Fair or unfair, whenever I think of Cole Haan, I think of middle-aged women. There’s nothing wrong with middle-aged women, of course, but since I’m not yet part of that group, handbags that bring them to mind usually aren’t relevant to my personal style, which tends to be very urban and a bit trendy. I don’t think I’m the only one who commonly associates Cole Haan with a more mature clientele.
I’m not sure if the brand is trying to purposefully combat that association with bags like the Cole Haan Cape Town Camille Crossbody Bag, but if they are, a kicky little minibag in a fun finish is a great way to start.
The trend toward crossbody minibags is decidedly youth-influenced, mostly because mature women have more to carry on a daily basis than can fit in a tiny bag on the end of a chain. Minibags tend to appeal to people who go out at night or who want to incorporate a bag into their outfits like they would a piece of jewelry, and that tends to be younger women with fewer responsibilities outside of themselves.
These bags appeal to that set very clearly, and their metallic finishes and bright hardware calls to be taken out to a party or bar. The lines are still clean enough on these bags to not alienate the brand’s traditional customers (in fact, they’d be a great option for women of any age planning a night on the town), and bags like this are a good way to attract an even wider following. Buy through Bloomingdale’s for $228.
