One + one = a bag that’s cute and captivating, if not completely impractical. For Spring, Lagerfeld created a collection conceptualized by mathematical formulas, which he combined with retro quirk, but I’m not so sure this bag adds up.
Perforated orange leather with larger cutout circles on the contrasting shoulder strap is a major plus. But, alas, I’m not a fan the drawstring. Although, this is bag is half-drawstring, half-tote. The problem comes down to the convertible element: the shoulder strap is oddly attached to the drawstring pouch, giving it a neither-here-nor-there feel (is it a hobo? a tote? a bucket?). While it may sound like a good idea, the bag-within-a-bag is a tricky thing. When it comes to a tote, it helps to have your belongings protected with a drawstring-bag insert, but you miss out on convenience. Constantly opening and closing that drawstring is a pain in the butt, and if you leave it open, you then have too much fabric to deal with. An equation that would work for me: a version of this bag sans the overbearing lining, with a removable shoulder option that attaches to the actual tote. At Bergdorf Goodman for $2,340.
Pair with: If you’re going to do it, why not be hole-hearted about it? Fendi’s spring sandals, from the perforated jute stacked heel ($795) to the ankle-wrap flat ($540) to the strappy platform ($840), have all of the charm and none of the impracticality.
I salute Fendi for trying something different, but I hate the result. The weird fabric where the draw string is….the shoulder strap appears to be made of plastic….yuk!