Why designer bags have gone micro
They’re small, perfectly formed, and seen on the armsof the style elite. Meet the canada goose outlet online micro https://www.baertakreation.de bags canada goose jacket outlet that are about canada goose store to makea big impact.
Because, forget mini: today’s cult bags are positively micro. While reducing bag sizes is good news for our backs and shoulders, it is perhaps surprising canada goose uk outlet that grown women have reconciled themselves to carrying something that barely holds a travel card, iPhone orset of keys. And yet, they have.
Sales of smaller bags have risen by 200 per centat canada goose black friday sale Debenhams, with sizes shrinking from350 cubic inches to just 120 cubic inches. Meanwhile John Lewis, the nation’sbellwether department store, is trading72 per cent up on last year when it comes to micro bags.
And earlier this year it was reported that Michael Kors credited its fillip in revenue (up 6.3 per cent in the last quarter) in part to the success of small leather items, canada goose outlet new york city including wallets and cross body bags.
Luxury brands have homed uk canada goose in on this trend by producing mini versions of their best sellers. Last year, Louis Vuitton launched its Nano range, including miniatures of classic bags like the Speedy and the Alma.
They proved so popular that this season it has added a camera box bag that cheap canada goose measures 4.3 by 5.9 inches and a monogrammed rucksack that’s pretty much the same dimensions as canada goose outlet uk an iPad Canada Goose Outlet mini. They’ve been joined on the market by Prada’s Saffiano Lux Micro Tote and Jimmy Choo’s Lockett.
Niche brand Manu Atelier is flying off the shelves this season with its highly covetable assortment of leather stitch bags that are the epitome of relaxed elegance, yet start canada goose outlet nyc from 285.
Meanwhile, LK Bennett recently collaborated with the British artist Boyard, who hand canada goose clearance sale painted the wearer’s initials ina pop art style on their Mariel bag for 145.
The engagement on social media far exceeded expectations and stores sawa surge in new, younger customers. But while the micro’s price tag often reflects its diminutive size, that is by no means always the case.
Cline’s Mini Luggage style, as toted official canada goose outlet around by Kendall Jenner, costs more than 1,000, while Fendi’s canada goose outlet Micro Peekaboo canada goose outlet will set you back 940.
’Our customers love Gucci’s mini Dionysus and Chlo’s small Faye styles, which immediately sold out and are on reorder,’ confirms Billie Faricy Hyett, senior bags buyer at Net a Porter.’Both are between 900 1,000 and are continually best sellers.’
With their boldly embellished dinkiness (what is it about small bags that brings outthe maximalist in accessories designers?), this new raft of micro bags may seem to go against a streamlined, minimalist aesthetic but actually they encourage us to leave the house carrying substantially less clutter.
Ame Moi, a new label from Portugal, has produced tiny bags that resemble exquisite jewellery boxes and, as such, force you to be uber disciplined with what you pack.
’We don’t need to be lugging our whole life around in our handbags,’ says Helen canada goose clearance David, Harrods’ chief merchant. ’A mini bag forces you to carry only what you need, which actually isn’t that much.’
Certainly, the way we live has changed: we travel lighter, carry cards not cash, and, for better or worse, most of our life is on our phones.
That’s the very reason accessories designer Melissa Del Bono of Meli canada goose outlet black friday Melo says she created her Micro Box to the proportions of the iPhone 6 and Android phone. The hands free factor looms large, too.
Since Anya Hindmarch started championing the hands free bag seven years ago (it coincided with my first maternity leaveand felt liberating in a way a lot of fashion trends don’t), it has become increasingly important to her designs. This smaller cross body styleis a rapidly growing category for us.’
But where did this trend come from? The focus on dinky accessories could be traced back to the catwalk success of Fendi’s monsters those furry keyrings that canada goose outlet sale bolstered the Italian label’s fortunes backin 2013.
Did women get used to the allure of walking around with jingle jangle charms? (Many a street style blogger leaves home each morning with several micro bags on their shoulder.)
’It’s canada goose outlet shop true that these bags are almost a crossover point between accessory and jewellery,’ says Eleanor Robinson, head of accessories at Selfridges. ’Micro bags are all about shape and colour, adding interesting texture and playfulness to your look.’
Natalie Kingham agrees: ’We have seen an increase in collectible miniature bags such as the Fendi Micro Baguette, Gucci’s crystal embellished cross cheap canada goose uk bodies and the Dolce Gabbana embellished Plexiglas box clutch. These are tapping into a different customer base and are for women who are looking for very special pieces that are almost like works of art and for decoration, or which have a sense of humour ratherthan more practical purposes.’
Not that this gives a wholly realistic picture of the way we cart around our gym kit and laptop.
One high flying fashion PR chuckles at the memory of several women who checked oversized totes into the Wolseley cloakroom, before saunteringto their table with their tiny bags.
’Personally, I love a bag within a bag,’ says the canada goose black friday sale eminently sensible and stylish accessories designer Sandra Choi, creative directorof Jimmy Choo. ’I have my small bag and my larger tote. The most important thingsare in the smaller bag. Women today are so busy, juggling it all is a lifestyle choice as much as a style choice.’ Need a reason to skip the guilt factor and invest in two bags? Look no further.
