Handbags: Giving the ultimate feeling to all

Christiani Tumelap, Contributor, Jakarta

If you see a woman blowing her budget on an Rp 8 million (about US$780) branded handbag, don't bother to ask why. Handbags have recently achieved higher esteem not only as indispensable fashion statements but also bold status symbols.

"I'm not a true fashionist. I bought it because it looks great, brand new, and, yes, it'll definitely give more "weight" to my overall appearance," said Chyntia, a housewife, as she walked to the cashier to pay for her pick, the currently hip and colorful poster-print saddle handbag from the latest Christian Dior handbag line.

As people start to take accessories to even more extremes, handbags are now becoming fashion's next big thing. Designers from the world's fashion houses are battling each other to flaunt not only their latest frocks or fragrances, but also handbags.

Everyone from Christian Dior to Gucci, Etienne Aigner and Louis Vuitton to Prada, Fendi and Kate Spade take their turns at setting the global trend afire.

Flip through any major fashion and even news magazine and you will see plenty of catchy ads screaming out the latest lines in designer handbags.

Their massive advertising campaigns have successfully indoctrinated the minds of many women, making them believe that there's an ongoing global trend which they should take part in, said long-established local fashion designer Samuel Wattimena.

"Women want to be part of the world's trends, the global society, and that's the result of the massive propaganda launched by these global brands," he said.

"Naturally, with or without the trend, women need handbags. But, somehow, they feel that carrying a branded handbag gives them a clear, distinguished, ultimate feeling," he added.

At the moment, there are several new designs ranging from the classic look to the dare-to-be-different styles that dominate the respective market segments. And what you should do is simply choose the one that best suits your taste, and your budget.

Those who prefer to remain faithful to the classic style may opt for the Hermes' revamped Grace Kelly trapezium-shaped bag, Samuel said.

Plenty of choices in classic-look bags are also available from other high fashion houses. For example, Dior's Lady series, Loewe's suede Mini-Amozon bags or Louis Vuitton's Mini Monogram in leather or canvas, and Anouchka bags.

"Mini Monogram still rules," said Cecilia King, public relations executive for Louis Vuitton's Indonesian distributor Bagasi Luks. The most sought after models are the doctor-bag like Josephine, or the slim and foldable Francoise and Alma, she added.

Another choice for timeless, styled bags come from the Italian Furla. For this autumn-winter season, Furla offers, among others, the 1960's-look Retro of orange-skin patterned leather, which comes in three sizes and color combinations of black, maroon or jasmine, with matching trim. Retro bags are available from just Rp 1.75 million.

Fashion trend is now addressing the autumn-winter characters. Leather and fur combinations dominate the material with calm and cool colors like warm brown, beige, camel and maroon.

But it's not a sin to go for the joyfully designed bags in bright colors and odd shapes if you want to stand out from the crowd.

"There's nothing funkier now than Dior's latest saddle and trailer bags," Samuel said.

Inspired by the looks of Cadillac automobiles, Dior's trailer bags have two yellow and white colored rounded "lamps", carseat pattern leather trim and a "number plate" that reads "Montaigne. chris-1947", referring to the year Dior started the business, on the front surface. Priced at around Rp 6.5 million, the trailers come in lamb skin and lux leather in white, pink, baby blue and red with combination trim.

Delicatessens have also inspired designers to create uniquely shaped handbags. There are the baguette and croissant bags, which refer to the shape of typical French breads, and the sausage bags -- all with short straps to be tucked under the arm.

Fendi is the one who sparked the craze for baguette bags. It has mother baguette, baguette and baby baguette. It also has chic croissant bags.

Fendi's limited baby baguettes, featuring luxurious leather, black pony-hair or tiger fur and leather trim, cost between Rp 13 million and Rp 15 million. With Fendi's gigantic silver signature plus eagle-shaped buckle with matching Svarowski stones on the flap, it's impossible for you not to get noticed in the crowd.

Or maybe you like box-shaped bags? Prada's latest items are a good pick. Lenny Tedja, spokeswoman for Prada Indonesia's distributor Mahagaya Perdana, said the box rectangular bags with buckle strap on the side and in the center are currently the most popular among Prada handbag lines.

For the next spring-summer season, colorful and flashy styled bags in canvas, plastic and leather are expected to storm the shelves, though some classic and timeless designed bags will remain in place.