Alaïa is a brand that I became familiar with at a young age thanks to Clueless icon, Cher Horowitz. In a memorable scene, Cher is robbed at gunpoint in a deserted parking lot and is instructed to get on the ground. Instead of getting down, she responds to the gunman that she can’t get on the ground because she’s wearing an Alaïa dress, which is “like a totally important designer”. The robber responds by asking an “a-what-uh?” and Alaïa has been crystallized in my fashion-loving brain ever since. Admittedly I don’t turn to Alaïa for handbags often because I’ve always associated the brand for its beautiful ready-to-wear clothing. I’ve been looking to shake up my handbag game and explore new designers, and after perusing the Alaïa website, I realized I have been sleeping on their shoes and bags for far too long. Within minutes I had found several items that I’m now lusting over.
I found a few bags and many shoes that I would like to have in my collection, but the item that intrigues me most is the Latifa Tiger-Print Tote. This bag is super eye-catching with its loud pattern and design. The calf hair tiger-print pattern and snakeskin details give this bag a busy design, but with its large size and animal print design, it hits all the marks to be on trend this fall. It’s a lot to take in at first glance, but I think it works really well with this particular tote. I am a fan of mixing patterns, so I would wear this with a plaid shirt and jeans, but I could also pair it with a sweater dress if I wanted to simplify my look. I like that the snakeskin detail of the design elevates any outfit.
This bag is quite large, measuring at 11″H x 16.5″W x 5.9″D. The rolled snakeskin top handles have a large drop with nearly 6″ of room, so you could comfortably wear it under your shoulder, even as the weather gets colder and wardrobe layering begins. I love that it includes a detachable clutch, which is a major bonus because you can carry it on its own or use it to organize your belongings within the tote. My favorite feature of this bag is hands down the fact that it has a zipper! I am the self-proclaimed queen of totes and I cannot tell you what a rarity a zipper is on a tote bag these days. I was so pleasantly surprised to learn about this detail that I almost purchased this handbag on the spot. The reason I stopped myself? The price tag. This pretty bag will set you back $3,890…and despite the use of exotic snakeskin, I can’t bring myself to splurge on it.
What do you think? Love it or leave this Alaïa? It’s a love from me!
Alaïa Latifa Tiger-Print Tote Bag ($3,890)
