Whenever a bag becomes as big of a hit as the Celine Luggage Tote, other brands are bound to take notice of what made it so successful. And that’s not just true of smaller brands looking to get a piece of the pie or department store or discount labels looking to capitalize on a trend at a bargain-basement price point; other major designers would be silly not to co-opt design elements that consumers respond to so favorably. Not paying attention when trends emerge is a great way to make a brand irrelevant.
That’s why I’m not particularly surprised that the Lanvin Moon River Tote looks like three Celine bags got together and had a baby: the Luggage Tote, the Classic Box and the Cabas Tote. I also don’t blame Lanvin for going this route; the look fits in with the brand’s aesthetic, and not everyone wants to get in line and buy the same Celine bag that everyone they know already owns.
This tote has some of the structural heft and flared gussets of the Celine Luggage Tote, which makes it a more appealing everyday option for longterm carry that the Celine Cabas, even though it shares the Cabas’ unfinished leather edges and minimal aesthetic. The gold hardware at the handle attachment looks a lot like the closure on the Classic Box bags, which rounds out the Celine-esque look. For those experiencing a bit of fatigue with Celine’s particular product line but who like the aesthetic in general, this bag is a beautifully fabricated option that rings in at a lower price than either the Luggage or Classic Box. Plus, it’s Lanvin. You can’t go wrong. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $1990.
