When I’m selecting a new purse, I try to invest in versatile and classic pieces. But the serious handbag collector in me frequently clashes with the side of me that appreciates the zanier impulses of the fashion industry. Given my penchant for the surreal, it’s no surprise that the Mickey Mouse head handbag from Gucci’s Spring 2019 collection caught my eye. The questions this bag raises are alarming: did someone decapitate Mickey Mouse? Is there a deeper meaning here? Is fashion over now? And most importantly, do I kind of actually want this bag?!
When asked to explain himself, Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele claimed that with the collection, “I am reconnecting culture and popular culture.” It’s easy to laugh at the designer who puts out a Mickey Mouse head purse into the world and calls it art, but Michele actually managed to sum up why I am so drawn to so-called novelty fashion items. Yes, they are silly, but they also often make a deeper statement about the world we live in. In this case the juxtaposition of highbrow and lowbrow culture in an attempt to challenge our perceptions of what luxury fashion is and who it’s for.
The aesthetic of the novelty bags I love calls to mind the pop art of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, who made their names on challenging traditional notions of art by interpreting elements of mass culture in a new context. But while pop art was meant to parody and critique mass production and commercialism, fashion’s recent forays into this realm seem a little disingenuous given fashion’s dependence on popular culture and commercialism. Designers may think they’re slyly parodying themselves, but it sort of feels like the joke is on them, and on us as consumers.
One of my all-time favorite novelty purses that I somehow stopped myself from buying was Moschino’s infamous pill bottle purse. It was surprising, bold, and super weird, which are all things I love in a bag. I also nearly pulled the trigger on Moschino’s garbage can purse, the motorcycle jacket purse, and pretty much any other novelty Moschino item you can imagine. At this point even I have to admit that Moschino’s whole thing is getting a bit tired. However, it’s also everywhere, with major designers taking “lowbrow,” everyday items like Ikea bags, Crocs, Mickey Mouse’s head, lighters, and anything else you can think of, and making it high fashion. Brands like Vetements have built empires around this aesthetic, and while I get the joke, it’s becoming less novel with every season that passes. Selling a Mickey Mouse head for thousands of dollars now seems more like out of touch trolling than a sly commentary on art and culture.
Not to mention, a novelty bag is a bit of a gamble if you’re buying it as an investment. Of course there is always a risk if you stray from the beaten path of a Birkin, a 2.55, or a Neverfull. But on the off chance you’re planning to net a profit off a bag that looks like an actual trash can, I’d advise you to temper your expectations. Some of these bags may become infamous, but they will probably not age well. Of course, there are notable exceptions to this rule—Judith Leiber being one that stands out: Leiber clutches covered in Austrian crystals and shaped like hamburgers and boom boxes retail for $6,000 and have come to be regarded as art. The difference here, of course, is that Leiber’s pieces are extremely well made and have a long history of being carried by First Ladies and Carrie from Sex and the City. Chanel’s beaded Dare to Disturb bag also has a decent resale value—so far—but again, it’s all about the brand and the craftsmanship.
You probably shouldn’t buy a novelty purse as an investment, and you might find that the joke wears thin quickly. But if you love the piece and want to express yourself by carrying around a trash can on your shoulder, I say go for it. Despite my misgivings, I still love the novelty purses that the industry will certainly churn out for years to come. They may not be a great investment, and people may look at me funny as I walk down the street carrying a purse that looks like a lunch bag, but fashion is supposed to be outrageous and challenging. I just hope Mickey Mouse is OK.
Judith Leiber Couture Crystal Hamburger Clutch
Balenciaga Medium Shopper Bag
Simon Miller Lunchbag Clutch
Moschino Square Print Logo Tote
Moschino Juice Box Bag
Charlotte Olympia Camera Bag
I am not a fan of the novelty purse unless I can buy it for around $25 so that way when I realize how ridiculous the bag looks, I will not be mad at myself for buying it.
Hard pass on this crap, unless I’m like 3 years old..
Of course it’s ridiculous. But I mean, why not? I will never get one myself but I feel people should be able to spend their money whichever way they want if they can afford it.
I mean there are people for whom a four figure price tag is how I feel about a 20 dollar note. And for some others in other parts of the world even $20 is a huge amount. I don’t think anyone is buying these to be a staple in their wardrobe. Some are literally the type who won’t be photographed with the same outfit twice…
And I like that Fashion with a capital F is ridiculous. It’s fun, it’s funny, and it’s worth calling it out even when you are a blog dedicated to bags, which, let’s face it, is definitely a luxury hobby, and a lot of us are probably paying way more than what something is intrinsically worth (once I get into the higher end I have no illusion that I’m still paying for purely *just* the quality of the leather or craft. It’s almost always also about the brand value).
I think I am ok as long as the fashion houses do these on top of doing actually classic, functional, great handbags. And I think for the most part they do. They still have their iconic bags that they know work and continue to produce. So if they want to do other things besides that? Who are we to say they can’t.
The only deep thing about these bags is how deeply the merchandizers want to get into our collective wallets. I’ll give Judith Lieber a pass because that is really her whole design concept but no one else. One Judith Lieber is enough for this world (not to mention the infinite universe of her knock-offs.)
If you want novelty, isn’t that what keychains are for? Thinking of the Fendi bag bugs and Kate spade and coach keychains….
I have the striped version of the balenciaga bazar and I just love how ironic that bag is. But at the same time became such a classic for me. It goes with pretty much everything. I also have a fendi bug backpack.. I bought a few years ago for traveling and right now it’s just sitting in my closet. It’s the nylon version and sometimes I wear when I go to the beach or something. Not really sure if I would buy it nowadays.
The hamburger bag is pretty cool, that’s all I got.
Except for Mickey, I would buy all of these if were insanely wealthy. Esp the hamburger and camera ones. They are just nice objects.
Bought a used Kate Spade dictionary clutch once. Had to have it. Use it every once in awhile. Most of the time it’s on my entry table with my spare keys inside it. No regrets.
I really want the Moschino bag. I saw someone carrying it and really thought that it was a shopping bag. Very cool.
Some of these would be nice as decor items if money were no object.
I really want a Hindmarch Tony the Tiger tote
“Selling a Mickey Mouse head for thousands of dollars now seems more like out of touch trolling than a sly commentary on art and culture.” Spot on. Popular culture will always be part of art and design. Nothing wrong with the bags except that when you take that popular culture into the realm of insanely expensive luxury goods you are appropriating and at the same time rejecting the un-exclusivity of anything popular. It’s a paradox, and in some cases, a hideously looking one.
I purchased a Stella McCartney superhero bag when they first came out and my friends thought I was crazy…”it’s so tiny!” They said “it’s not very classic” no but it’s very me it’s full of glitter and color and I wear it just about once a week. But I always buy bags that I think I’ll wear forever no for a moment so I’m also one of those people who always finds myself with bright colored bags.
I definitely love the humor and impracticality of novelty bags — and I like how other people seem compelled to figure out what I’m trying to accomplish by carrying them. I don’t think it’s fair, though, to say that producing such bags consistently is “tired” since, at least in the case of Moschino, the goal from Day One has been to playfully tease the fashion industry for taking itself too seriously at times. They stay pretty true to their mission, and I don’t think that’s a negative. (Also, there are some major brands that — in my opinion— keep putting out the same style/color/shaped bags years after year after year after year that could stand to wake up.) I 100% agree that novelty bags are not solid investments, but that makes them feel all the more decadent, opulent and luxurious to me. 🙂