Bottega Veneta Large Hobo Bag: You’ve Really Got a Hold On Me

Even though it’s no secret Bottega is my favorite brand, I still really try to avoid being all, “Bottega this” and “Bottega that.” But bags like this make it so hard! Please just look at this hobo and tell me how it is not just earth-shatteringly amazing?

One might think they would have run out of ideas by now, but their ability to reinvent that weave and conceive new details for those seams is nothing short of genius. Yet again, they have presented us with a simple yet obsession-inspiring hobo with every bit of functionality you need (albeit on the heavy side, but I prefer more Bottega to less, anyway). The shape is a loose trapezoid, which holds your interest and your stuff. In rust, you get the vibrancy you want but the subdued shade you need come fall. The seams have been meticulously razored and turned loose for a neat yet wild look, like sharp little petals opening up all around the bag. Giving the handle the same fringe is a necessary touch – it completes the mood, while a plain handle would be unbalanced and peculiarly plain.

And as for the cost? It’s really about perspective. Yes, it is pricy, but you are getting a timeless treasure with the kind of workmanship that might not exist in twenty years. Compared to other bags in this range…well, there really is no comparison. At Saks Fifth Avenue for $3,250.

Pair with: Add interest to the palette with Maison Martin Margiela’s mohair-blend cardigan, a sheer knit mix of black and bordeaux. On Ssense for $525.