Or does it just make my bargain loving brain look bigger?
Seriously, there’s something wrong with the world when a bag this great can be found sitting forlornly on a sale bin at Barney’s, marked 70% off.
I made a beeline for the thing almost immediately after walking through the front doors — I mean, how could I ignore it? It was literally jumping up and down on the table screaming, “I’m the perfect Christmas present for your sister! Grab me now, you ninny, before it’s too late!!!”
Well, who am I to refuse such urgent psychic messages beamed directly into my brain from a black leather tote with silver studs (and two black tassels, no less)?
The leather is achingly soft with a subtle, textured matte finish, there’s a chunky resin closure that gives off a mid-century modern vibe, and the silver studs marching up the sides provide just enough contemporary flair without sending it over the edge into total L.A. rock-n-roll territory . . . it is still a Lanvin, after all, and a proper Lanvin has too much dignity to actually roll. It might tilt and sway a bit to some soft jazz, however. Lanvin reported a 27% increase in sales for 2008, but 2009 has been harsh for everyone on the retail front (Barney’s has had a particularly rough go of it) and I saw a good number of Lanvin bags online and in stores at sale prices of 60% off and more. This doesn’t bode well for Lanvin’s hopes of being a designer label to rival Chanel (head Lanvin designer Alber Elbaz was even briefly rumored to be Lagerfeld’s replacement at Chanel . . . a rumor that Chanel, Lagerfeld and Elbaz quickly smacked down). But the fortunes of Lanvin aside, I have a hunch that the sis will adore me for about five pure, white hot minutes on Christmas morning. Then her teenaged kids will probably start squabbling and yank her out of the moment, but there it is.
