A few weeks back, I was shopping at a vintage sale when I noticed an elegant older woman enter the store. She was your average well-groomed off-duty New York lady. She was dressed simply in a long Moncler puffer coat, light-wash denim, and Stan Smith sneakers. Her bag was amazing, yet unrecognizably hers. There was no monogram or tiny branding on it (as far as I could see). It was inconspicuous, square, and black. However, this medium-sized, unnamed painting was plainly of the highest calibre: Strong design, thick leather reinforced with Kevlar, and useful over-the-shoulder style. I became aware of it after a second look—or rather, a squinting stare.
A bag has the ability to enhance, elevate, and complete an ensemble. Whether you're a businessman toting a Louis Vuitton Neverfull, a style icon flaunting a Bottega Veneta lime green Cassette, or a vintage enthusiast clutching the horn handle of a Yves Saint Laurent Mombasa, it's a status symbol.