Trends: #ARTBags

Louis Vuitton Cruise 2017 Pochette Toilette

Louis Vuitton’s ‘Race’ collection that’s from Cruise 2017. Well-sized (they are 26 cm across) with a wider base that allows for more of your personals, the price is pretty good too, coming in at just SGD770 a pop.

Made of printed canvas and lined with Microfiber, you’ll also find a patch pocket on the inside, which is good for cash or cards for days when you need to just grab and go.

Dior Limited Edition #DiorLadyArt Collection

6 new American and British artists have been invited to create/interpret their own Lady Dior bags, collectively known as the #DiorLadyArt project. Given carte blanche to do most anything they liked, all the artists created Lady Dior bags in different sizes, with some creating complementing accessories as well, from clutches to SLGS like wallets, card cases and key rings.

Personal favourites include Jason Martin’s monumental sculptural relief paintings that have been beautifully interpreted onto his Lady Dior bags that you’ll find in Copper, Gold and Silver, along with Chris Martin (no, not the Coldplay guy) and his abstraction works, which you’ll find on oneLady Dior. The other features a print of a drawing from one of his major works, Frog 1, which sees the little critter made into another bag, along with SLGs, a scarf and a key ring.

To be made available in selected Dior boutiques around the world from Miami to London and Dubai to Paris

Chanel S/S17 Black Resin Robot Minaudière

For Spring-Summer 2017, Karl Lagerfeld sent out a collection that was set in a data center, with stacks upon stacks of servers spewing tangles of colourful computer cords. Models (both actual and robotic, ok I jest, she was just wearing a robot mask), walked the runway complete with LED-embedded bags (yes, they were blinking), iridescent tweed jackets and digitised rays of colour printed onto flowing dresses, skirts and caps.

So it’s only fitting that for this collection that we talk about about this little guy, a minaudière in the shape of a robot. Clearly one who’s Chanel-approved (do you not see the CC logo on his chest), I adore his spanner-like arms and the fact his eyes do blink, which would make him a great nightstand companion as well. No word though on when he will be launched (or how much he will be selling for) so do expect another update soon.

Loewe S/S17 Lantern Bag In Tan & Gold

With a brand like Loewe, you’ll sometimes need a sense of humour (preferably large), especially when faced with something like Spring-Summer 2017‘s Lantern Bag. It’s definitely not a conventional piece, but it will start conversations, like the one I had going in my own head when I first chanced upon it some weeks back.

The inspiration behind it is decidedly simple, a bag shaped like a lantern that’s almost gourd-like, it starts narrow on the top before it extends in the middle, and then tapering down towards the end. What’s more difficult was the thought process of making something traditionally crafted out of paper (or fabric) which is easy, but swopping that out for leather instead.

In other words, it must have been a huge exercise in applying everything Loewe had in their leather-crafting arsenal and know-how techniques just to figure out how to make it completely in a material that’s pretty tough to work with in the first place. I could only imagine the hours that went into moulding the shape needed to resemble a lantern, before the pieces are stitched together to form that distinctive shape.

Which is exactly what I respect most about the Spanish luxury house, their will to try something that’s not easy and honing their skills, instead of doing yet another simple shape with a sling or two and selling it for bucketloads of money.

And while it will not appeal to everyone (especially with its SGD8690price tag), this is proof that craftsmanship and ingenuity are alive and well at the Spanish luxury house.

Louis Vuitton Cruise 2017 Petite Malle

It’s pretty clear at one glance where the inspiration for these Louis Vuitton Cruise 2017 Petite Malle bags come from. Tropical hues, racing stripes, greens on gold, even those sequinned animal prints. Yes, set against the dynamic tropicality of Rio de Janeiro, these iconic beauties are given the collection’s mandatory flourishes. Definitely fun pieces to add to anyone’s bag wardrobe, the small Petite Malle perfectly encapsulates the legacy of a luxury trunk maker, and is perhaps the closest any of us will own a ‘trunk’ from Louis Vuitton.

Mark Cross Grace ‘Galaxy’ Bag

If you’re first thought was Fendi or Prada, well, not quite. This cutie of a bag belongs to Mark Cross, an American luxury label that I wished I was more familiar with. As far as I know, they’ve been making tiny luggage-style bags that are also shoulder slings, complete with top handle and a little luggage hangtag. This one, from their Pre-Fall 2016 collection and now available via Net-A-Porter comes with its very own robot face, made up of cut-outs and leather appliqués for that contrasting 3D look.

Measuring 21.5 cm by 18.5 cm with a depth of 11 cm, this little fella is now available via Net-A-Porter, where it is priced at GBP1750, or aroundSGD3000 after conversion. Not exactly cheap, but do remember it is full leather after all, and on the inside there’s even an additional zip pocket to keep the personals safe. Besides, how does one say no to a face like that, right?

Saint Laurent: A Tale Of Two Classic Baby Sac Du Jours

Same bag, new look. Yes, that’s the backstory for this pair of Classic Baby Sac Du Jour bags that have been given a mini-makeover just in time for the holidays. Measuring almost 26 cm across by 21 cm in height, these small darlings have given in to the appliqué-effect, which has seen more and more bags from all brands being plastered with everything from embroidered animals to pixelated graphics.

For Saint Laurent, it’s a tad more whimsical, with the first one, the Classic Baby Sac Du Jour covered with patchwork metallic clouds, stars and a crescent moon, along with the word LOVE boldly emblazoned across it. And if Kiki and Lala from Little Twin Stars had a bag from Saint Laurent, this would be it. Also available in the form of a wallet-on-chain style that you can see here, this SdJ will set you back by SGD3650.

Then there’s the more restrained Classic Baby Sac Du Jour Multi-Patch, which comes with just 3 tiny patches plastered on the left and right of the bag. Not exactly a favourite of mine (if you want to make it bling, you go all out right?), this little thing is also priced at SGD3650, and both should already be available at Saint Laurent boutiques at Marina Bay Sands and ION Orchard.