Seeing Red
Inspired and triggered by materfamilias recent “Polyvore on the floor” escapades featuring a new pair of spectator “wingtips” (warning: drooling may be a side effect of viewing these) teamed up with a gorgeous red doctor’s bag and some great menswear-inspired ensembles, and Karen’s description of her new red Lancel “L’Adjani” bag from Paris, une femme has been seeing gorgeous red bags everywhere!
As materfamilias mentions, a red bag can be surprisingly neutral itself, and a great way to add some color to more neutral ensembles. My preference: when the color is this strong and bright, keep the rest of the details simple.
kate spade “westbury dani hobo” now on sale $236.90.
Talbot’s Dome bag, $159.
(Love the shape of this and great price point!)
Belen Echandia python Clutch Me, $850.
(I’ve seen this one up close and it’s really cute and functional!)
Another Marc by Marc Jacobs, Classic Q Groovee Satchel, on sale for $329.90.
Prada Saffiano Lux Tote, $1495.
Tod’s D-Styling Bauletto Medio, $1445. (Almost more coral than red, but WOW, what a color!)
(Prada does some outstanding reds, from warm brick reds to cool-but-bright cranberries.)
The Empress of red bags, the Hemès Birkin, $12,783 from Luxury-Shops.com.
Do you have any red bags? Do you find them to be versatile?
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Red is a Neutral in My World. I have a red patent YSL Belle du Jour Clutch that is Killer xxx
I really enjoy my red leather Talbots tote. It’s not as luxe as your examples (ahh, love that clutch!), but it’s nice quality for the price I paid. I love red, and it can add a lot of pop to an otherwise plain ensemble.
The wildest I’ve ever gotten with bags was a forest green Coach and my aubergine LV. Both of which looked black much of the time. Not my strong point, pops of color and the like:).
Oh, man, a beautiful red purse is one of those things I would like to have before I shed this mortal coil. I always say “maybe next year”…. but you really pushed all my buttons here!
I have a dark red bucket bag that I love — since most of my coats are black, it really livens things up.
I just have to remember to get it out of the closet — I tend to get into the “bag I’m carrying” rut and forget about it.
Thanks for the nod, Pseu — you’re so influential that I always note a surprising bump in my stats when you mention me! And no wonder you wield some influence — you’ve pulled together some great bags here with your eye. To all your readers, I could only add: Try it, you’ll like it!
I have a red moc-croc Elliott Lucca frame satchel that I carried every day last winter. It has a kiss lock, and its cream-colored lining actually lets me see what’s inside! Why do so many bags have a boring black lining? They must be designed by men. No woman who needs to find her keys is going to make a bag that’s the functional equivalent of carrying a black hole on your shoulder.
SarahN—hear, hear! I have a big purse w/ a black lining and I know my reading glasses, car-keys go in and out of some alternate universe (where they probably hook up with the single socks and underpants that evaporate from my dryer).
I hate to introduce a sad note but the late Alexander MacQueen Loved red.
I don’t have a red bag, but wish I did. I’d like it to be that Prada Bowler, please.
Funny, I was just thinking of giving away my red handbag because it never gets used!
Fabulous red bags “Une” – what a great collection – love the Kate Spade and the Prada ones particularly…X
Not at red person, own nothing in the color. But I have considered a red bag. I’ve seen the Talbot’s bag you picture, it’s a lovely bag. Who knows, maybe I will own it one day if I decide red needs to be in my bag collection.
I´m a bit afraid of red. I don´t have anything really red-red. I like a certain shade of lilac, light powdered pink. I´m a `cool summer´and prefer reds only when they have a hint of blue in them.
Oh yes, I love my red RL satchel. Love to wear with all black and also with a crisp white shirt. Thanks for asking.
~janet
That Talbot’s bag is nice. I really cannot justify spending a lot of money on a bag. $200 is my top.
I have a bag that’s red tooled leather – actually deep maroon – and it’s very versatile. I would like a true red one someday.
I love red shoes, too.
No, I don’t have a red bag yet, but I have my eye on one — a Longchamps small plain bag at my local consignment store, if it’s still there.
The last time I was in New York, I went by Hermes to check out the Constance bag, which is a messenger-type bag with a little sportier line than the others, and the one they showed me was a gorgeous, gorgeous red — close to oxblood in color. Too bad it cost $8,000.
I totally agree that red in a bag is a neutral. Red shoes, not so much, thanks in part to Sarah Palin!
My assistant stylist has the marc by marc jacobs cross body bag and it is gorgeous x
Dadgummit, those Prada bags stand out.
And of course the Birkin. My friend Iris, who can actually afford one without blinking, eschews them! She says “I’d just look like another rich broad.” (She likes Loewe and Delvaux.)
That talbots bag is nice!
Faux Fuschia – your clutch sounds fabulous! YSL makes some gorgeous bags.
Nancy – Talbot’s seems to do nice bags for the price point. I’ve had a couple in the past and the leather held up well.
LPC – both of those are great neutrals too. LOVE that LV aubergine.
Katriona – which one strikes your fancy?
Rubiatonta – I love a red bag with black and white ensembles. A red bucket bag sounds great!
Marsi – I’m partial to that one myself…;-)
Sal – I have one that I never use either, but that’s more because it’s too small and structured.
materfamilias – your red bag is still one of my favorites.
metscan – reds do stand out, that’s for sure.
SarahN – your bags sounds great; LOVE kiss locks and light colored linings!
Faux Fuschia – yes I read that a few hours after I’d put the post up. So I’ll consider it an inadvertent tribute to him.
Sisty – Longchamp makes some nice reds too. I can’t bring myself to even consider Hermès bag prices, even if I saved up.
Semi Expat – thanks! I enjoyed hunting down these red bags.
Lulu – Good to know the Talbot’s bag is nice; hadn’t seen it in person yet. Maybe red isn’t for you. What about another color?
gardeners cottage – yes, black white and red is a stunning combo!
g – your maroon bag sounds very pretty.
make do style – isn’t it a great bag though? One of his better ones.
Duchesse – yes those red Prada bags really are fantastic. I’m not a Birkin gal either, don’t think they’re as functional as they should be for that price.
Bonjour Madame – I’m hoping one of the Talbot’s stores around here gets that bag in stock; I’d really like to see it up close.
What lovely choices! I’m taking out a loan immediately to buy the Hermes!
Back in the real world, I love that Kate Spade number, and the Talbot’s is very handsome, too.
Red is strangely neutral: it goes with an amazing array of colors. When I was 16, my roommate amazed me by purchasing a pair of scarlet red flats (my mother restricted my shoe purchases to white, beige, brown, and black). When I asked her what she thought it would go with, she said “everything.”
She was right!