the perfect bag – NOT black
i've been asked multiple times recently (all within a few weeks) to recommend a good, all-purpose, black, high-end bag. upon closer inspection of the references i was provided with, i realized we were talking about a baguette bag, or at least something similar. in all cases. apparently, the media and influencers have done their job, and the baguette is in again. nothing surprising, though; they've been around for a few seasons now. with the '90s and early '00s being back, "we can't help but…" have a new appreciation for the purse in question. and it does have a number of reasons to be loved. the size (aka practicality) isn’t so small that you can't fit your iPhone Pro, along with multiple other items you'll need want to carry around during the day, yet it's not big enough that you could use it for grocery shopping, which is a good thing. it lets us appear as those not-having-a-care-in-the-world girls who don't need laptops, notebooks (or real books), or any other item of considerable size that we would normally need but decide against taking simply because they won't fit. or is it simply so? not for me. in my opinion, we leave them behind because, on a subconscious level (or sometimes a very conscious one), we don't want to even have the possibility of ‘finishing up some work’ while waiting for a friend at the bar or have a spare sweater just in case it gets cold in the evening (not in the bag… not in THAT bag). a baguette is not the bag you go to work with. well… i've seen those women; i admire them. i am simply not sure i can be one of them, for my work bags are more in the realm of bottomless sacks (even if they don't look so on the outside), where i simply throw in stuff on my way out in the morning while drinking coffee, feeding my dog, trying to find my AirPods, and adding some makeup products that i will forget i have and remember about when i am leaving the office in the evening, all that before rushing out and closing the door behind me. oh, forgot the charger…
carrying a small bag gives me a certain feeling. i am not prepared for everything; i don't have a lot of things i might need on me, but it's fine. i am light.
then there comes the look. a baguette is quite a universal bag, and there is a very clear reason for that. the short strap. the short strap is a tool, same as size. it makes a bag convenient enough as you can put it on your shoulder, but not too convenient that you can completely forget about it. to take something out, you will take it off in most cases; it slides from time to time, and in general, there's a lot of interaction going on with short-strap bags. at the same time, the strap allows it to be carried in a hand or on the wrist at times, which gives it a totally different vibe, steering us towards a more fun, evening-weekend mood. all this leads me back to my point: the baguette, thanks to its size and design combined with a vast variety of textures and materials it can appear in, is a truly multi-purpose bag. and, of course, the color. ah, color! i finally arrived at the initial thought that led me to write this text in the first place.
as i mentioned, i was asked to recommend a bag, but what i didn't say is that in all cases, the request was for a black bag. and every time i asked why it should be black, the answer was always the same: because black suits all, you can wear it with everything.
here it's probably good to mention that i have a certain aversion to black shoes and bags. it doesn't mean that i don't have them, but their quantity is very limited, and if i have an option, i normally would go for another color. but what made me wonder here was where this idea came from and why it is only black; why other colors don't have the same privilege, especially when we talk about bags. certainly, the notion that black suits every occasion and matches everything is familiar to me, but is it really so? and why? what are people really after when they employ this strategy? i believe that most purchasing decisions are based on how we want to feel, even if we are unaware of it.
having done a little research, i haven't found a unanimous answer to the origins of the idea about black. i have, however, found the following explanations that help understand why this is a common belief: black is timeless and chic; it is neutral, so it can go with anything. contemplating these ideas made me recall a chapter in Alexandra Shulman's book "Clothes That Matter" on the color black, in which she describes all the nuances of wearing black so well. one of the things she mentions is how black can be so overwhelmingly absorbing, and that is something i can relate to a lot. and if versatility is something we are after when opting for black, are we just playing it safe? could it be that we've been living with this idea that black, by default, goes with everything, and this idea just makes our lives easier? well, it certainly makes the choice-making easier since we now can filter out so many different colors. the truth is, judging a garment only by color is a very flat approach. there are so many other factors that would be nice to consider. what shade is that color? what is the fabric, material? what is the fit, shape, size, model? even if black as a color is timeless, the style might not be.
there's no doubt that black is chic. this has historical roots, with the color black being available only to the nobility up to a certain point in the Middle Ages. it was also the color for certain groups of people like the clergy, judges, and other positions representing authority. the color is still associated with elegance and refinement. i am just not sure this is something we are always looking for when buying a bag.
i guess what i wanted to convey with everything mentioned above is that there are many factors to consider when choosing a bag, and limiting ourselves to the belief that 'black goes with everything' might strip us of some great options out there. i am so happy we abandoned the idea that all leather items (think bag, shoes, belt, etc.) should match in color, a concept that now seems outdated. the greatest benefit, in my opinion, is that this shift has opened up far more possibilities for new color combinations and more interesting looks. curiously, not having a straightforward formula for accessories – such as the need to match burgundy shoes with a burgundy bag – hasn’t made the decision-making harder (at least not for me). on the contrary, it has both simplified and enriched the process; there's more room for not caring too much and playing around. hopefully, being open to colors other than black when selecting an everyday bag can make choosing easier and the whole process more fun for you.
here is a selection of non-black baguette bags that i liked from different price ranges and that are not too much around at this point.
in this Celine bag i particularly like the off-white color that is quite rare, and how well it combines with bright golden hardware. the colors balance each other out perfectly, the golden details add sophistication, but just enough, not pushing it too hard. the size is slightly bigger that what you would normally expect from a baguette, which is great when you want to carry more stuff with you, like a book for example (you’re still a butterfly, but with a book now). i also like that it’s soft, which, besides being very convenient in terms of wearing, has this relaxed feeling about it. would work well when combined with stricter forms in the outfit.
this one is not really a classic baguette. i like it in silver, as this color variation makes an otherwise very boring and stiff bag fun. can serve as a good accent to the look, depending on what you wear it with. in my head the dream combination for this bag color wise is something of deep warm tones. like a dark brown coat, for instance (this was the first that came to my mind, i am absolutely obsessed with dark brown at the moment).
(i also like it more than the Prada Cleo).
i wasn’t thrilled with Celine returning it’s signature logos to their Ava bags. this one here is one without it (used to be available in more colors). this butter yellow color is great. it’s unusual and not plain, which gives it more dimension and can make the whole look way more interesting. at the same time, it might be tricky if you don’t know what to wear it with. so make sure to have ideas before purchasing it. also, the butter yellow is the color that is now in, but it’s definitely a trend and it’s going to go away. so depending on your attitude towards trends - it might be a good point to take into account. especially considering that Celine for most people is not a bag we want to wear for 1-2 seasons only.
the color here makes the bag well-balanced. the same bag in black looks way more ‘official’.
this Sandro bad is a find. i met it in person. the color is deep and interesting. it’s very warm, but has silver hardware. the shape here is quite strict and the leather is stiff, i would pair it something more relaxed to create balance in the outfit. in my opinion, it looks more interesting when the clasp is not closed.
https://www.jacquemus.com/en_fr/le-bisou-ceinture/233BA343-3128-470.html
the first thing i thought when I saw this bad - “its a classic”. something that has been here before, is here now, and will be here again. a very nice interpretation by Jacquemus. the ultimate accent accessory in that right shade of red. nice details that don’t overload the bag. a very 90s piece.
(the option in off-white is worth attention as well)
https://www.byfar.com/products/mini-amira-white-flat-grain-leather?variant=39367340458030
another white bag on my list. but can you see how different this By Far bag is from the Celine one? this is a very in-your-face white. silver details. the combination that is often boring. but not here, thanks to the details – circles in the places where the handle is attached. it looks bold. and it has a very clear 00s vibe.
by combining by favorite color at the moment (have i mentioned it already?) - chocolate brown - with the softer hobo shape Marge Sherwood created a very nice piece. this bag can easily become that everyday essential. i would wear it everywhere.
(they also have it in a really nice red berry color which could easily become a statement piece if you’re up for it).
https://agneel.com/raya/raya-cobaltblue
i discovered this little gem in one of my favourite boutiques in Berlin, which i occasionally come by to admire its stylish owner and the highly curated selection of pieces she has at the store. now, this one is to be carried in hand only (it’s very unlikely to go all the way up to your shoulder). it has a very simple yet interesting design that breathes of high quality. what’s special about it is this unusual shade of blue, it’s an off-color, it’s good. it will look amazing with ecru-sand color palette and the browns.