PurseBlog Asks: Would you carry a perfume bottle clutch?

Jan 10, 2013

I was prepared to write about the Charlotte Olympia Perfume Bottle Clutch all by itself – the design is a continuation of designer Charlotte Dellal’s strong history of whimsy and irreverence – but then I got to thinking that the concept sounded familiar. Not in a ripoff way, but in a way that made me feel like another designer had also thought of the idea this season. Sure enough, after a little bit of research, I found the first retail arrival of the Lanvin Runway Perfume Clutch.

Anyone who’s familiar with old-school perfume bottles immediately understands why they make sense as something to translate into the evening bag world. They’re delicate, detailed, truly luxurious and provide just enough vintage-inspired nostalgia to make most women smile. (Especially those of us who had particularly glamourous grandmothers.) The best handbag affect the pleasure centers in my brain in what feels like the same way that a truly delicious slice of cake does, and these clutches are like a sugar jolt in accessory form.

Unsurprisingly, Lanvin and Charlotte Olympia take the concept in two very different directions; Lanvin’s interpretation is old-world French, and it’s not too literal or at all kitschy. Under Alber Elbaz, Lanvin’s accessories have always enjoyed a quality of knowing irreverence, but it’s never taken too far or played for a real laugh. Charlotte Olympia, on the other hand, very much wants you to giggle at her girlish literalness in everything from poodle shoes to this perfume clutch.

I’d happily carry either of these clutches, but to very different parties. Do you dig this look, or would you rather stick to a more traditional minaudiere or box clutch? Let us know in the comments.