Following Matthieu Blazy’s buzzworthy inaugural collection, Bottega Veneta presented its Spring 2023 collection during Milan Fashion Week, and much like Blazy’s debut, it wowed. Everything from the collection itself to the set design of the venue was well thought out and intricately planned. Enlisting the help of Gaetano Pesce, an Italian-born architect, and design pioneer, a swirling, colorful resin floor set the scene for the new collection.
“The world in a small room: the premise is simple – the collection is about a contrast of characters on the go, invited to travel through Gaetano Pesce’s landscape. Here,two distinct worlds are juxtaposed, while our journey of craft in motion and quiet power continues.” Matthieu Blazy
A Vision Cemented
Picking up where he left off last season, Matthieu Blazy continues to define his vision for Bottega Veneta, building upon the foundation set forth with his Fall 2022 collection. Ready-to-wear continues to explore movement and motion, and elegance meets utility. Traditional Italian craft continues to remain a focus both within the clothing and the accessories as well, reimagined through Blazy’s modern lens.
Knitted jacquards appear alongside cotton-silk tailoring, and pieces layered with embroidery and beading stand out from the mix. Stunning leather pieces and wearable separates showcase Blazy’s talent for adding a spectacular feel to everyday pieces meant to move.
The Bags of Spring/Summer 2023
As for the bags, they feel inherently Bottega, but again, they expanded upon the aesthetic set forth by Blazy last season. The Sardine Bag appears once again for the season, offered in a pretty pale yellow and making its debut in a mini size with an accompanying shoulder/crossbody strap. Interesting new shapes in Intreccaito and more appeared on the runway as well, and this season at Bottega, if you love big bags, you’re in luck. One of the most wearable new bags of the bunch is a structured, saddle-like flap bag, which has rounded corners and is shown in various sizes, colors, and textures. The collection overall is a good mix of the commercial and the ornate, which Blazy has proven to be quite good at.
View bags from the runway below, images via Bottega Veneta.
I honestly don’t see any of these bags being commercially successful. Daniel should’ve never left. Only the bags that are from his direction sell well. An SA at Bottega Madison and WTC told me. I believe it.
I totally agree with you. The bags are ridiculous imo. First off, no man or woman would carry a bucket bag with some random sling over their shoulder as if they’re gathering water from a well in the 1800’s. Secondly, the bags are getting TOO classic. The overuse of gold hardware is also annoying to me. And let’s not forget even IF there was a bag in there that had some potential, you know it’ll be like 20k what with their astronomical price increases.
Totally agree! My group of friends are mid 30’s and most of my friends during DL era were buying Bottega left and right and no one is interested now, everyone has noticed the price increases! These bags look matronly to me, IMHO! I’m all about the classics too, since I dislike waste!
My observation is different. A lot of Daniel Lee’s bags can be found in yoox.com even The Pouch. Except for Jodie.
Uh, every bag can be found on these types of sites, who cares? That speaks nothing to the brand or the creative director. DL’s designs made the brand. Period.
Rude as always….
I disagree. I havent seen a veneta in there and Ive been buying from them since 2010! DL’s designs are dated and he was replaceable. The brand and the fashion world moved on the moment he was sacked.
Sorry but BV was on the map with Thomas M… DL had a few hits but overall, BV will remain BV no matter who’s creative director.
It wasn’t appealing to anyone maybe under 50 I would say though! That’s just facts. For a brand to really succeed they have to always try speak to the younger crowds because it’s them who are the bread and butter, and who are dishing out the $in the end. I’m 34 and in fashion marketing, I know what I’m talking about.
Just becos u r in a certain job doesn’t make u an expert in that field. Nothing should be by association. If its really so then you must be an a**hole becos of the rubbish that you are saying, right. So little intelligence and so full of self & shit… Amazing, no? Whahahaha just saying.
LoL – Rack your plastic to the max. Thank goodness everyone has their own personal taste…..
Love of fresh, innovative design does not die the moment someone turns 50. My priorities may have shifted and what was wearable in my 20’s may look laughable on me now at 51. But I will always appreciate beautiful design that appeals to a wide demographic.
The main difference between me in my 50’s and me in my 20’s? I have way more money now to dish out the $$$ on designer goods now than I did fresh out of college. Therefore, I am the bread and butter, and I am relevant!
I fail to see how appealing to a woman in her 50’s is mutually exclusive of appealing to the younger crowd. If I’m creative director of a major fashion house, but only people in their 20’s are buying my product, I’m doing it wrong.
IMHO, Matthieu Blazy is doing it right. These pieces feel classic yet fresh to me. He strikes a beautiful balance. Just look at the models in the show, and notice the diversity. Younger, older, male, female, white, black and everything in between – everything looked good on them. So, yeah, I’m excited about this collection and the new direction of BV.
As another over 50 gal, I agree with your post! Believe me, I’ve got the butter AND the bread! 😉
Yes, you always think you know what you’re talking about. You come off as being in your early 20’s; i.e. young and inexperienced; I never would’ve guessed 34. 🤷♀️
Well perhaps that’s because I do know what I’m talking about. Listen, I’m not giving lectures on cardiology or astrophysics here, it’s just fashion… and it’s not that complicated lol Maybe the people who are ultra sensitive like yourself have some underlying complex about their age. Ultimately I never actually said anything bad about being that age or older. My grandmother is 98 and she’s one of the coolest fiercest women I know. My parents are also older btw, so don’t make this some sort of “bashing the elderly” kinda thing. While I love my family members, I know they would not be choosing to buy perhaps a bag that I would buy because of a zillion reasons. One of the main ones being that as you age you typically aren’t as attracted to edginess as much, or even statement pieces because it’s just not “practical” enough for everyday. All I’m actually saying is just what’s happening in the world today! Unless your living under a rock you would know that everything is always about the newest bigger better bag,dress, boot etc with social media. Gen-Z (which isn’t even me) are a big part in all that mess. Balenciaga right now is the perfect example. It doesn’t matter if you like it or not it just is what it is. Brands that don’t gravitate towards that niche get left behind, don’t make the sales and eventually fade out.
This is a take for sure. Most Gen Z don;t have the cash to buy expensive bags, and those that do? I only ever see them wearing Chanel or LV. Seriously, a boring uniform of Vuitton and Chanel is all I see twenty somethings wearing where I am. The people I see wearing Bottega and similar brands , are almost all in their 40’s and 50’s.
Someone needs to give this person a lesson in Grace and etiquette. As a fashionable lady in her early 50’s, I still appear youthful and embrace and easily pull off today’s edgy designs. The bonus is the fact that I can buy whatever I want without going into debt to do so. To each their own, but there is absolutely no reason to behave in such a demeaning way. I’m sure your “fashion house” would be appalled with your online persona.
I agree with you 100%. Bottega was old and boring before Daniel Lee came onboard. He managed to keep the heritage (i.e. woven aesthetic), but breathe new life into it. I always felt Bottega Veneta before was well made, but incredibly doubty. I’m the same age as you. This could also be seen with Virgil’s (RIP) appointment at LV and exactly as you stated regarding Balenciaga. It’s obvious design houses are needing to appeal to different demographics because at some point customers age out. Brands do need to evolve or they absolutely get left behind. Maybe the only place that’s not the case is for a Goyard or an Hermes. Where the bags are the only things that people care about anyway.
Not sure why people are bashing this opinion so badly. There are countless examples of this in fashion. The new Bottega bags suck.
Tomas Maier – 17
Daniel Lee – 3
girl can you count?
Lee rode on the wave of social media marketing. That’s why customers like you knew Bottega. It was supposed to be an Hermes level brand. Bottega started as a leather/handbag brand, but Maier was the one who introduced the classics, ready to wear, home lifestyle, menswear, jewelry.
Please do search on the history of the brand.
You’re such a follower. Nothing interesting comes out of your mouth.
“My parens are also older BTW”, no shit Sherlock….
I stand by what I said. Despite that you’re in “fashion marketing” doesn’t mean you have the knowledge base, to make a sweeping generalization about fashion, based on your limited, and obviously biased marketing perspective. Your perspective does not cover a worldly view, it’s only a small part of the fashion industry. Having read your comments, in the past, doesn’t give me confidence that you’re an expert in your field.
I agree with you. An anecdote doesnt make a data.
Fantastic collection.
These look ridiculous and are hardly practical.
Agree. The only one that interests me is the black bag shown in picture 17 (actually listed as jpg 18 when you scroll over the photo). Because BV bags have gotten so expensive, I’m rather relieved this collection has little appeal.
Since it’s ”purse blog” the main focus is bags- but in order to ratify if a designer is a hit or miss for a brand, clothes, shoes and everything in between must be taken in consideration too.
The double bag is interesting.
What a great collection! I love ALL the bags here. And the clothes were fantastic too! This is very exciting!
This is various shades and sizes of ugly
Such interesting shoes!
#9 and similar ones are a recreation of a famous Mombasa from 2002 by Tom Ford for YSL
I’ve purchased a few BV bags over the last 2 years but I can’t see myself getting anything again soon. What I love much about my bags is that they are beautiful but useful. While I like the look of many of these new bags I can’t see them being practical to use. I like the hardware on the sardine and some of the newer bags as well but the shapes seem odd. I’ll reserve final judgement until I see them in person.
Also, the prices have skyrocketed. I understand the woven bags for example use a lot of leather and are done by hand so I don’t fault them for being expensive but they’re out of my price range.
I am not sure why some models have two bags! Is it a new trend?! Overall, I am not impressed. Some of them don’t seem to be practical while others are in boring colors.