Anyone who takes an interest in designer handbags and purses will remember the most popular bags that have graced the pages of magazines and the arms of A-list celebrities; the Birkin, the Chanel 2.55, the Fendi Baguette — all of these are instantly recognizable names that were once (and still are by many) considered the bag to end all bags.
But there were other, equally-worthy “it” bags that arrived on the scene during this same time, and while they may be equally deserving of the same level of reverence and accolade as the others, they are often seemingly passed-over in discussions of popular bags from the “it bag” era. Here is a quick look at two of our favorites.
The Balenciaga Lariat
The Balenciaga Lariat was very nearly the bag that never was. The Brainchild of designer Nicholas Ghesquiere, in 2001 the Lariat had a rough beginning; it was thought to not be “rigid” enough by the powers that be at Balenciaga. Ghesquiere persevered, and a strategic placement of the first 30 prototypes on key trendsetters proved them wrong. The Lariat went on to become wildly popular with off duty models and celebrities, earning its “it bag” status.
The Loewe Amazona
The Spanish brand Loewe reportedly takes between 6 and 12 hours to create each one of their Amazona (a name that indicates female strength) handbags. Even though the Loewe luxury goods company was founded in 1846, the first Loewe handbag didn’t roll off the production table until 1975. They have been expanding their repertoire to include a virtual rainbow of hues into their designs ever since, and the Amazona is still iconic to this day.
