It all started with Gucci's infamous bamboo bags. There's something so whimsical about the structured handles that makes even a classic bag silhouette look unique. I actually came to Milan with a Tom Ford era Gucci bamboo leather tote in mind—a vintage reseller I follow had one in stock and I reached out to see if they'd be able to meet up since they're based in Milan.
But of course, they happened to be hosting a pop-up in a different city the exact week I was in Milan so of course me being a stubborn Taurus, I was determined to find a replacement.
It's impossible to deny that Tom Ford made a huge impact on all the brands he's worked with. To this day, vintage sellers everywhere still has his "eras" on their lips. The Tom Ford Gucci era was iconic. The Tom Ford YSL era was indisputable.
Although the infamous bamboo handle was created by Guccio Gucci long before Tom Ford took the helm, he made the structural handle his own by designing some of the most iconic bags with this feature.
"What bamboo is to Gucci, the horn is now to Saint Laurent." That was Tom Ford's thought when he created the Mombasa bag. It has been blowing up across social media and vintage markets for the past two years and is another famously uncomfortable bag to carry. What makes these perfectly impractical bags so desirable? That's a question I've been pondering over the last few days as I combed through shop to shop looking for one myself.
I loved this article published by Neverworns, an archival fashion publication I've been obsessed with. In the article, she so accurate describes:
"These hard handle bags are a ladylike moment. A truly elegant expression. It looks stellar to carry them unstuffed and unbothered without a care in the world by one’s side."
Is that what creates the allure around these bags? Anyone can see that they aren't crafted for practicality. So if not for function what other reason could there be than purely for form?
A week into my Milan trip, I stumbled across a small vintage shop near Parco Sempione called My Vintage Attire. Some how I missed this spot in my perusal of Google Maps but I took it as a sign from the Universe because low and behold the first bag I saw walking into the store was a Tom Ford era Jackie bag with a bamboo handle.
Besides the beautiful Jackie bag, this store had the best vintage curation I've seen in a long time. There was a stunning denim Mombasa that I nearly took home as well. 4 different Fendi oyster bags and a ton of other bags and other accessories that belong in a vintage collector's wet dream.
Needless to say, I am now the proud owner of this uncomfortable bag that doesn't carry much. So it's fashion: 1, Angel: 0. Although this was definitely a W in my books.
