The forever piece

The right bag can bring any outfit up to date, so your first investment this season should be the chicest bag on the runway. For SS19, Chloé is making a strong case for most-coveted-arm-candy with its elegant ‘C’ bag – so-called for the polished gold ‘C’ plaque on the fastening. The latest addition to Chloé’s iconic bag dynasty first debuted at the label’s Cruise ’19 presentation in Paris – and it’s ladylike take on logomania instantly set it apart. Other defining features include its structured silhouette and brindle rings, which touch upon the house’s equestrian hallmarks.

So, where does a super-refined bag like this sit in a collection that’s titled “Hippie Modernism”? Here lies creative director Natacha Ramsay-Levi’s genius for marrying seemingly opposing aesthetics into one effortless collection. One of the key ingredients for the French designer this season was espousing classic elements with a contemporary mood, blending freedom with structure, and thereby creating a bohemian muse who means business when she needs to – think Champs-Elysees elegance via Ibizan insouciance. On the more hippie side of things were the floaty festival dresses, crocheted gowns, scarf-print separates and tie-dye T-shirts. It was the ‘C’ bag that brought the collection into more of a city setting – imagine what the carefree Chloé girl might wear to work.

In much the same way that her sharp leather Rylee boots add a tailored feel to her floatier pieces, the ‘C’ bag injects a sense of purpose into any outfit. Since taking the creative helm at the French maison in March 2017, Ramsay-Levi has established an empowering signature silhouette, and her dexterous eye for detail means accessories are given the same level of consideration as her fiercely sought after ready-to-wear. Offsetting the sophistication of the ‘C’ bag were decadent, sculptural drop earrings and shiny gold bangles. Elsewhere in the collection, the Chloé girl’s boho alter-ego will adore the shoulder-sweeping tasseled earrings, stacked platform sandals, pendant necklaces, anklets, toe rings and long scarves tightly woven into rope belts.

Beyond its obvious aesthetic beauty, the ‘C’ bag is practical, too. With its detachable and adjustable straps, one can easily switch between the shoulder strap and top handle. By day, wear it to elevate a simple shirtdress or tailoring, and carry it gripped purposefully by the handle. Then, come evening, wear it casually on the shoulder with a silk slip dress. Versatile, stylish and timeless, it’s easy to see why the ‘C’ bag is atop every fashion editor’s wish list this season.