Balmain Amanda Smooth Leather Shoulder Bag: Balmain Goes Bull-Headed

When it comes to Balmain’s bags, the designs are a mixed, well, bag. Some, like the Award clutch, are clear winners boasting equal parts approachability and severe edge, and others, are dire, overpriced repeats of bags by other designers. I’m happy to report that the Amanda falls into the agreeable first category!

This slouchy, not sloppy, shoulder bag is of the breed you’ll want to carry each and every day, again and again. It’s as stylishly charged as it is wearable. Perfectly imperfect folds of pebbly lambskin leather make it inviting to tuck under the arm, while internal pockets keep small necessities organized. But all of that leather would fail to pop without Balmain’s new signature hardware. Touches of buckled brass are distressed for a vintage effect, and look more closely to notice the bull’s head pendants – just in case you forgot for a moment that Balmain is for the strong-willed woman. On Luisa Via Roma for $2,377.

Pair with: Go for cutting-edge casual and trade in your ripped jeans for a minimal, though seriously slashed, denim mini. Acne’s Finest Trash skirt nails Balmain’s bad-girl-meets-chic aesthetic. On ShopBop for $390.