Rochas Creative Director, Marco Zanini, wanted to take his fans on a “journey through a vortex of cinema” this spring. He was daydreaming about the elegant drama of Hitchcock suspense flicks, the kookiness of Tim Burton fantasies, and the colorful quirkiness of John Waters visions. I would be skeptical to think a single bag could sum up that litany of references, but this tote has got it all.
My favorite touch: ingenious closure on a classic open tote. The zigzagging, scalloped leather on one side introduces a sense of sophisticated whimsy (Kim Novak meets Helena Bonham Carter, perhaps?), so when the lock isn’t being used, you still have an eye-catching embellishment. Perfectly subtle yet highly dramatic. Besides, the closure is a hassle, although it’s not meant to be locked and undone every time you go in your bag. Use it only as needed. The details may be discreet, but the color is on fire, literally. Yet it’s muted enough for easy wear. This is the perfect hot shade for the current season that can also transition to fall without faltering.
Then there’s the touch that makes it irresistible: this bag winks at you with a cute, little heart detail on the base of handle. Maybe this movie is a romance, after all. At Neiman Marcus
Pair with: J.Crew has also brought some whimsy this season. Their cotton dress has magnified eyelet-embellishments and a baby-doll swing to it for a sense of fun that invites a spring fling. On Net-a-Porter
