When most people think about preferences for silver or gold, they’re thinking of jewelry. After all, that’s more straightforward: silver or gold makes up the near-entirety of most types of jewelry one might wear in an average day, so the preference is more primary to picking and choosing when both buying the pieces and getting dressed for the day. I don’t wear any jewelry anymore (save for a platinum nose ring, although that feels more like a part of my body than a separate adornment at this point), but the silver-or-gold question still taunts me via handbags.
Gold has been the market’s widespread preference both in handbag hardware and casual jewelry for what seems like ages now, which is too bad for me: I’m a silver girl, through and through, and have been since I was old enough to make such distinctions. I wear a lot of black, and when I’m not wearing black, I much prefer cool-toned things that just don’t look right next to the warm glow of gold metal. And even if they did look right, I think I’d still be a silver girl—it just suits me better.
That’s not to say I don’t own and use handbags with gold hardware, though, because it’s an inevitable necessity in an accessories market where it’s the overwhelming norm. Whenever I see a bag with silver hardware, though, I find myself drawn to it all the more. That was the case when Chloé released a handful of cool-toned versions of the popular Drew Bag with silver hardware, like the one you see above. Suddenly, a bag I had always loved but never felt would fit in my wardrobe seemed like a piece I could not only own, but carry regularly. Hardware is a detail, but it’s a big one.
And while we’re on the subject: Why not more black or gunmetal hardware? Why not get creative? How about mixed silver and gold? For all the ways that designers embellish bags, it seems like the opportunity is ripe to experiment.
Now, we want to hear from you: how much does hardware color matter to you in handbags, and which color is your preference?
You can scoop up the Drew bags above for $1,850 via MATCHESFASHION.COM (gold hardware) or $1,850 via Saks (silver hardware).
