I’ve made my feelings on spendy canvas totes known before – they’re not worth it, almost universally. They’re definitely not worth it when they reach into the four figures, even when the tote in question is as pretty as the Givenchy Birds of Paradise Tote. It sure has a pretty print, though, doesn’t it?
As we all know by now, Pantone announced last month that 2012′s Color of the Year would be “Tangerine Tango” – a vibrant, saturated, deep orange that looks almost hot to the touch. With so many blazing bright colors dotting the runways as of late, the declaration seemed like Pantone’s most accurate in a long time. When I clicked over to Bergdorf Goodman today and saw the beautiful, sunny Givenchy Antigona Tote daring me to get out my credit card, I knew in my heart that Pantone was indeed on to something big.
Images via Vogue.com
The Givenchy Antigona Satchel is such an under-appreciated handbag. The design is exceptionally crisp and minimal, it comes in a variety of sizes, materials and colors, it’s Givenchy, fer chrissakes. It’s far superior to the Givenchy Nightingale (says me), but yet, it’s not quite as well known. With Givenchy’s killer slate of Antigonas to come, Spring 2012 might change that.
With this lineup, there’s a little something for everyone. Exotics, stitched details, brights-and-neutrals colorblocking, mirrored patent leather. The Antigona takes well to all of them because of its immaculate, well-edited structure; there’s never a metaphorical hair out of place on this bag. Check out the versions to come after the jump or shop Givenchy via Barneys right now.
Givenchy Pandora in yellow for $1924, in purple for $2155 or in green for $1744 via Luisa Via Roma
If you’re a fan of Givenchy mastermind Riccardo Tisci, you know that he’s remade the brand’s image into that of a luxe-goth powerhouse, complete with references to Catholicism and more black leather than you can shake a stick at. (Side note: What does that saying even mean?) It’s easy to look at a garment and tell whether or not it’s Givenchy.
Except, wait…are these pastel Givenchy Pandora Satchels that I see? That appears to be the case, even though they’re some of the prettiest and brightest shades that can really be referred to by that awful word. “Pastel.” Yick. These colors are anything but cringe-worthy, though, even if they’re not immediately recognizable as part of the Givenchy palette.
Who is it, exactly, who buys a clutch so small and rigid that it can’t fit a slender smartphone? In a day and age when even veteran socialites are glued to their iPhones (and playing Angry Birds just like the rest of us, I assure you), don’t teeny-tiny handbags become something of a significant logistical issue? Givenchy Fall 2011 didn’t feature many handbags, but the ones that did appear were all so picayune that I couldn’t help but pick up my phone to try and gauge the difference in size between it and what I saw on my screen. I’m not at all convinced that it would fit inside of one of Givenchy’s small evenings bags, and even if it did, it would be the only thing in there. So much for house keys.
I’ve brought up this problem before and never received any sort of satisfactory answer about what you’re supposed to do with one of these tiny clutches. Give your phone to your man? What if you’re going out with your girlfriends, do you give it to one of them? What if you get separated or she leaves early? Why spend so much money on a bag that’s absolutely devoid of practicality? These designs are pretty to look at, but without one very significant alteration, I won’t be buying them.
Of the few shows that we’ve seen so far Givenchy Haute Couture felt the most like couture to me. As the line between a normal runway show and a couture show continues to blur and fewer brands present the highest of high fashion as time goes on and the customer base dwindles, I still thoroughly enjoy seeing a full-on, beads-and-feathers-and-funny-hats shindig.
Thankfully, that’s exactly what Givenchy gave us. Modernist lampshade-esque hats topped looks from ballgowns to jumpsuits, rendered in lace, beading, feathers and ruffles and then dipped in pure, unadulterated fabulousness.
Ut-oh. I absolutely positively love this clutch. And when you look at it, it is nothing out of the ordinary. Simple shape and simple design. So simple yet so lovely. The exotic eel skin stands out beautifully in bright fuchsia. I want it. Sometimes what we love and desire does not make sense, even to us, and that is precisely how I feel about the Givenchy Elene Eel Clutch.
I know what you are thinking. Too plain. But there is a picture below that may change your mind.
RHOC: “The ones who don’t talk about it are the ones who are doing it even more.”
RHBH: “What name did Giggy call you on Twitter?”
RHBH Reunion: “Being friends with you is like playing chess with Bobby Fischer.”
RHOA: “I doubt very seriously that Emily Post has a chapter in her book about aggravated assault.”
