It makes me so happy to see a young designer stay true to his or her aesthetic when launching handbags. Too often, accessories neophytes can get caught up not only in the potential dollar signs of successful bags, but also in the design challenges that they present, which different from those of ready-to-wear. An accessories designer gets brought in who isn’t a great fit for the brand, and more mediocre bags flood our stores. Zac Posen, I’m looking at you.
Thankfully, it seems as though Jason Wu isn’t going to fall into that trap. The Jason Wu Python Shoulder Bag, from the just-show Pre-Fall 2011 collection, is not only perfectly on-trend but also beautiful in its own right.
This bag clearly owes a debt to the Celine Classic Box Bag and the aesthetic that that bag and other like it have ushered in to favor, but the lines within that genre are so classic that none of the bags can ever truly be a ripoff of another unless it’s a stitch-for-stitch copy. And this bag clearly isn’t, what with the lush red sueded python. I bet Phoebe Philo wishes her accessories people had thought of that first.
The price of this bag is as yet unavailable, but it should be reaching retail in mid-summer. Photo via Jason Wu.
It looks like the purse has a face – 2 eyes and a nose – and is staring at me (ipad)
exactly like what i am thinking!!!!!!!! I see the EYES!!!!
It DOES look like a face now that you mention it! (ipad)
this looks fun!
This is adorable. What a great punch of color for a neutral outfit! (ipad)
Not sure if I like it! How big is it? (iPad)
love the color (ipad)
Love everything about this bag. I hope that the prices for the collection are reasonable. (ipad)
I LOVE this bag! I WANT this bag! I NEED this bag! 🙂 (ipad)
Very cute! But there’s really nothing exceptional or new about the design that deserves this much accolades. Amanda, what’s wrong with Zac Posen’s bags?
They were just kind of mediocre, and since the line didn’t have much of an identity or personality as a handbag source, most of it ended up on the sale rack. I’m not even sure if the main line is still produced, it’s been a couple of seasons since I’ve seen a Zac Posen handbag in a store.
Everything goes on sale at Target, eventually. Not because of designers though. Let’s be fair and less personal.
I like this one as well but I would wonder how it would look overtime. (ipad)
This is perfect – but I hope it comes in something non-python so I can buy it in California 🙁 (ipad)
i love the design and bold colour (ipad)
The two white buttons are adorable. (ipad)
It’s nice, but I don’t care for it. I hate purses with long straps…just something about them. ugh!!! (ipad)
this is a great crossbody bag (ipad)
love that color (ipad)
awesome firey red color (ipad)
great for spring and summer (ipad)
the new black? 🙂 (ipad)
Looks like a cute little face. Darling. (ipad)
i like the color ….. but hmmmmm not sure abt the bag(ipad)
it’s ok (ipad)
It kinda looks like a face (ipad)
I love it! (ipad)
I just realized that it looks like a cartoon cardinal! (ipad)
I love this! I want this! The color is fab! (ipad)
Very nice bag, perfect colour for S/S.
beautifully desgined! i love the colour combo of red/gold.. (ipad)
The face is the first thing I saw! I like it but could never buy it because of that (iPad).
Looks like a funny face to me.
Now that I see the face comments the only thing I can see is one of those puppets from the Fandango commercials, made from paper sacks. XD (ipad)
so so … (ipad)
So cute! I love little bags with long straps! (ipad)
So glam (ipad)
party bag (ipad)
Seems fun, but I personally wouldn’t buy it. (ipad)
I LOVE THE WAY this bag seems to smile at me. 🙂 (ipad)
oh, and i also love the colour and texture! (ipad)
talk about painting the town red (ipad)
love the color! (ipad)
I’m not too sure I’d buy this bag. With the large selection of crossbody bags nowadays… there are more options (ipad)
love the color and texture but do we really need another shoulder bag? (ipad)
now that everyone has mentioned it looking like a face, that is all that i can see ……..
before reading the face comments though, i loved the bag – such a wonderful bright red and the python looks amazing (ipad)
Wonder what the dimensions are? I’m into small, shoulder bags these days, even those with a face! (ipad)
such a party bag! (ipad)
love this bag…so classy (ipad)
Hold on, RED SUEDED PYTHON?
Had me at those words. haha.
I like the bag and the color, but it’s a little small. Also, I would prefer just regular leather as opposed to python. I would like to see more of the collection especially for everyday bags.
and I forgot again (iPad)
It’s not an “Ugly” bag but from Jason Wu I want a lot mroe!!! Oh gosh e is Jason Wu the “young revelation” of this year and he only purpose this?? oh no I want more!
http://fashiondoesntexist.blogspot.com/
Very cute and it does look like a face(iPad)
Does look like a bird face to me. The red seems too orange to me–I like reds with blue tones. (ipad)
Chirp chirp (ipad)
hahaha – birdie bag (ipad)
Hate this! (ipad)
I like the color.(ipad)
I’m on the fence with this one (ipad)
Not too impressed (ipad)
It looks like a face (ipad)
Lovely, but I like bigger bags (ipad).
I would love to have this PYTHON!
It’s like a ligre, but cardsnake (hybrid between cardinal and snake). (ipad)
Interesting. Love the colour. (ipad)
The color is beautiful. (ipad)
Gorgeous red! (ipad)
I’m looking forward to seeing this line! (ipad)
This is a fun looking bag. (ipad)
Don’t like it. (ipad)
It is good but I prefer bigger bags … (ipad)
heyyyyyyyyy
i actually can see a cute birdie face! hahaha.. this is sooo cool..
does it come in yellow? (ipad)
I love this cute bag! It really fits summer! (ipad)
not loving the gold hardware (ipad)
It is GORG! (ipad)
not loving the style-but color and python=LOVE (ipad)
Love the color, the texture, and the python coupled with the cross-body style. LOVE! (ipad)
It has a face! I like the leather though. (ipad)
A great option is the Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini!!
It’s got a similar satchel-like shape with the rocker attitude and is more affordable but still good quality.
You can find it on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250757752364&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_500wt_1139
The leather is so soft!! Such a classic, iconic bag with an attitude!!
Love it!!! (ipad)
Not bad. (ipad)
Yes, definitely looks like a cute little red bird face. Duck? (ipad)
oh yay-it totally looks like a face. (ipad)
Very cute for spring! (ipad)
http://highmaintenancewoman.blogspot.com
I love how red it is!! (ipad)
impressive indeed!(ipad)
i like it. it’s a gorgeous color, and i like the fact that you can see a face on it. maybe it´s supposed to look like a python? 😉
(ipad)
If the bag was in yellow I would say that it resembles a rubber duck! I love the bag btw, the leather looks beautiful! (ipad)
Cute bag! (ipad)
Jason Wu RULES! (ipad)
Color is beautiful (ipad)
I love this! Shoulder bags are my favorite right now and I would love to have this one. (iPad)
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I didn’t think of the bird face at first but once I read people’s comments about it I can’t get the bird face out of my head! (ipad)
very cute, im really into smaller bag esp crossbody, patheon maybe not but a croc will be better. this will do. (ipad)
This is such a cute and fun bag…Perfect for summer! (ipad)
would have loved this if not for the two gold things to make it look like a face…(ipad)
hahahah that’s funny the person before me mentioned it looks like a face – i thought the same thing. kinda looks like an owl to me…ya see it? love the color tho. (ipad)
I could see my carrying this bag – ipad
That python looks so luxe! (iPad)
the red is too bright for my taste! (ipad)
Not a “must-have” item. (ipad)
very cute but im not crazy about it (ipad)
im not a fan of small bags (ipad)
fierce and cute… didn’t know it was possible. (ipad)
I wonder if the bird face is intentional? (ipad)
I can’t believe you’re not pyilang with me–that was so helpful.
Adorable shoulder bag. It resembles a cute birdie. (iPad)