Baguette, the Dior Saddle, the Chloé Paddington as well as the Balenciaga Motorcycle, I’m all “really, again? Aren’t they over as well as done with?” I bet you believed the exact same as well when you came across this article.
But to be fair, I must admit that I *really* like reading (and frequently re-reading) these pieces – I discover something extremely redeeming about that (supposedly) easier time featuring flared low-rise denim as well as irrationally heavy purses – particularly since they are from a time when I was, well, in existence, however wasn’t worldly sufficient to understand of such things. However, although a decade has passed since the It-bag allegedly died, its obituary continues to be circulated around like a scandalous secret, as well as yes, I do comprehend the intrigue of that.
In fact, the interesting stories behind exactly how these It-bags came to be is one of the things that drew me in to the world of handbags in the very first place, as well as composing about them makes me feel like part of their stories, even if I am not able to experience most, provided my circumstances. Moreover, purses are frequently referred to as wearable works of art, as well as even though the BBag or the PS1 may never once again ended up being the “hottest thing to own right now”, their aficionados continue to devotedly study, gather as well as like these creative pieces, regardless of their It-bag status, or lack thereof.
Fendi Baguette
via Fashionphile
$2,895
What Constitutes an It-Bag
So that increases the question, what constitutes an It-bag? Plum Sykes from vogue famously composed that, “an It bag, is an It bag only if you’re unlikely to possess it”. It’s “that totemic accessory that revealed you were owner of all that was desirable in the world.” however it isn’t only their ramification of specific social condition or restricted distribution strategy (spurring long waitlists as well as immediate sell-outs), or even the designer’s heritage, that makes them so desirable. They requirement to marry fantastic style as well as top-notch high quality too, as Amanda has so aptly directed out; no question lovers of the Paddington continue to reminisce its thick, buttery leather in spite of its weighty padlock as well as dated design.
Finally, a purse’s “It” factor was determined by its sighting in the right location at the right time, as well as on the right person – frequently by pure serendipity, however more frequently than not, likewise by clever product placement. So while the Fendi Baguette made a flamboyant Sex as well as the City debut in the process of getting snatched from Sarah Jessica Parker’s arms – as well as let’s be honest, a fair part of women wished to do the exact same – Jessica Stam, famous for being recruited from a coffee shop as well as utilizing a quilted, chained Marc Jacobs handbag as her portfolio, led to the Stam’s subsequent naming as well as immense popularity, something which Jacobs himself hadn’t anticipated.
By that definition, however, a great deal of bags have It-bag characteristics, like the Hermès Kelly as well as Birkin, the Chanel 2.55 or the Louis Vuitton Speedy, all of which have fantastic designs, remarkable quality, celeb-followings, quirky backstories as well as are (often) hard-to-get. Does that mean though that they’re It-bags?
Dior Saddle Bag
via Fashionphile
$3,250
Also, one more loophole in this narrative seems to be that a few of the It-bags of yore either continue to stay in production to date, whether it’s the Balenciaga City or the Proenza Schouler PS1, or those, like the Dior Saddle, Prada Nylon Re-Edition, as well as the Fendi Baguette that have been reissued to newer crowds. However, there’s now a general drive towards treating them as “classics” as opposed to an It-bag. Besides those, there’s a slew of sleek, new styles on the market, all of which in shape the characteristics that defined the It-bag era, like the Bottega Veneta pouch (Or Casette, or Jodie), the Louis Vuitton Coussin, the Dior book carry as well as the Prada Cleo.
And if you have been noticing, you’d realise that ever since the alleged “death” of the It-bag movement, there’s been a rising inclination towards more minimalistic, “classic” silhouettes. It was during this period that “investment bags” ended up being the thing to have, as well as indie-brands started to gain traction in a method they might never have accomplished earlier. Not only that, although patterns do seem to oscillate between logo-less as well as all-over logo, sometimes throwing specific “showy” aspects like chunky chains into the mix as well, the 2000s-era high quality of maximalist bags are seldom seen, as well as for the better, many would argue.
Another veritable game-changer in prominent purse culture is Instagram (and more recently, Tiktok), the impact of which has been twofold. For starters, now it’s easier than ever to gain the exposure that high-end brands previously had to vie for: hence, the “right place, right time” moment can be recreated right on a consumer’s feeds! Also, social network has set a platform where new brands can showcase themselves in a method that was previously well near impossible among the high-end players, so now celebs as well as influencers’ handles are as much about making the next “new huge thing” as much as they are about flaunting their designer purchases. In fact, it was likewise frequently the newness of a bag that contributed to its It-factor: the Prada Nylon backpack was the very first high-end bag to utilize the material, while the Proenza Schouler PS1, commonly touted as the logo-less anti-It-bag, quickly accomplished It-bag stardom. Stuart Vevers, the style brilliant behind many staples from Mulberry, coach as well as Loewe, remarked about this to The Observer, “What makes an It bag is something new—that’s the only formula there is.”
Prada Vela Backpack
via Fashionphile
$525
Is the It-Bag truly Dead?
So as we try to investigate (and potentially overthink) the trajectory of It-bags, it becomes progressively difficult to trace any type of solid path at all. should the Longchamp Le Pliage, at the extremely bottom of the cost spectrum, as well as that’s in everybody’s closets, be thought about an It-bag? If not, what about the affordably priced Mansur Gavriel Bucket, which was commonly touted as a contemporary It-bag too? On the other hand, should the Chanel Boy, which isn’t as “classic-y” as the 2.55, be thought about an It-bag or a “classic”? In fact, the only characteristic that seems to hold true for the historical It-bags is that their popularity was fleeting. They came, they conquered as well as they quietly made their method into the resale market, as brands today go on churning out new styles in hope of replicating their formulas as well as achieving that level of success as well as desirability. So, as more as well as more bags in today’s saturated market gain popularity, driven by scores of influencers, many of whose reputations are based solely on the bag’s unboxing/reviews, are we back to an age of It-bags, or has it ended up being more difficult to produce It-bags for brands?