Zac Posen Belyn Hobo

For some reason, I have yet to be able to find a Zac Posen handbag that I genuinely love. Posen has been a fashion wunderkind and It-Designer for several years now (probably so long that it means he’s probably no longer either a wunderkind OR an It-Designer), and I’ve liked his Ready-to-Wear collections in varying degrees since he showed up on my radar. What I’m not quite vibing, though, are his bags. He seems to try and incorporate some of his signature clothing techniques into his accessories, and someone may want to let him know that the two categories are not the same and require different design flourishes.

Take the Zac Posen Belyn Hobo, for example. I really like the python stripe down the middle; python and other exotics should be used in trim more often. What doesn’t entirely work, however, is the draping at the sides. Instead of looking purposeful, it kind of looks bunchy and awkward. I also wish the bag had more of a shape…although I suppose “loaf of bread” is a legitimate shape. Try harder, Zac – you gotta live up to your own hype. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $1900.