Revived French fashion house Vionnet has made red carpet fans out of such style notables as Carey Mulligan and Leighton Meester, and now its hoping to capitalize on that success by finding a way into your accessories collection via bags like the Vionnet Triple Gusset Shoulder Bag. But for $2000, should we expect a little more?
There’s nothing wrong with this bag, per se, but commanding $2000 for a small leather shoulder bag is something that even few well-established accessories brands can do. Should Vionnet have given us more for the money? I certainly think so.
We need only to look at Proenza Schouler to see what a popular handbag can do for a brand trying to break into mainstream consciousness, but there’s a wide gulf between the PS1 and what we see here. The PS1 created an entire subgenre of It Bags in its wake, most notably the Mulberry Alexa, whereas this bag looks like an also-ran in the classic, new-minimalist category that Celine has pioneered. A sharp, stylish also-ran, of course, but an also-ran nonetheless. Vionnet’s clothes are excellent, so I have no doubt that the brand will improve quickly, but I’ll keep my dollars in my wallet until that happens. Buy through Saks for $2080.
I defintitely enjoy the aestheticso of the bag (contrasting colours, the slightly ruched leather on the flap and the minimalist hardware) – but the price is too much for a brand that was just recently revived.
I defintitely enjoy the aestheticso of the bag (contrasting colours, the slightly ruched leather on the flap and the minimalist hardware) – but the price is too much for a brand that was just recently revived. (iPad)
I really like the look of this bag, but I agree on the steep price.
The price is crazy…It reminds me some prices of >Balmain and it’s strange because, generally, Vionnet purposes “reasonable prices” for its products. However, the bag is not so “bad” but, I agree with you, by Vionnet we must expect more!
http://fashiondoesntexist.blogspot.com/
I think it’s very nice, but I agree that the price is too steep (ipad)
Wow. I strongly dislike this bag. Even if it were gifted to me I would not use it. (ipad)
I’m not convinced. It actually looks like something my 80 year-old grandmother would wear to church.
I forgot to add (iPad)
this looks like a purse i have in my garage sale LOL!
(ipad)
Ummmm, not my cup of tea – 2 small! (ipad)
The bag is ok, not good enough for 2000 dollars though… (ipad)
Very cute (ipad)
What’s up with the current obsession with white bags? (ipad)
The strap looks very tacky. However, the subtle fold on either sides of the flap is beautiful! I wish they can emphasize and elaborate on that detail on their upcoming bags. The flap makes the material look soft & smooth yet the whole bag itself looks very solid and minimal.. if they can make the fold bigger, or maybe duplicate the fold.. & still have the structure of the bag very solid.. (perhaps on a hobo) then i’d say 2080 it away! (ipad)
I have a white lambskin Chanel bag and a white Bottega Veneta bag. They are so hard to maintain because they get dirty so easily. I don’t think I will buy a white purse ever again for more than a couple hundred dollars. (ipad)
It’s pretty, but not $2k pretty (iPad)
Do like the bag’s aesthetic, but not for that price. (iPad)
The bag is beautiful, but the price is a little steep; if it was extremely good quality, like LP or Valextra, I would consider it (ipad)
it’s a nice bag, but i would pay that price for it.
woops forgot… (ipad) to previous comment
it’s expensive (ipad)
Too expensive.(ipad)
This seems like a steep price tag for a yawn of a bag. Pass. (ipad)
I’m not fond of either the look or the price. Hope to see better bag designs by Vionnet. (ipad)
Well, Vionnet does not really need to “break into mainstream”, because it’s been around since 1912, with some interruptions. This brand has always been about timeless elegance — and never about designs of the moment — and the featured handbag is a great example of that. Now, Celine was established in 1945 and Proenza Schouler in 2002. So, from the view point of fashion history, it is really not appropriate to try to compare the 3 totally different brands with different philosophies intended for different markets. Unless, the TPF considers the young urban market as mainstream and people who prefer timeless elegance – fringe. Similar to Hermes, Vionnet has its own market niche and people with good taste will pay for elegance… You know, some topics for discussion require research, not just an opinion. And I truly hope that the history of handbags will be discussed more often on this site, because it is all about handbags we love, right? (ipad)
great info Vitta..
thanks for sharing them with us! (ipad)
Vitta, thanks for telling us a bit more about Vionnet! With so many recently revived fashion houses (Halston, Ungaro, and Nina Ricci come to mind), it’s a maze for bag neophytes like me. (iPad)
It seems as nice as a lot of other $2000 bags, but I would have to see it in person.
I don’t buy white bags.
What is the “history” of Marc Jacobs? To me he is bad 80’s style.
But I do prefer classic bags, many trendy bags are messy and slouchy looking, not a look that does anything for me. (ipad)
I don’t care much for the style – it looks very 80’s, but not revamped enough to be contemporary (ipad)
I’m not sure what it is, but I can’t say I like this bag… (ipad)
Plus the price, of course, is too steep (ipad)
I like the clean look, but that strap is killing me. I’d rework it to be a clutch. (ipad)
way too pricey (iPad)
Just average and definitely overpriced. (ipad)
Simple and understated. (ipad)
Maybe they could have given us that purse for a little less money? (ipad)
It is an okay bag, but that price???? (ipad)
It’s matron looking… (ipad)
I like the bag but it is way overpriced for a house that is trying to break into the market. And it is a bit matronly…(Ipad)
Barb, “trying to break into the market”? Vionnet has been an iconic trend-setter since 1912. They’re in the process of reviving the brand now. Just check their site, http://www.vionnet.com, to see the full Spring 2011 collection. You might be surprised to see that there’s nothing “matronly” about it. (ipad)
hmm, spendy, spendy! (ipad)
Wow, what a price! Yeah, I think for the cost there should be more. (ipad)
great structure (ipad)
cute (ipad)
other colors? (ipad)
but pricey lol (ipad)
Too structured for me. (ipad)
i do like the bag but the straps seem wrong with it. (ipad)
Classic and simple, love. (ipad)
Definatly expect more it looks like a bag Angela Lansbury would have worn on murder she wrote, not cool lovable but not cool, and for that money hmmmmmmm!!!!!! Not for me and I like what they have done fashion wise sooooooo big disappointment
Love gold hardware (ipad)
Too much for this bag, unless it is in exotics. (ipad)
Wow, that is a little bag for a lot of money. Celeb. style is fun to look at and even imitate but not for a couple grand. (ipad)
Too much for too little (ipad)
For the price, it’s a yawn (ipad)
I like the bag, but I HAVE TO SAY IT IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS BAG !! (ipad)
It’s structured but I’m not sure if I love it yet. (ipad)
I think it’s a very classic style, but a little pricy. (pad)
i kinda like it, but it is a bit much for a brand i never heard of… (ipad)
Love it. Hate the price. (ipad)
simple but not my style (ipad)
Not my style either (ipad)
Waaaaay too expensive (ipad).
I love the simplicity, and I don’t even like white bags. (ipad)
That’s a gorgeous bag. (ipad)
Very simple but classy (ipad)
Eye candy! (ipad)
Really not feeling this bag. (ipad)
Not appealing :/ (ipad)
no. no. no. (iPad)
It’s a little too structured for my taste (ipad)
reminds me a bit of anya hindmarch + proenza (ipad)
*yawn*
i like it but it’s overpriced imo (ipad)
This bag is way to simple for the price (ipad)
Very pretty, but yeah, too expensive.
forgot the (ipad)
très chic! but yep, a bit pricey (ipad)
Really not loving this bag, pass (ipad)
looks cheap (ipad)
I actually think that it looks beautiful, but it does not look youthful at all – it looks somewhat matronly in its shape and strap. (ipad)
I hate the handly. It’s just too boring overall, and to be honest I wouldn’t pay $200 for it. It’s so not me. (ipad)
^ sorry, “handle”
beautiful but a pass for me. (ipad)
It definitely is expensive. But there’s something about the French that really says ooh la la. (ipad)
meh
not that special (ipad)
cute but damn that’s a lot of money right now (ipad)
way too pricey for a relatively unknown brand. i’d rather put that 2000$ away and save towards the celine box bag (ipad)
Kinda boring (ipad)
Too expensive. (ipad)
urghh..
it looks sooo stiff!
definitely not going to look at this twice.. next! (ipad)
Simple but not my style. (ipad)
Those folds are just killing me! It’s a really subtle way to show the quality behind the bag. (ipad)
ill pass on this bag, not my cup of tea. (ipad)
cute bag…but definently not worth 2,000 dollars (ipad)
well, nice bag, but not worth the price… (ipad)
this would be the perfect accessory, walking down the champs elysees…but i’d rather pay $2K on a trip to paris as opposed to this bag. (ipad)
I agree – for that money I’d expect a little more – ipad
Seems very bland. (ipad)
looks ok (ipad)
I’d worry about getting it dirty… (ipad)
I have and navy blue vintage Vionnet handbag, give to me when I seven years old, by my godmother forty five years ago. It is in extreme good condition, even if it wasn’t; it is worth more than two thousand dollars in sentiment.