Thursday 16 September 2010

The Material Boy #415


Below: Reed Krakoff, my newly discovered fashion adoration for this year... check out his new shoes and bags for Fall Winter 2010. I especially am lusting over his Boxer totes...


Below: The Boxer tote is a perfect sythesis of function and desirability... tough but luxe in appeal, with many compartments to get you organised... This croc and flannel version is TDF! (US$6900)



Below: Ostrich is equally alluring!





Reed Krakoff Fall Winter 2010 'Boxer' Totes

I have not had such excitement about new brand this year debut until I saw Reed Krakoff's creations for Fall Winter 2010. If you do not know who Reed Krakoff is, then perhaps the word 'Coach' will ring a bell? Yes, Reed Krakoff is the creative director of the American brand, Coach... having successfully turned a sleepy 500 million company into a 3 billion mega brand. I was never a huge fan of Coach, but what I see in the Coach stores these days and those featured on magazines are highly commendable.

However, Reed Krakoff's strength in design and his exceptionally heightened aesthetics are only fully demonstrated thru his own namesake label. Started just this season for Fall Winter 2010, Reed Krakoff's creations are imbued with inspirations of 20th century modern art, architecture where function/industrialism are juxtaposed with femininity and individualism. It's an interplay of opposites. Tough vs. soft. Cool vs sensual and feminine. His selection of models for his runway presentation also celebrates diverse looks and hence included girls of all types to avoid stereotyping a particular type that fits his clothes.


Below: Reed Krakoff Fall Winter 2010 womens collection...





Below: Love this pair of fur trimmed sandal heels... one of the best I have seen this year (If only I am a girl...) Pic from Garance Doré



Below: Net-a-porter interviews Reed Krakoff as he talks about his new brand and inspirations...



Fur, vintage military, leather are abundant in his Fall Winter 2010 collection. I love all his shoes, which the pair of fur trimmed sandals stole my heart away. I would wear that in a heartbeat if I am a girl! However, what I am really lusting now is his bag designs in the form of the highly functional Boxer totes. Crafted in many different materials including crocodile skin, felt, grained leather and suede, these androgynous bags definitely go the way of gender bender. The belted detail is inspired by wraps that boxers put on their wrist, bounding and cinching the bag. I am in love with the tri-material crocodile, calf and flannel version, but the price tag of US$6900 makes it both a knock out in drool worthiness, but also on bank accounts.

Thankfully the grained leather option is equally attractive and attainable (Net-a-porter stocks the graphite grey version for £1202.04), which leaves me contemplating getting that instead of Céline's leather cabas. It's a tough decision to make, as I love both.

Below: I will gladly settle for this grained leather version in grey any day... is Céline out for my next bag acquisition?


Below: Love the user friendly back pocket, which makes retrieving frequently used items a breeze...


Below: With 3 internal compartments, including the middle zipped pocket, there is no excuse not to get organised...


With 3 compartments (a zipped pocket in the middle) and a back pocket, you can be sure, this bag takes you places in terms of getting organised in the office or out about shopping in town. (The back pocket is crucial for user friendly bags! Ease of storing frequently used items is a must!)

The boxer tote comes in 2 sizes, measuring width of 16" for Boxer II and 14.8" (for the more petite) Boxer I.

I have newly discovered admiration for Reed Krakoff. Hope the brand wins the hearts of luxury brand fans who appreciates intellectual fashion without the brashness of big brands. Another great designer to join the minimalist designer's brigade! (The brand opened its Tokyo store recently and was featured in latest issues of Vogue Nippon prominently.)

Source: Net-a-porter, Reed Krakoff, Style

8 comments:

Shane B said...

That's what a "men's birkin" should look like~ it's great bag but I'd like to see a bit more originality

shoptoomuch said...

Colette also has a version of the Boxer I in Tan with an orange wrap... decisions, decisions!!

Kevin @ myMANybags said...

I think it does not exactly looked like a birkin. It is an open top tote so the format is already different. But the feel of it, is inline with the birkin style of bags. More understated and luxurious.

oh fudge said...

the bag looks too busy. they should've done away with the cinching straps.

Kevin @ myMANybags said...

But I love those straps...makes for an interesting utilarian accent.

freshmess said...

Love the one in camel, but I'd like the option of being able to remove the cinching straps.

Kevin @ myMANybags said...

From looks of it, it seems the strap should be removable. But without the strap, the bag will lack personality...:-P

Have you guys notice that this kind of belting is seen in abundance for gals and now Michael Kors have something like that for his mens collection for SS2011...

Food for thought...

brieuc75 said...

the bag is in the window of Colette! really beautiful!!