Tiffany & Co. Fall 2010 Leathergoods Collection

Ever since Lambertson Truex were forced to shutter their leathergoods business due to the economy and parent company Samsonite putting it up for sale, I’ve been waiting to see what the supremely talented design duo of Richard Lambertson and John Truex would do next. Cue Tiffany & Co., which bought the 10-year-old luxury label and charged its namesake designers with the task of revamping and breathing new life to the iconic American jeweler’s leathergoods. The results, to say the least, are fabulous. They also quash any naysayers who would cry, “I’m not buying a handbag from a company known for its jewelry.”

In a recent preview of the entire collection, which launches September 1, I was immediately struck by how subtlety the brand’s robin’s egg blue was incorporated into the bags: edging the side of a clasp, striping on a bag strap, applied to the rivets, fashioned as lining or unabashedly poured over a dyed-crocodile purse. There’s also a capsule collection of men’s wallets that feature exterior stitching in the delightful hue.

In their former incarnations, Lambertson Truex was known for its fabulous clutches; at Tiffany, their irreverent style is immediately evident in the evening bags. Aside from the standard shape Lyn clutches and their sister bags (note the Savoy clutch with its closure inspired by the six-prong Tiffany engagement ring setting), there’s also an adorable Bracelet bag fashioned in satin with a short beaded top handle meant to mimic a woman’s bracelet resting on the wrist. It comes in 25 gorgeous colors! For men, there is a duffel as well as a pretty straightforward black leather tote (don’t get me started on how incredible the ultra-rare tissue-thin croc oversized tote is!).

Good news: John and Richard are already hard at work on a resort collection.