My first trip to Paris, I noticed that many of the girls were carrying shrunken canvas totes with sequins on the handles. Upon my return home, I did some research and discovered that those totes were Vanessa Bruno creations. With the Vanessa Bruno Grand Cabas tote, the designer continues that original vision of simplicity.
My first trip to Paris, I noticed that many of the girls were carrying shrunken canvas totes with sequins on the handles. Upon my return home, I did some research and discovered that those totes were Vanessa Bruno creations. With the Vanessa Bruno Grand Cabas tote, the designer continues that original vision of simplicity.However, this tote is suede. Yes, you read correctly. The entirety of this deceptively quiet tote is made of that fabulously soft and thick material, that material which is simultaneously rustic and luxe. Add on silver grommets in the place of those sequins, and we’ve got a stylized, tougher version of the ballerina chic original canvas bags.
Though the stock photos show a well-shaped, almost rigid tote, the suede I’m familiar with is soft and wonderfully floppy, especially with increased use. I’m crossing my fingers that this is the case with this tote because a hard suede bag would be a sad suede bag indeed. Buy through ShopBop for $400.
Living in France from an early age, my teenage daughter seems to have imbibed some of the national style, owning one of these deliciously soft suede bags in a muted, earthy colour. It is considered the height of understated French chic, loved by fashionable but discreet French “lycéennes” and “étudiantes” (high school and college students), who mostly have the canvas version with sequins, and best of all by French mothers who with a barely imperceptible glance reveal their approval of any young lady with the good taste to sport one of these!