Sometimes the perfect handle is all it takes to make a simple tote feel special. It’s the power of a detail, the potency of one great touch. And speaking of touches, it’s looking like Alexander Wang still has one with some magic to it. He’s easing into his big role at Balenciaga, and it’s clear that when it comes to their bags, he is changing their feel, making them cleaner as he infuses his sense of key detailing for emphatic punctuation.
But that’s about all he’s doing, at least so far. This is an undeniably lovely bag, and I’m all about the covetable snakeskin handle, but it’s so glaringly simple otherwise, I’m not doing backflips. Sure, it’s a good start and I like where it’s going. I would just like to see a little more going on that flaunts Wang’s creativity. While I appreciate the detail, it’s not enough to motivate me to buy a $2,000-plus bag. Balenciaga Padlock bag at MATCHESFASHION.COM for $2,395.
Pair with: A shoe that mimics, not mirrors, the genius handle is the way to go. Jimmy Choo’s Maiden pump comes in striking white with a contrasting black stiletto and a heel of rust-colored snakeskin. On Nordstrom for $750.
