I loved Gilles Mendel’s bags from the very start. I spotted J. Mendel’s first-ever collection on the runway and after the show, immediately dashed backstage for a close inspection (naturally, it didn’t disappoint). Trust my love isn’t waning now.
The shape of the Minuit minaudière isn’t new, but for Spring 2014 – a collection that brought a sense of casual cocktail ease to ready-to-wear – it comes in deep-blue python, a shade that reminds me of ocean water tinted by the clear late-night sky. Mendel is a man after my own heart.
This is a silhouette that leans towards novelty, yet it doesn’t have that “odd clutch” stigma. With nothing off or kitschy about it, it possesses a totally vintage feel, thanks to the nuanced angles and the delicacy of the sharp handle. Speaking of which, giving us the option to turn the frame into a handle is genius. Courtesy of innovative design, you can clutch it when you feel like it, and then have a pretty little handle when you don’t, no swingy chain-straps required. J. Mendel Minuit Minaudière at Barneys New York for $2,200.
Pair with: Use your toes to give a nod to your bag’s midnight hue, without getting all crazy-coordinated. Just a dash of painterly color on Miu Miu’s pointy white pumps is the right amount. On NET-A-PORTER for $675.
