Bringing sexy bag

Can’t afford that glamorous Gucci? Have no fear, alternatives are here.

KARACHI:

If you have ever felt that a teal, snake skin clutch is a bigger source of gratification than Bradley Cooper’s eyes, trust me, you have proved that you are first a lady and then a woman. Since time immemorial, retail therapy constitutes largely of purse/bag purchases and leads to eventual bliss for the buyer.

We understand that bag trends change more often than JLo’s beaus, but given a more panoramic look at the general trends, the pattern remains the same, it’s ‘the bigger the better’ when the heat turns up and compact, old Hollywood chic when the nights become longer and chillier.  This season — and by this season we mean for another four to five months — look for hard cover cigar cases, reptile skin, nude shades and buckles, chain straps and buttons in gold tone.

Gold chain straps

Whether the gold chain goes solo or is braided with another fabric, this trend can make any piece bought for as cheap as Rs2,000 from Saddar, give off an impression that you just walked out of an exclusive Hermes outlet. Chanel has mastered the art of keeping their designs ideology minimal yet effortlessly enchanting and we cannot thank the brand enough for promoting this high-end fad. For those who wish to invest in this trend, we suggest you stick to safer colours like navy blue, grey, earthy tones and white. Do not give in to the temptation of trying the gold chain look with funkier and neon colours because it would make you look like a low quality, made in China clone of Queen Latifah.

Expensive in your sssskin

If you are looking for arm candy that says ‘I’m more expensive than your soul’ then reptile skin is the big thing these days. Crocodile and snake skin clutches are so exotically beautiful they actually make us want to cry with joy. Designers like Kara Ross and vogue powerhouse Jimmy Choo have already done this trend to death. Caution: Fashion followers often end up wearing all the trends at one time which makes them look like an abstract painting (and not in a good way). If you are planning to get your hands on one of these beauties make sure to avoid busy or loud prints to keep the focus on the purse. Also, if you are a shalwar kameez girl, avoid tie dye altogether, not only will it defy the current colour blocking trend, it will also take away the ‘rich’ element from your faux reptile skin goodie. Do check jewellery designer Matthew Campbell Laurenza’s bottle green cigar case clutch or Michael Kors’ metallic Python bag to get a clear idea of what we are talking about.

Box/rectangle shaped purses

Time and again we have been shown mother Venus’ voluptuous body and told that human beings are instinctively attracted to smoother shapes and rounder surfaces. However, contemporary bag designers are defying this myth by promoting the hard cover, cigar box clutches, that look malevolent enough to kill somebody with. Check sites of brands like Coach and Fendi to get a clear idea of the in-trend shapes. The prices will obviously set your hair on fire, but at least you will get a guideline for free. Defiantly sophisticated, this design almost seems like a woman’s tribute to Clark Gable’s cold poise and classiness in Gone With The Wind, a film that made the metallic cigarette case a status symbol back in the 40s.

Places where you can find cheaper deals

• Shops that stock Malaysian accessories (mostly located   on 26th street)

• Sunday Bazaar

•  Hub Leather

• International Market (Lahore)

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2012.