Snob Essentials

Leighton Meester in Valentino’s Couture Braided Tote

leighton in valentino.jpg

Did Granny accidentally get her handbag mixed-up with Blair Waldorf’s!? I mean the Valentino Couture Braided Tote (originally $1,950 now $878) is a perfectly fine bag, especially for around $900, but not for someone in Blair’s age-range (even if her character has a conservative style). I like the twisted top-handle (though I can think of a number of Miu Miu bags that incorporate that type of handle with better results), and I like the under-stated zips. The front braiding however looks a bit cheap and over-all the bag is missing some spice. I actually think if the tote was half the size and constructed to be an evening bag it would look a lot better.

What do you think about the Couture Braided Tote? Snob or Slob?

DO YOU LOVE IT OR HATE IT?

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8 comments

  1. Even if the braiding continued down the side of the bag would make it look better. Even at that price this bag just doesn’t do it for me.

  2. I have this big and do love it. Not for Blair Waldorf but as a woman in my 30s I find it really versatile, works with suit and with jeans and a jacket.

  3. this is the second gossip girl article that sharon has found the bag to be too old for a girl in her 20’s. i love it, and im in my 20s…

    i think it looks a lot better in the leather than the vinyl looking monstrosity shown in the shot with blair. softer sheen keeps it from looking cheap and a lot of the “patent” from valentino is really just plasticized fabric.

  4. I Love it! I just got the Draped Rose Purse by Mr. V and it’s been competing with my YSL addiction. I want the Rose Vertigo in that rich green color… but i might start collecting valentino red bags just because…

    And the price! where can i get this? I hope they have other colors aside from black though…

  5. If Blair Waldorf can afford it, why not? You see many young Disney channel celebrities carrying purses that I would consider too classy for them considering their profession, but in the end I suppose it just depends on whether you can afford the purse. A high class prostitute could probably afford this Valentino purse. Having this purse doesn’t contribute anything to her character though. I think that your 800 dollars could best be used for charity, and the rest can be used to purchase a “cheaper” version of this purse, which you could probably find ANYWHERE.

  6. I think undermining a brand and supporting sweat shops with deplorable conditions is kinda counterproductive to donating the 800 to charity. Most high quality brands have highly trained craftsmen (i.e. Hermes) that buying their goods supports not only the craftsmen but their entire profession, and knockoffs just supports illegal activity and horrid manufacturing techniques.

    And sure a high class prostitute could afford it, but as the bag snobs have proven with pictures of Pamela Anderson carrying a Birkin: Bags, nor money, are the sole necessity for style and class.