To quote the title of one of my all-time favorite episodes of Sex and the City, I love a charade. Well, a fashion charade, that is. It almost never fails to impress me when designers are able to take a material that has a certain set of expected characteristics and make it look like something completely different. Earlier this week, I was impressed by how much Maison Martin Margiela made bike reflectors look like sequins, and now I’m feeling similarly pleased with the Bottega Veneta Woven Leather Tote.
On first examination, it looks like a really nice straw tote. And of course, I would expect that any straw bag coming from the Bottega Veneta workshops to be really nice, just like all of their leather offerings. That’s the thing, however – this IS one of their leather offerings. Plus it has a little bit of croc trim, just for good measure.
That the fine folks at BV managed to dye and weave soft leather in such a perfect way to make it mimic straw totally blows my mind. The color variation is subtle and utterly terrific, and the weaving differs just enough from the brand’s iconic intrecciatio that it makes you nearly certain that the material they’re using must be different. But it’s not – it’s your perception that’s different.
At its best, fashion plays with visual ideas in ways that are thought provoking and new. Bottega may not get as much credit as they deserve for being innovative because they have such a classic, widely recognized look for a lot of their bags, but this tote should be enough to make anyone look at them anew. Buy through Bergdorf Goodman for $5700.
I am truly blown away by the treatment on that leather. I was fooled as well because I really thought that this was straw. It’s worth every penny.
Amazing!! Love how they were able to pull this one off in leather! Beautiful!! (fb)
Italians just know how to make the most beautiful things!
That truly is amazing craftsmanship, but why would I want a leather bag that looks like straw? It seems counter-intuitive to me. When I think straw, I think breezy, beachy afternoons, or trolling the farmer’s market in a sundress, not $5,700 worth of leather – seems like an expensive inside joke. (fb)
You took the words right out of my mouth. (fb)
a very beautiful bag,mamamia (fb)
Ha! Amazing work
Love this…hate how straw bags snag my outfits. Too bad I can’t afford it! (fb)
I don’t love this bag… I don’t understand the want/need for straw bags though… It is impressive though, it’s a good misconception 🙂
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I’m not crazy about the straw, but I do love the shape (fb)
Love the bag, but for that price I don’t want a bag that “looks like straw.”
Beautiful weaving! I’m not too crazy about the straps though. (fb)
I love this idea and this bag, not usually a BV fan! (fb)
Beautiful. I was fooled.(fb)
Wow, that’s amazing. I thought it was straw at first glance and was like “bleh”. I love the woven style, and Bottega Veneta always has some of the best looking woven styles. This would be a great summer bag. (fb)
I love this! If I had the money I was totally get it.
*sigh*
OMG! love at first sight!… (fb)
Absolutely stunning…and I would have thought it was straw…out of my price range unfortunately! (fb)
I LOVE that it is leather and dyed to look like straw – how awesome! Out of my price range, though, so I’ll just have to lust for it from afar. 🙂 (fb)
I almost bought this gorgeous BV bag, but man, the bag is heavy because it’s all leather!! Ladies, if you don’t mind the weight, get it!! It’s the yummiest bag from BV!
Could be my “go to” bag this summer!!! (fb)
Love it, love it, love it! The look of a straw tote without the scratchiness and with the durability of a fine leather bag. (fb)
ADORE it!!! Incredibly, deliciously stunning! BV and Hermes are second to none in their workmanship. I would give (almost) anything to own this bag!!
I like it…I have always liked the look of a straw bag, but not the feel or durability….this one would work just great…thanks ‘(fb)’
luvluvluv it!!! (fb)
Too bag this bag is sold out on the BV website along with Neiman, etc.!!!
It’s still available at Bergdorf’s, I just checked! We just couldn’t link straight to it.
It’s gorgeous! I LOVE it. If I could afford it – I would get it. It’s amazing!
Cute and good idea, but, not worth the price tag IMO. (fb)
Me likey! ‘(fb)’
I love the look of this. (fb)
Absolutely STUNNING. (fb)
I really like this bag! There is no way in heck that I could afford it at that price, but I still like it. (fb)
Oh my goodness. How cute is that and I just LOVE the color. Great for summer.
forgot to add (fb) at the end of my first comment! (fb)
Amazing leather workmanship!!! Love it 🙂 (fb)
LOVE IT! how gorgeous is that?! (fb)
very summerish, I could wear this, if just a little bit bigger, in the park with my kids, during one beautiful summer day or at the beach.
day by day it wouldn`t be my style
LOVE IT! (fb)
It’s more like a beach bag (fb)
I love the fact that they were truly skilled at doing all the precise work of matching the leathers to look like straw and weaving it in and out ..
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I’ve really been starting to like BV a lot more lately (maybe just better appreciation for the technique/style), but that seems like a lot of money when it really looks like a straw bag. I would love to see it in person though to see how the leather/straw look translates in real life. (fb)
great summer find! (fb)
what workmanship…what a price! (fb)
how gorgeous is that?! (fb)
I’ll take it to the beach! love, love , love it! (fb)
Wow that’s leather? Amazing! Great bag!
(fb) oops!
perfect for the summer i love it! (fb)
wow – that is truly gorgeous! (fb)
Stunning!! Amazing what they can do with leather! (fb)
Has a very summery/beachy feel to it! Nice! (fb)
Oh, wow! I’m impressed!!! Loving it!!! 🙂 (fb)
Stunning! (fb)
This is actually the only bag that I really like from this season’s collection…..too bad the price is a bit steep for me!
Just love the color of the bag. (fb)
Gorgeous! Love the weave and colour! (fb)
What a gorgeous purse and I love that it is leather and NOT straw! Leather will last a lot longer and I am strong believer that leather is easy to make “go” with multiple outfits. Love it! (fb)
I love this Bag and can’t get over that is hand made! Truly a work of art!
lovely!! it really does look like a straw bag but with the softness of leather!! (fb)
Wow that is amazing! So simple looking yet you know this was done with alot of thought to detail and great craftsmanship. I love it. Thank you for sharing!
i love the looks of this bag. i hope to see it irl! wish i could talk dh into getting me this! (fb)
This is a beautiful bag!! Hope I win it!! (fb)
BV is my forever love, i just bought the nuvolato paille large veneta, can’t wait to pour my <3 for 'him' (fb)
I absolutely LOVE woven bags but hate how impractical and not really only usable one season they are. The leather weave is brilliant! I’m not one for items over $2k, but this would be worth it. (fb)
Hey reese,You should Contact me immediately.We got those bags and can get them to you ASAP!Hurry up cos they are hotcakes!While stocks last.
That bag screams Spring to me! (fb)
What a lovely bag, i wish my hubby want to buy it for me (fb)
I love BV….it’s so elegant and understated. This is a perfect example! (fb)
Love it! I just happen to be wearing my vintage purple crossbody BV – it’s so cute. Just love BV!! (fb)
I think the construction is impeccable. Go Bottega. (fb)
Whoa baby.
i heart bv/g
Wow i didn’t think it was leather at all! Love this bag
lurve it!! what appears to be kind of scratchy straw turns out to be buttery mooshy leather? sign me up!! (fb)
Hey redhairedashley You should Contact me immediately.We got those bags and can get them to you ASAP!Hurry up cos they are hotcakes!While stocks last.
This is beautiful. Wish I had a BV (fb)
Hey You should Contact me immediately.We got those bags and can get them to you ASAP!Hurry up cos they are hotcakes!While stocks last.
I am in love with this bag to be able to render a bag in leather and make it look like straw is wonderful. I like the look of straw, but despise the feel and smell, and the inevitable demise of the straw itself after a few good uses. I paid a pretty penny for a straw hat when they were “in” circa Julia Roberts in Runaway Bride and it died so quickly. Now here you have this incredible bag that looks like straw, and can you believe the color oh the color is glorious. I would love to be able to buy this bag, but sadly I can not.
Hey jane,You should Contact me immediately.We got those bags and can get them to you ASAP!Hurry up cos they are hotcakes!While stocks last.
Wow, this is fantastic. It really looks like straw but holds up and feels like the leather it is? Genius. I absolutely love it.
Cute bag! Straw made of leather! AWESOME! (FB)
Fabulous! (fb)
its of the finest handbags i have watching this season, would love to get one for my love(wife) fb
Hey harpal,youre in luck!You should Contact me immediately.We got those bags and can get them to you ASAP!Hurry up cos they are hotcakes!While stocks last.
Beautiful. I can only dream of getting a BV (fb)
seriously classy…
Beautiful bag, I love how it really does look like a straw bag, but is certain to be much more reliable and usable as it’s made of leather! 🙂 (fb)
What a great idea. Love it. (fb)
i cant believe thats actually leather !! (Fb)
It is GORGEOUS! I love BV, I just can’t afford ’em. But every time I am in Orange County or LV, I go in their Boutiques and drool!! (fb)
BV is so in its own class. They do such amazing things with leather, and this is just yet another example of WOW! (fb)
$5700? (gulp) I’m starting to think I need to see BV in person to appreciate it more fully. Until then… I’d rather add a few more Valentinos to my collection. (fb)
I don’t understand the appeal of this one. Why do I want my leather bag to look like a straw bag?
I appreciate the skill of the construction and colouring, but it is not 4 me !
I love BV normally, but this one is a total turn-off. I didnt mind the Coach straw bags that were actually straw, but for some reason I just dont like this leather “straw” bag. Im actually surprised at the amount of people that are saying they love it. (fb)
I like this one but the price is a no. (fb)
this bag is gorgeous (fb)
I hate how woven straw looks, and leather isn’t much better. It’s an amazing idea and great craftsmanship, but really? You might as well just buy a normal woven straw bag for 15 bucks at a flea market. (fb)
This is really beautiful. I passed by this the first time because I really thought this was a straw bag and I really dislike straw bags. (fb)
beautiful! I can’t believe that’s leather! (fb)
i don’t know how i feel about the material!! >FB)
so pretty! i want to pick apples with it! (fb)
They make the same handbags on John’s Island [Charleston, South Carolina area] for thousands of dollars less. Ridiculous!!!
ShoeQueen1961 – would love to know more! Do you have any more info you can pass along? Many thanks!
Yes; however the information is a bit limited… During the summer; there are plenty of African American vendors who are natives to the area that weave everything from baskets to handbags. My late father was from Charleston and he had a few relatives that practiced this artisan craft exceedingly well [I have a very large yet vintage woven leather tote in navy blue that was given to me years ago by a cousin]. I’m uncertain if these individuals sell in the actual city of Charleston [If they do; the mark-ups are probably ridiculous amounts for tourists!!!] However, these items can certainly be found on the small islands/regions of the area [again] Johns Island, St. Andrews, Mt. Pleasant, Kiawah Island, etc. Good Luck!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this bag! I have this page book marked! I called both Bottega Venetta and Bergdorf Goodman today to reserve this bag. This is a nice summer bag!
Can’t wait to see this baby in real life!!
absolutely LOVE!! (fb)
So cute! I would love it for summer. (fb) Contest Entry!
omg this is super adorable..what a great summer bag!!
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Love it!!! makes me think of a summers day,not that we see to many of them in England.
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cute, but the price is omg. (fb)
Not cute. (fb)
a nice bag for the beach. too bad its getting colder now on my side of the world. (fb)
im not into this… maybe the little piggie would like it 😉 (fb)
Breath-taking! love it. (fb)
this is absolutely incredible and shows you how talented the team at BV really are (fb)
this is beautiful 🙂 (fb)
i’m going to the beach next month. i could really use a show-offy tote like this to be the envy of all others on the beach! fb
chichijunk at cs dot com
It looks like a perfect bag to bring on a picnic in the park.
Tag for Linea Pelle (fb)
not liking it very much..
sorry to say 🙁
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Want this! (fb)
I understand that it’s the name that sells but for straws..I’ll pass this one. (fb)
The problem is, I would buy something else if I wanted a leather bag and if I wanted a straw tote I would want something cheaper. However, I think that this bag is really interesting. (ipad)