With a plethora of designer bags to choose from this season, narrowing down my favourites to a slim four was not easy. After test-carrying and considering design, construction, style, function and versatility, these are the ones that made the final cut.
TOD’S Timeless T Top Handle Bag
Not since the Tod’s D-Styling (a firm favorite of both Diana, Princess of Wales and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) did I get so excited over a new bag from this century-old Italian leather goods company. Tod’s debuted the Timeless T top handle bag, along with its new logo, for its Spring/Summer 2020 collection. A structured piece that resembles the day bags from the 1950s, the Tod’s top handle bag is sure to transcend seasons because of its classic style and shape. Lightweight and compact, the bag also comes with a shoulder strap for hands-free carry. The back pocket is a nice addition, perfect to slide in name cards should you carry the bag to business functions. I favour the canvas and leather iteration because of its versatility— it can be carried for work and can easily segue into a nice vacation handbag as well.
Chanel 19
When creative director Virginie Viard debuted the Chanel 19 bag during the Autumn/Winter 2019 show held last March (a month after the passing of Karl Lagerfeld), it was immediately met with great enthusiasm by many a loyal Chanel bag fan and, since, more iterations have been released. The Chanel 19 got its name from its birth year and is characterised by larger quilts with an oversized, intertwined logo made with the signature chain and leather combination of the maison. This bag has a soft structure and is a modern take of its ancestor, the Classic Flap. Chanel 19’s unique feature lies in the strap — four different finishes of the house’s signature curb chain are seamlessly united into one. The denim version is my favourite for Spring/Summer, though the wallet-on-chain (WOC) version comes in at close second.
Fendi Embossed Leather Sunshine Shopper
When it comes to Fendi, it’s always challenging for me to pick just one style because the iconic Baguette and the Peekaboo always emerge as my top choices. But sometimes, all a bag lover really needs is a simple, back-to-basics leather tote stripped of unnecessary accoutrements. With a round- edged tortoiseshell and gold handle, this super-chic calfskin tote works well as a daily schlepping bag due to its size. The brand name embossed in large font across the leather body is a luxurious nod to the ongoing street fashion trend of logos (or brand names) emblazoned on bags. Customise your tote by attaching a micro Baguette charm to the handle so you need not rummage through the bag for your keys or a lipstick touch up. This practical tote is ideal as a work bag or to be carried over the weekend.
Bottega Veneta Chain Pouch
If you previously held back on the purchase of fashion’s most wanted Bottega Veneta Pouch when it was first released by designer Daniel Lee during his runway debut for the brand, now’s the right time to buy it. Because the B.V. Pouch is carried over for Spring/Summer 2020 with an additional bold gold or silver chain strap. And what a difference that makes! You can now carry that same soft leather pouch not just as a clutch but also as a shoulder bag. Not only is the B.V. Chain Pouch extremely chic, but it is also now versatile and can easily be carried from day to night.
Moynat Cabotin Escapade
Moynat is one of the most discreet luxury brands of today and is also one of the oldest, established in 1849. Under the creative direction of Ramesh Nair, Moynat has become the go-to bag brand of the fashion cognoscenti because of its unparalleled craftsmanship, and it creating distinctive shapes in unconventional materials. Each piece is artfully designed and meticulously hand-crafted using exacting techniques and savoire-faire. My favourite bag for this summer is the Cabotin Escapade – it is a special iteration of the classic Cabotin, a curved and structured bag inspired by the Moynat English trunks of yesteryear. The bag’s domed flap is made from natural cow leather while the body is completed with a traditional wicker weave. Secured by two palladium slide-lock mechanisms, the Escapade looks like a very chic lunch box, reminiscent of the retro tin lunch boxes from the late 60s. Introduced last year and produced in very limited quantities, the Cabotin Escapade is summer personified.
Editor
Ingrid Chua
