If you peruse PurseBlog articles on Proenza Schouler, you will see that the entire team adores Proenza, and we say so often and without reserve. Right now, though, I’ve got a bone to pick with the brand; all I want to know is, why did they ruin a good thing with their beyond crazy hit, the PS1, by taking a tomboyish satchel and trying to turn it into a ladylike, chain-strapped shoulder bag? Part of the reason the PS1 stood out from everything else when it was launched was the utility-chic shoulder strap and minimal hardware. Believe it or not, the chain shoulder strap completely changes the bag and I think it not only ruins the look, but also cheapens it.
The bag in question is the Proenza Schouler PS1 Mini Messenger bag, which is available in a variety of colors and materials. It doesn’t help that the shape isn’t my favorite rendition either, but it’s all passable until we get to the shoulder strap, where you will find oversized chain metal that leaves me feeling like this bag is “inspired by” instead of being from the designers themselves. This simply isn’t the PS1 I fell in love with, and that makes me a little sad. The good news is I don’t think the boys are adding this strap to most of their bags, and there are still plenty of beautiful PS1 bags to choose from. This version is available via Neiman Marcus for $1,945.
