Bags remain a complimentary fashion accessory

Bags remain a complimentary fashion accessory

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

For women, bags have become a complimentary fashion accessory to
achieve their best look. The style and trend of bags has also
moved along with the fashion industry.

Noted fashion houses have always carefully designed the bags
and even remade the once-hit style. Each house will highlight its
character in the design which will give the benefit for their
loyal consumers in choosing the distinctive styles from the
houses. The diverse options will enable the women to pick the
best that fit their needs and taste.

Paris-based Louis Vuitton fashion house and prominent Italian
brand Gianni Versace presented their leather bag collections to
conclude the year 2002 and to welcome 2003.

Besides its Christmas collection -- including the limited-
edition America Cube bag (from the Louis Vuitton cup 2002-2003),
Monogram Vernis Fluo (designed by talented stage designer Robert
Wilson) and Monogram Ambre bag (from the Cruise 2002 collection)
-- Louis Vuitton reinvents the Papillon (butterfly) bag with
natural cowhide straps in the shape of a butterfly.

Inspired by a young lady walking down the Champs Elysees
holding a city bag, Henry-Louis Vuitton had the idea of creating
a new model of city bag which he called Papillon. The bag was a
hit in 1966.

Created in monogram canvas, the city bag was created in the
modern roundness, rolled and slender shape. It was accentuated
with a natural calfskin handle and was produced in only two
versions.

"What differentiates it from others? It is timeless but also
modern, feminine and fun. It moves, it changes and is versatile
on the arm, shoulder or in the hand," said Cicilia King of Louis
Vuitton Indonesia.

The American Cube bag was said to be the clever concept that
combined two different functions. It could be unfolded into an
extra-flat bag that could be carried on a shoulder strap for
short journeys or could be transformed into a cube-shaped bag
ideal for any trip.

The American came in white with a shoulder strap emblazoned
with the words "Louis Vuitton Cup" in neon orange.

Meanwhile, Versace presented leather bags for their
Spring/Summer 2003 collection in predominantly pastel colors of
purple, soft pink, yellow and turquoise.

The hand bags include Patch Satchel, Satchel, Rodeo, Rainbow
Buckle, Patch Bow, Mesh Hobo, Woven Halfmoon, Lemon Peardrop,
Croc Bucket, DV Odyssey Bag and DV Belt-bag (suede). They were
all designed with short leather straps.

The masculine touches, typically Versace, included metal
ornaments such as metal rings, cowboy belt buckles and steel
spirals.

Some came in a single color like the Satchel in white, Lemon
Peardrop in lemon yellow, Mesh Hobo also in white. Other types
have color combinations to accentuate the shape and the contour.

As was shown in stunning designs in fashion and its
accessories, Versace again brought an extraordinary concept of a
handbag. It has moved from a conventional shape to a more
creative outline like the Mesh Hobo, Woven Halfmoon, Lemon
Peardrop had half circle shape.

The Spring/Summer handbag batch was definitely expected to go
along with the latest shoes collection.

The footwear collection included Barbie Turquoise Sling, Barbi
Purple Court, Barbi Yellow Sling, St Tropez (fuscia), Trocadero
(knee boot) and Vegas (silver, anthracite and yellow).

The Barbi shoes appeared more feminine with the choice of
colors as well as the details. The collection used woven leather
which was tied at the end into a lanky ribbon. The Barbi came
with three-color combinations.

Coming with less details, St Tropez looked more suitable for
mature and elegant women while the knee-high-boot Trocadero
collections would fit energetic and dynamic women because of
their stylish (with minimal details) fabric of the boot and the
color selections of silver, dark purple and light pink.

The newest collection would definitely replace the old ones
but as guaranteed products, the items were still worth
collecting. The world fashion history must have patented those
collections as the refined branded accessories which wrapped up
2002 and kicked off the 2003.