Exotic leather are usually something to behold. Because they make a bag so expensive, most consumers want their snake, lizard or croc front and center where they can see it, and in order to justify the inflated prices, designers are usually more than happy to oblige. When even a bit of an exotic trim can raise a bag’s price by hundreds of dollars, they better be.
Which is why I can’t really understand what happened with the Fendi Mini Snakeskin Beaded Peekaboo. According to the bag’s description, the exterior body is made entirely of snakeskin…and then beaded over the top with beads of the same color. Only a little or the exotic peeks out around the trim, and the texture on the interior is embossed. Say what?
I was so excited when I saw this little bag – sparkly neutral outside, patterned fun inside, a great bag for those evenings that straddle the line between casual and dressy. But to use an exotic skin and then obscure it almost entirely seems wasteful, possibly even vulgar. From photos, I don’t see how the bag would have looked any different if the beading had been done on regular leather and the snakeskin included as the trim, which could have saved customers a little money and put the snakeskin to more appropriate use, right where it belongs: up front. Buy through Neiman Marcus for $3740.
love the inside print! but i agree that they shouldve used regular leather. what a waste of snakeskin (ipad)
I like the inside better than the outside (ipad)
the inside should be the outside pattern (ipad)
I’ll pass. (ipad)
Nothing like taking a good idea way too far … cute bag, but why the snakeskin? (iPad)
I agree, what a waste of a lovely exotic. (ipad)
I love this bag ;))
http://blondpantheretlouboutin.blogspot.com/2010/12/panther-marie-kate-olsen.html#links
Too much beading and I don’t like the interior. (Ipad)
So cute, but why waste the exotic material? (ipad)
It’s not even cute. (ipad)
the inside is beautiful but i have to agree the beads…make it look cheap. not a fan of sparkle. (ipad)
I don’t like this bag @ all (ipad)
RETARDED! (ipad)
I like the inside pattern but the way it was designed is weird. They could have done a much better job at designing this!
(ipad)
Agreed. The exotic leather should be front and centered!!! (iPad)
Actually, it seems like only the inside, light-colored part of the exterior with the “animal” print is made of snakeskin. Also, the black trim is snakeskin. Most likely the black beading is covering some other material. There could be an error in the store product description. We wouldn’t know until we see it in person. Right?
I actually like the bag…I have exotics that are embroidered, though not to this extent.(ipad)
I agree. The bag is beautiful including the exotic skin. However, to use the skin UNDER the beading seems wasteful to me. I love the juxtoposition of skin and beads but a lower price point and less UNSEEN skin seemed to be the better choice to me. (ipad)
what a waste of exotic skin.
Good point. ipad
perhaps they used a lesser quality (read cheap) snakeskin (Technically – the description on the website does not list it as “exotic” snakeskin like the other peekaboos are) then realized it looked too cheap and decided to cover the mistake with beads? I know, very doubtful. But the bag still looks cheap and is not worth the money, snakeskin (exotic) or not. Epic Fail.
I don’t like this bag at all (iPad)
Despite being a pity to cover exotic skin, the bag looks amazing (ipad).
Fendi really has yet to amaze me with their bags. Even if this wasn’t a waste of snakeskin, I’d like the beading and printed interior but I still feel like I’ve seen that in many other places. (ipad)
I don’t understand why you would cover snakeskin with anything. (ipad)
Definitely overdone. I don’t see it as worth the investment. What were they thinking? (iPad)
the bag is absolutely beautiful but I completely agree, the snakeskin doesn’t add anything. (ipad)
Unless the beads are more expensive than the leather :p (ipad)
To me, this is just typical of this brand. TOO much going on all at once.
Really ugly (ipad)!
Yeah, that does seem pretty stupid. And the cheetah(?) print on the inside looks like the tacky material you find on cheap PVC accessories.
http://redomyshoe.blogspot.com/
I love the look of the beaded peek-a-boo but why the heck did they use snakeskin? Even with the use only on the trim there is too much going on here as well as ethical issues and price-jacking. (ipad)
Ethical issues and price-jacking? What do you mean?
That’s my thought too. I actually like the beading, but could have done without the snakeskin. (ipad)
I’ll stick with my LVs thank you very much! (ipad)
I love this! (ipad)
so strange! (ipad)
Not for me! (ipad)
that is really odd. maybe we’re missing a detail that doesn’t show in the pics but is nice in real life? maybe they just wanted to up the price. the interior print is adorable!(ipad)
snakeskin itself would have been gorgeous! (ipad)
i agree with someone’s post above, should have been just leather (ipad)
I totally agree! Gorgeous bag.. but can hardly tell the texture with all the beads! (ipad)
i may be the only one, but i do like the “idea”, perhaps not the execution & materials (ipad)
I’m not a fan of beaded bags…but I am a fan of snakeskin (ipad)
what a waste! (ipad)
Agree and best thing is, the covered skin does not even need to be snakeskin, it just needs to be priced like it. (ipad)
the beading makes the bag looks old (ipad)
Are we absolutely sure it’s beading on snakeskin? That just seems like a poor business decision! (ipad)
In case anyone wants to buy a Peekaboo bag, the bags will be going up in price by at least $1,000 on 1/1/11. I don’t understand why they are marking them up so much….it’s not like this bag is a Birkin???
What a waste!! (ipad)
The glitter definitely cheapens it. Why cover up fabulous, exotic skin?! (iPad)
Say what is right.
No way would I cover an exotic skin bag w lameo beads… that’s just crazy.
(ipad)
totally agree.. it’s just a waste (ipad)
Looks nice, but a waste of material. (ipad)
an exotic skin bag, do you have a interet to Wedding Ribbons and Sashes, it come from http://www.topons.com/wedding-ribbons-and-sashes-c230.html
Always love Peek-a-boo but not this time
(IPAd)
such a bad concept!
i think just satin or soft cheaper leather to bead is more appropriate than using whole snake skin that’s just waste of good material. even though the price is below 4000$ for a Peekaboo i still think that it could be cheaper or use snake skin as interior not embossed what r they thinking ??
precisely “say what” ?!! (ipad)
Looks nice, but a waste of material. (ipad)
Yes…it’s wasteful. (ipad)
Fendi does some crazy stuff sometimes with their bags and then push it off on us like we are going to like it. Chile please. As Jay Z says, “On to the next one”.
how stupid!(ipad)
lols @handbag lover…i agree on to the next one…(ipad)
Bizarre. Seems very wasteful and I can’t imagine why anyone would pay for exotic material that can’t even be seen. (ipad)
I am not a fan of exotic skins unless it’s Lana Marks or Nancy Gonzalez.
This bag is a complete waste of money if the exotics can’t be seen. However, I like the beading.
(iPad)
Agreed – totally wasteful. I normally like the Peekaboo, but knowing that Fendi covered perfectly lovely snakeskin with beads – no thanks!
Just went to the Neiman Marcus site to check it out a bit more – but the purse isn’t to be found. Has it sold out already? Or is it not on the site yet?
Whoops…forgot to add to my above comment this – (ipad)
Love the Peekaboo, but this bag was poorly thought out. (ipad)
I don’t like that bag. (ipad)
WHAT A BEAUTY (ipad)
I NEED TO GET MY HANDS ON THESE (ipad)
Like others, I think there is just too much going on with the bag in addition to the weird beading over snakeskin. If they simplified it, it could be a really cute bag. (ipad)
I think that it is a waste of material and it makes it incredibly overpriced. It is a pretty bag but they should choose either snakeskin or beading. (ipad)
Things that make you go “hmmmm….”
This is one of them! (ipad)
Way too much going on, what with the snakeskin, obnoxious beading, and the lining… (ipad)
If a bag is made with an exotic leather, it’s criminal to cover that up with beading! It’s all about the skin! If you want to create a beaded bag, do it on silk. (iPad)
I wonder what it looks like in real life (ipad)
It like the $1,000 burger, which has lobster and truffles and whole bunch of other things that make it more expensive but don’t actually make the burger better. (ipad)
You said it perfectly. Why cover an exotic bag in beads? And I think that lining is horrible with the sequins! (ipad)
I have never really been a fan of sequin.. this bag does not change me opinion of them either.. (ipad)
I dislike fendi… Their bags just get more worse every time. I have yet to find a fendi that I love… Unfortunately this bag is not the case. It’s Atrocious and a huge waste of animal skin. When will they learn? (iPad)
this bag is heinous… IPAD
Would like to see it in person. It is aight in the pic. (ipad)
Yikes, not loving this bad. (ipad)
I agree with this post! (ipad)
i like the bag and the sequins are nice but why cover up the snakeskin? (ipad)
This peekaboo is orrible!! and i love peekaboo in every single way (ipad)
I love a peekaboo, but this is just wrong! (ipad)
I don’t like this one..seems like something my elderly aunt would pick (ipad)
interesting (ipad)
I agree. What a waste! (ipad)
Haha
I was doing the ‘say whattt?’ too.. (ipad)
Or maybe after the bag was done, the snakeskin looked soooo ugly that putting sequins on top was the only way to save it ?? (ipad)
Hmmmm.. I’m curious..
How can u tell if it’s really an exotic skin?
It could be pigskin, calfskin, heck it could not even be leather!
Points to ponder (ipad)
happy new year! (ipad)
very pretty bag but what an odd thing to do… (ipad)
I think it would’ve been nice if they one or another. I like the sequins, but covering the leather with it does seem pointless. (ipad)
Definitely tragic to cover up an exotic skin with silly little beads. (ipad)
I quite like it actually! (iPad)
Oh no, another one i really like…….. i must be having a sequin moment. Sigh….. totally impractical again. (ipad)
Totally agree – the point of an exotic is to see the leather peek though! (ipad)
aww… The poor animal died for nothing if it’s getting covered up with decorations. (ipad)
Seems like a waste, and I love the peekaboo so much! (ipad)
I think it’s pretty, but I think they should have just used regular leather or fabric as the material instead…(ipad)
What happened with the take care of animal thing we all talk about?
(ipad)
Festive, albeit it should’ve just been covered on smooth leather. (ipad)
I think the glitter makes sense – it is another artistic interpretation of what a snakeskin actually looks like – I think it;s pretty clever! (iPad)
The inside texture, while cute is actually odd – leopard print juxtaposed with snakeskin is weirder to me. (iPad)
LOVE. Not practical but great for nights out. Would have been perfect for new years. (ipad)
Not bad. I wonder if it’s heavy to carry with the beads all around. (ipad)
I agree. What is the point of using exotics skins when you’re going to just cover it with stuff. Exotics should be appreciated for the texture of the skin. (ipad)
i don’t like it…too much of materials being mixed together (ipad)
Totally agree! It would have been much better (and less wasteful) to have only beading on a small part (if beading is necessary at all!) – perhaps on the handle or something…and lets the snakeskin shine through on its own! (iPad)
The leopard liner looks cheap and why would you bead over a beautiful skin? Maybe a few beads, in a pattern or something, to accent the skin but it’s entirely covered. I dont get it. (ipad)
I kind of like it. Okay, I like it a lot. I think the snakeskin probably helps catch the light and split it, so that it looks even more glittering and beautiful with the beads. In the photo, you probably cannot tell as well as you could in person due to the flash, but I bet it is beautiful. and if you were really rich, it wouldn’t matter if you could SEE the snakeskin or not, just that it is a beautiful bag. And that lining? Classy touch. (iPad)
Catching the light and splitting it = refracting light. I couldn’t find the word. :0 I bet it refracts light beautifully because of the snakeskin. (iPad)
Not something I would carry–if I could carry it. It looks heavy. (ipad)
No. Just no(ipad)
Why would they do this?! (iPad)
I’m loving this bag, but then again I love sequins, beading, and all things Fendi. Also, I rather like the snakeskin accents at the top of the bag, it gives it a little something extra. It would be great for a black spring bag to spruce up any outfit!
Interesting design. (ipad)
Ugh not digging this (ipad)
the peckaboo is just sublime… with any declination (ipad)
It does look lovely though… ah if only I had the money :). (ipad)
I dont like this. It seems that it is very heavy when carried because of the beading… (ipad)
Beautiful mix of materials, but it does seem a terrible waste to treat the exotic skin the way they did. Vulgar is a good word for that. (iPad)
Granny bag (ipad)
The print on the lining isn’t even cute (ipad)
it’s beautiful on its looks alone. I agree using snakeskin seems like a waste, but maybe there’s a point to it that can only be seen IRL. (ipad)
I like this. But snakeskin still irks me :/ (ipad)
Yeah I don’t get the point of this one. (ipad)
This is always where Fendi goes wrong. Way too much going on. (ipad)
Fail! (iPad)
This is a funny bag. (ipad)
fendi, still disappointment, esp for a big bag you wanna do leather, maybe for a mini clutch or a wallet might have been better off. (ipad)
over kill – ipad
i’m thinking about the weight of this thing …. and absolutely right, why waste a perfectly good snakeskin by covering it up … for me, fendi gets it more wrong than right (ipad)
I really like this bag, but I agree with the waste of expensive snakeskin underneath..unnecessary. (ipad)