Here at Dandelion Chandelier, our phones have been blowing up for the past week with communiques about the new spring-summer 2018 merchandise that is already available for purchase. Begone, bomb cyclone! Away with you, polar vortex! The sub-zero temperatures, howling winds and snow drifts of January cannot keep warmer temperatures at bay forever. And as always, fashion leads the way, giving us the first harbingers of spring just when we desperately need them. Just looking at the new accessory collections has totally lifted our moods this week – the bags alone have us whistling a happy tune. Here’s a quick overview of what we’ve seen and what we love so far.
The first thing to note is that the spring color palette for designer bags reflects the strong trends from last fall: you’ll find lots of pink, silvery grey, black and red. So if you love the idea of those colors, you’ll be very happy with the upcoming season. And if you still don’t own a pink handbag, now is the time to surrender and get one. The sense of romance, whimsy, and fun are all there this season, with an a stronger element of structure and more architectural silhouettes. That feels like the right balance for the times we’re in: it’s OK to have fun, but now more than ever, its important to stay grounded.
Prada
Anya Hindmarch: Leave it to the Brits to know how to welcome spring in style after a long dark winter. We love the new Bird-Embellished Mesh Tote Bag. It features two beaded feather parrots (one blue, one green) embroidered into a sweet vignette accented by pink and yellow 3D rosettes, arrayed on an otherwise clean and modern white leather and mesh tote. It also has an interior zip compartment to hold your sunnies and the keys to your convertible. Right now, it’s at the top of our list for spring: romantic, lush and extremely functional, this is a tote that will transport you immediately to a spring garden, a verdant tropical forest, or some other warm happy place. $1,250.
Chanel: Karl Lagerfeld continued the beautiful frosty silver and white palette of his previous “outer space” collection at Chanel with his spring-summer ’18 collection. Pastel pink, blue, teal and yellow join the mix this season. The collection’s statement accessories are transparent, ethereal, dreamy and modern. But there are plenty of tried-and-true classic ideas at work here, too, especially with the bags. The first shipment of Chanel’s Spring Act 1 accessories has already arrived at retail (although not yet on the brand’s website). If you’re interested, the “CC” wallet on a chain in lambskin chevron in black, grey or pink with gold hardware can be yours right now if you hurry to Bergdorfs. $2,700. There are lots of other lovely items in-store right now, too.
Burberry’s new Giant tote has just landed. The brand describes it as “our runway reversible tote, refreshed for a new year with flashes of neon.” Our favorite is the neon pink and black version in canvas check with leather handles. Available soon, for $1,995.
Gucci has announced the debut of its new Ophidia shoulder bag. Says the house: “First seen on the Cruise 2018 runway, the domed shape inspired by vintage designs features the Double G detail and the House Web stripe.” There are canvas versions for $1,390, and croc versions for $14,000. There’s also a rectangular model, which we like best. We’ve got the navy blue medium-sized one with the embroidered dragon on our wish list. If you’re going with Gucci, you might as well go all in, right? $2,600.
Valentino has just introduced its new CandyStud Top-Handle Bag in pink and red quilted Napa leather with gold Rockstuds. This particular color-way is a perfect match for the reds and pinks of last fall — it also comes in black. $2,895.00
Prada joins the party in pink with its structured top-handle Galleria Saffiano leather handbag. It has dark bronze hardware, and whimsical golden star and moon appliqués. This is the absolutely perfect bag for a spring evening out under the stars. It would make for a perfect Valentine’s Day gift – just sayin’. $2,710.
We love London-based JW Anderson’s white logo purse for spring; it features the brand’s iconic anchor in plated brass. It has a cross-body chain and a short leather strap, so it can be styled two ways. We’re feeling Martha’s Vineyard, the French Riviera, and the Hamptons just looking at it. $1,370.
Louis Vuitton is featuring bags in every shade of pink and red, from powder-puff to Bordeaux, alone and in combination with its signature logo. We love all of them for their mix of seriousness and fun. And an LV bag is always a great investment — they’re classic, and they last forever (you can trust us on that one). Have a look at the Bond Street Damier Ebène canvas bag in Magnolia, and you’ll see what we mean. $1,950.
Louis Vuitton
Finally, FENDI scores again with a Kan I leather shoulder bag that captures a spirit of romance, elegance, and beauty in white, taupe, berry and pink. It also comes in black, white and taupe. $3,650.
We’re also sharing photos of silver, white and pink bags we loved from Dior, Saint Laurent, and Givenchy. So pull your blanket a bit closer, and daydream about these. Spring is coming, we promise. And it’s going to be lovely.
