Prada Handbags

I think that the handbag folks at Prada and I need to have a little conversation about the Prada Perforated Roll Bag. I have some thoughts, and they would probably best be expressed in private. And by “in private,” I mean “after the jump.”

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I’m underwhelmed, and I hate being underwhelmed. I’m not a huge fan of Prada’s Fall 2009 offerings, and I’m even less of a fan of Prada Spring 2010. So much so that it kind of makes my head hurt.

Memo to the fashion industry: no one wants clear vinyl bags. No one. You guys tried this crap a few seasons ago and thought it would be cute, and they all ended up on the sale rack at the end of the season, and they didn’t even move particularly quickly once discounted. A clear, architectural hard plastic clutch meant to hold three things for a night out, a la Fendi’s Spring 2010 presentation? That’s clear done well.

But a vinyl gray-tinted clear satchel meant to hold the dreck of everyday life, like tampons and your ATM receipts? No thanks. Do not want. Ever. But that, with some jewels stuck to the top and a canvas tote or two thrown in for good measure, is basically what we got. Since Prada does such a big bag collection for every season, this is probably only the tip of the iceberg and several other non-runway mini lines will eventually surface, but if this is any indication of what’s to come, I’ll take a pass.

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We’ve had some harsh words to say over the past month or so about Prada’s fall handbag collection. Some of them are covered in fur, some of them are unfortunate combinations of velvet and nylon, and a lot of them look a little “grandma.”

As a result, I’m not sure if I’m being more charitable to the Prada Craquele Tote than I would be otherwise. It’s easy to argue that it’s a pretty decent bag when compared to the line’s other fall offerings, though.

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Prada has been flying below the radar. Nothing exceptionally amazing and nothing on the other end of the spectrum, exceptionally awful (ok I take that back, remember the Visone tote?!). Nevertheless, for the most part we have been un-phased by Prada.

While we appreciate all of the additions and imagination that goes into making stand apart bags, sometimes we simply want a great and practical staple. This is precisely what the Prada Soft Calf Hobo brings us, exceptional craftsmanship and supple calfskin leather.

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Hot of the Fall/Winter runway collection, the Prada Velluto Jacquard Tote is hitting stores. Our verdict: no thanks. The pictures and description leave much to be desired. There is the rust cheetahprint velvet jacquard version or the midnight floral print velvet jacquard tote. On the Neiman Marcus website, these Prada bags leave much to be desired. They look more like an art-project than a runway bag. But when I ran across the ad from the Prada Fall/Winter Ad Campaign I began to see some beauty in these designs.

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Alright, who skinned Snuffaluffagus? And who told Prada that it was ok to make a bag out of a beloved Sesame Street character? Have they no shame?

Ok, so I doubt any childhood icons had to die to make the Prada Visone Tote , but that doesn’t make it any less unattractive.

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I’m so split on Prada’s Fall 2009 collection. I’ve seen some bags from it that look great – a bit boring, but made of nice materials and stylish enough to appeal to a lot of people. And then I’ve seen some bags that are apparently slightly more ‘conceptual,’ and most of those don’t work as well. A new entry on that list is the Prada Velluto Jacquard Tote.

It looks like what Prada was going for here was a modern-day carpet bag, this time made of nylon and velvet instead of more old-fashioned materials. I guess they partially succeeded, since it’s possible to see their goal in the finished product, but it’s hard to look at pictures of the bag and go, “Yes, exactly, this is exactly what a modern carpet bag should be.” The pattern looks vaguely like a cult logo, and I’m not paying $1500 for mustard-colored nylon that labels me as part of the Dharma Initiative. Sorry, Prada. Try harder next time. Buy through Saks for $1450.

The first time that I scrolled past the Prada Tessuto & Ricamo Tote, I was entirely sure that it was Valentino. Partly that’s because of the difficulty of photographing the details of a bag like this, but partly (or maybe mostly), it’s because it really LOOKS like some of the Valentino bags we’ve seen recently. Incredibly intricate, shiny, flower-themed…that’s kind of their thing. And it’s really not Prada’s thing – their aesthetic is much more streamlined and modern, particularly in the bag department.

And the more I look at it, the clearer it becomes that Miuccia should have left this to her Italian compatriots. The sequins-and-nylon setup they’ve got going on here just isn’t working, not even a little. Valentino does a great job with this gimmick because there is order in the bags’ chaos; the Prada version just looks like someone dumped a bag of black sequins on it. Considering the price tag, I’d look elsewhere if you’re interested in a similar style. Buy through Saks for $3695.

My opinion on these new little wristlets from Prada is yet to be determined. Part of me looks at them and merely sees a stage prop perfectly suited for Shakespeare in the park. The other part of me thinks the colors are drab, materials are not feasible, and price is outlandish. Both of the Prada Velluto Wristlet Pouch are designed with velvet which is a material little known to the modern handbag market.

One is made with mustard velvet and the other with a gold velvet design on top of a blue satin body. That is just it, the mustard, is a color which at times can look beautiful on leather but looks like a baby’s diaper in velvet. Both have a drawstring cinch at the top and a wrist strap. The more I think and talk about it the more this piece has shown me it is fit as a prop and not much else. Dimensions are 6″W X 8″H X 5″D. Buy the designed version for $450 via Saks and the mustard version for $395 via Saks.

I’m not a big makeup girl. If you open my bag you will find a tube of chapstick and lip gloss. That is why I do not need a large cosmetic case. And that is also why I adore the Prada Small Vela Cosmetic Case, it is cute and perfect for to throw into your handbag with your makeup essentials. The other major perk is that it is made with Prada nylon, which is easy to clean up any spills. The size, 6½”W X 3″H X 1½”D, is ideal if you want to take some makeup with your for everyday use without it weighing down your bag. I checked my local Prada boutique, Saks, and Neiman Marcus for pink nylon and none of them carried it. Buy through Saks for $150.