2008 Woodie Awards
Fashion Forward: Too much baggage
by Larissa Cruz
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Mosaic
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So when is a bag unnecessary?
Chanel's Paris Spring 2008 fashion show gave a perfect instance - little rectangular ankle bags attached to the models' lower legs. They looked like they were meant to hold alcohol monitors, the devices one must wear when charged with Driving Under the Influence. They could also be used for house-arrest leg tags, depending on which criminal act is committed.
These mini fanny-packs for your legs are simply in poor taste, and as far as I can recall, fanny-packs have never been cool.
When I used to think of Chanel, the words "timeless" and "stylish" came to mind. Its elegant yet simple interlocking "C" logo is recognized worldwide and I've always lusted over the sophisticated quilted purses. Now it's safe to say my opinion of the high-class fashion label has changed drastically.
Even major fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld dubbed these DUI leg tags as the "rehab bag." Promoting reckless behavior, as made famous by certain young celebrities, is the last thing I would expect Chanel to do.
It appears designers are willing to do anything these days in order to be different, and fashion is certainly evolving with the times. But is it for the better?
I can appreciate outlandish clothing in terms of being sensation-driven and controversial because high-couture fashion is an art form. Seeing runways full of extreme outfits that I will never wear or want to wear is appealing and entertaining, solely because it's creative.
Handbags aren't the same way. Although they provide room for imagination, they should mostly serve a functional purpose.
When designers start to overstep their creative boundaries with outrageous and even negative innovations, it makes even the biggest names in the business look desperate and silly. What's even more absurd is these creations run for thousands of dollars.
Mauro Orietti-Carella is another designer who has jumped on the expensive and ridiculous handbag bandwagon. This dermatologist-turned-designer injects the cosmetic drug Botox in to his alligator and python bags. This pricey treatment, which used to be for older, wealthier women not ready to give up their youthful beauty, makes the animal-skinned purses more supple and touchable.
When Botox-ing your face isn't enough, I suppose it's comforting to know you can give your beloved bag the same superficial love.
These overpriced purses are only a few examples of how far designers are willing to go these days. The bag is developing with the changing times. They're an accurate portrayal of our era's fashion industry, since they embody money, status, excessiveness and shocking and radical behavior.
So thank you, Chanel, for finally making DUI-inflicted alcohol monitors acceptable and cool.
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