One of the joys of PurseBlog is discovering new brands and the consequential development of a full-on obsession with said brands. As a longtime member of this community, I’ve been around for my fair share of brands gaining a cult-like following and the excited buzz generated after discovering what can only be described as a fashion treasure trove. One brand in particular that comes to mind is Gerard Darel. Founded in 1971, the French brand gained traction as a total it-brand over a decade ago in the late 2000s. It was an exciting time to be a purse lover, and the hype around the brand and the 24-Heures bag, in particular, cannot be forgotten. Many Purse Forum threads were dedicated to the brand, as well as plenty of PurseBlog articles. I remember being caught up in the craze myself, and still to this day resonate with Megs’ story from 2008 of fruitlessly chasing a 36-Heures Gerard Darel throughout Spain.
Like many trends, Gerard Darel slowly faded from the forefront of my wish lists and I moved on to chase other brands and bags. Fast forward to eight years later in 2015 when I was visiting Paris with my husband for a long weekend. We were strolling one of my favorite Parisian neighborhoods, Le Marais, when I spotted it: a Gerard Darel boutique. I instantaneously transported back in time to when I coveted the 24-Heures bag, so I popped in for a peek. To my amazement, the 24-Heures bag was there waiting for me, and better yet, it was on sale. I indulged in my 2008 self and purchased the bag on the spot, and I still have her sitting in my closet today. While I don’t wear my 24-Heures bag all that often, it still brings back fun memories of late nights spent on tPF reading up on the bag.
It’s been a while since I read any buzz about Gerard Darel, so I decided to take a peek on their website to see what the brand has been up to. I have to say I am loving the designs the brand has available right now. Their aesthetic has always been minimalistic, but the clean lines and sleek designs of their bags are checking all the boxes for me this winter. The bags are beautifully simplistic in the best way possible and best of all the price point is budget-friendly. I’ve listed a few of my favorite designs below! The best news? If you feel like taking a walk down memory lane, the 24-Heures bag is still available.
Does anyone else remember the Gerard Darel hype? Are you loving their recent designs as much as I am?
Gerard Darel Le Lady ($295)
Gerard Darel Le Cool Bag ($495)
Gerard Darel Le Small Simone ($365)
Gerard Darel Le Moon ($325)
Gerard Darel Le Only You ($625)
