London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Aug 29, 2025

The 'It' Bag Is Back

The 'It' Bag Is Back

The only piece you need to own for the fashion Renaissance.

What will we wear when we make our much-anticipated return to society? It’s a question that’s occupied our minds ever since we first began entertaining visions of a post-pandemic world. For the past year, our office blazers and party heels have given way to cozy-sometimes chic, and, er, sometimes not-sweatsuits and slip-on sandals.

And our handbags? The beloved carryalls that once saw us through days of business lunches and dinner dates have had no place in a world of virtual happy hours and dressed-up dinners at home. These steadfast companions have been relegated to the backs of our wardrobes for far too long. Of course, that’s all about to change: as vaccinations roll out and the light at the end of the tunnel shines a bit brighter, we have started to come out of our shelters, purses in tow.



If you have any doubts about which style to sling over your shoulder for your grand reemergence, look no further than Balmain’s soigné 1945 collection. Dreamt up by creative director Olivier Rousteing, the grouping of soft-leather and jacquard handbags was named after the joyous post-war year that the now legendary couturier Pierre Balmain opened his eponymous maison de mode in the heart of the City of Lights. The years after the Liberation of Paris are remembered as a period of new beginnings and a creative (and, bîen sur, sartorial) renaissance-not unlike what we’re experiencing today.



As for what makes a 1945 one bag-nay, the bag-to have and to hold as we flit around town (be it the Paname, Manhattan, or anywhere in between)? To begin, with a plethora of shapes and sizes to choose from, there’s a pitch-perfect option for everyone. Take your pick: detachable burnished gold chains for wearing over-the-shoulder, arrive in petit, moyen, and grand, as do magnetic closed-pouches. For those who prefer not to be weighed down, an elongated wallet made for life on the go comes complete with discrete interior card slots. The spacious tote-toss in your supplies for a picnic in the park, or even an overnight getaway-can be worn in not one but three ways.



The eye-catching jacquard pattern is sure to cause nothing short of love at first sight. First appearing on a number of ready-to-wear pieces and accessories back in the 1970s, the bold, maze-like motif’s abstract Ps and Bs (a nod to Pierre Balmain, as well as Paris itself) reflect the late designer’s passion for the labyrinthine gardens of France’s Renaissance estates-and is evidence that the pattern can stand the test of time.
Plus, the styling opportunities are seemingly limitless. “This bag is endlessly versatile,” says stylist and fashion director, Cassie Anderson, who paired the 1945 with Balmain’s Spring 2021 bold shouldered tops, striking monogrammed suiting, and sparkling midi-skirts, as seen here on model Izzy Wild. Adds Anderson, “It’s perfect for adding a little polish to an outfit for running errands or going out.” In other words, no matter how you wear it, with the 1945 by your side, life can once again be effortlessly elegant.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Bruce Willis Relocated Due to Advanced Dementia
French and Korean Nuclear Majors Clash As EU Launches Foreign Subsidy Probe
EU Stands Firm on Digital Rules as Trump Warns of Retaliation
Getting Ready for the 3rd Time in Its History, Germany Approves Voluntary Military Service for Teenagers
Argentine President Javier Milei Evacuated After Stones Thrown During Campaign Event
Denmark Confronts U.S. Diplomat Over Covert Trump-Linked Influence in Greenland
Starmer Should Back Away from ECHR, Says Jack Straw
Trump Demands RICO Charges Against George Soros and Son for Funding Violent Protests
Taylor Swift Announces Engagement to NFL Star Travis Kelce
France May Need IMF Bailout, Warns Finance Minister
Chinese AI Chipmaker Cambricon Posts Record Profit as Beijing Pushes Pivot from Nvidia
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
Ukraine Finally Allows Young Men Aged Eighteen to Twenty-Two to Leave the Country
The Porn Remains, Privacy Disappears: How Britain Broke the Internet in Ten Days
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Welcome to The Definition of Insanity: Germany Edition
Just a reminder, this is Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris.
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
×