Gucci is having a major moment in fashion right now, and it seems as though there is nothing that Gucci can’t do. Alessandro Michele has churned out handbag hit after hit, often diving deep into Gucci’s archives to bring back the classics. While the logo love has been front and center amongst Gucci’s current lineup, for Fall Winter 2018 a new bag has stolen the show. Meet: the Gucci Rajah Medium Shoulder Bag. Incredibly dignified and insanely chic, this bag is truly a work of art.
One of the things I love about Gucci’s current aesthetic and the overall creative direction of Michele, is the mixing of elements. There are no rules when it comes to fashion anymore, and I love the juxtaposition of mixing dressier and super elegant pieces with streetwear fashion, and Gucci does it so well. This bag is uptown chic, but when paired with more casual pieces it still gives off a downtown cool vibe, and I absolutely love that this can be worn dressed up or dressed down.
The Rajah shoulder bag, introduced for Fall Winter 2018, mixes new elements with traditional details. The shape, like many of-the-moment bags from both Gucci and other designers, is retro-inspired and features a new logo, which merges two signature elements. The Horsebit and the Interlocking G come together to form this distinctly ‘Gucci’ hardware. A crystal tiger head also adorns the front of this flap bag, which was inspired by a vintage brooch by Hattie Carnegie, who was a legendary jewelry designer in the 1920s-1950s.
The super unique and gorgeous croc version is a true showstopper and I was obsessed with how pretty it was in purple. It retails for $22,000, which is quite steep for a shoulder bag! For a more practical option, we also took a look at the all leather version, which was stunning in burgundy and would be the bag I would personally want to own this fall. The leather is incredibly smooth and holds color really well. I’m loving deep jewel tones for fall and I like the way the burgundy looked alongside my all black look.
The Gucci Rajah Medium Shoulder Bag features a chain strap which can be worn multiple ways as shown. It looks dainty hand carried when the strap is doubled, but for practicality purposes it can also be worn over the shoulder or cross body. This flap bag features a locked metal closure, and inside there is both a zippered pocket as well as a slit pocket. For a medium sized bag the interior is quite roomy, and it’s only fairly structured. With overall dimensions of 10.5″W x 6.5″H x 2.5″D, the size is perfect for day to night use. The croc bag is lined in leather, while the leather version is lined in fabric, which you can snag right now for $2,980.
I don’t like the horse-detail and the tiger together at all, it just makes it look like a counterfeit that went wrong. I would pick either the horse-thing, the tiger, or the GG. I guess am boring like that.
Yes it looks like their inspiration was somehow rich italian heiress went tiger-hunting on horseback ?
Im getting a Jeff Koons vibe…
Nop you are not! It’s the aesthetic of the bag… lacking.
Second that, i think the two look odd together. Sometimes too much is just nice, but this time, too much is too much ?
Loveeeee Gucci! Logo trends aside, I am loving everything that design house is doing, even if some of the pieces include a random mickey mouse handbag (SS19).
Does anyone know if Gucci was the one to start the whole velvet trend? That was a winning risk, that could have tanked, but didn’t. There are now beautiful shoes & boots in pretty velvet jewel tones everywhere! I even sprung for a pair of wine colored velvet bootie’s! I need that wine colored Gucci bag…….???
Nope. I have a Lanvin Sugar bag that was made about 2 seasons before Gucci made their Marmont in velvet.
I actually love the luxe look of this particular Gucci bag. The burgundy is perfect for the season.
I don’t care for this bag design at all. Too much going on. However, the croc skin in aqua is beautiful. And these photos are awesome!
Very 2000s Versace
My first thought too.
Oooooooo! The burgundy is just so elegant & rich! That color…… like a fine wine! Love! The hardware doesn’t bother me, though, like it usually would. It’s fresh, different, & new. Gucci is on fire! Chanel better watch it, or they will lose their business to Gucci! Though Chanel has always been my Holy Grail bag, Gucci has my attention right now!
Chanel had my heart, too. However, with the decline in quality and the $200 increase in boy bags on Nov 1st and $300 for classics I can no longer support this house.
Not sure if I like the Rajah. Horse bait and tiger together just clash and don’t complement! Something is not giving…actually the whole SS bag collection is just too much as if they are trying too hard!
I like how Gucci been trying to dominate season after season but I think it’s Fendi’s time with the logo mania they created! No matter how Chanel, Gucci,Valentino are trying to catch up with the logo everything, Fendi is still on top with it!
I had this for a hot minute this summer as I’d preordered it (I liked the tiger on it). It was pretty but to ME, the chains were super thin and flimsy for a regular bag size (maybe ok for a mini bag) – they did feel almost plastic? Also when the bag was full and the chain was pulled to a single strap, the cavity jolted open when the flap was lifted. It wouldn’t be a stretch to fear contents spilling out. Something about the semi-divided cavity inside made it super wobbly when the flap was open. Anyway, for those who want to hear that stuff….
You said you had it “for a hot minute”. Does that mean you returned it or resold it? I’m just curious since I personally like it, but not enough if it has these issues.
I returned it within 24 hours (I don’t live near any shopping so by mail of course). It was very pretty, but the first thing I noticed was the dinky-ness of the chains, and then, when putting items in it, the propensity for the cavity to fall forward when the flap was open (while on the shoulder not on the table). “Wobbly” is the best word I could use to describe that? If you love it though, best to do your own evaluation! What felt most expensive on the bag was the tiger head, the rest was nothing great. And, I am sort of over bags that don’t have leather linings.
I live an over-the-top bag but not this one. The horsebit and logo look odd together. It only needed the tiger head to make a statement. It looks cluttered and cheap.
omg, it reminds me of My LIttle Pony stuff!
I like the look of it and the combination hardware. Why I would not purchase is the divided body of the bag. Flap bags are already a challenge to get your things to fit, divide that in two and no way. I do love so much of what Gucci is doing (shoes,clothes,Marmont bags) but this one is a pass for me.
What I love the most is purseblog’s objectivity when it comes to reviewing Gucci.
This bag is just ok. Gucci has capitalized on the logo trend so they sell like hot cakes but I hardly see the bags (design wise) as classic pieces that anyone would get their investment’s worth over time.
Loooooooove me some Gucci, but I’m just not feeling this bag. Too…something. Early 2000s maybe? It has a weird preppy vibe that is extremely not me. But I’ll admit to finding that aqua croc appealing.
You had to trek all the way down to the LES to find graffiti lmao. Looks amazing. Great pictures.
I thought the logo with the tiger and horse bit was a bit too much, but now I really like it. I saw it in person and the leather feels really luxurious. The logo is pretty in real life.