The call of Chloe
When it comes to fashion accessories, shoes are my confidence boosters. Bags, on the other hand, play a more — how shall I say? — stable role in my life. Bags are like my steady gal pals. I can bring them anywhere, even to lunch, and not have to worry about chitchatting up a storm. Or like the perfect trophy boyfriend that hangs nicely from my arm and remains unfazed by all the attention it receives. They’re like stocks that make up my fashion portfolio: care for them nicely and they might just benefit you in the future. Which is why I don’t mind investing in bags. And which is why, when I buy, I tend to be very anal.
I’m a make-before-merit kind of girl, so I choose my totes based on what it’s all about, rather than who’s wearing it. Take Chloe, for instance. I think it’s very cool that Hollywood stars love the French brand’s bags. Their Paraty bag, a trapezoidal structure with subtle hardware details, is actually all TMZ-d out. Kate Hudson, Charlize Theron and Katie Holmes were all photographed carrying different colors of the medium-sized bag. Hollywood arm candy is important to some — and I don’t see why it shouldn’t be — but I would pay more attention to the fact that it looks sturdy yet, at the same time, buttery soft. And it matters that, even if it’s toting 10 pounds worth of makeup and mobile gadgetry, the Chloe Paraty doesn’t look it.
It also matters that Chloe has a pretty impressive design résumé. Three of my personal fashion heroes used to head creative operations in the French house. In 1966, it was Karl Lagerfeld, who brought the brand to top-tier status when his designs attracted the likes of Jackie Kennedy, Brigitte Bardot and Grace Kelly. Thirty years later, in 1997, it was Stella McCartney who reinvented the brand, giving it a more “romantic yet streetwise” feel. It was probably at Chloe where McCartney perfected her slouchy, low-riding fits. After that, Phoebe Philo, McCartney’s assistant and close friend, took over in 2001.
While McCartney was all about classic femininity, Philo introduced cheeky rock and roll styling. She was the one who created the Chloe Paddington bag, which became so popular that, at one point, people forgot that “IT” was a term that came out of Silicon Valley. This was the slouchy “It” bag that featured brassy hardware and a padlock the size of a hummingbird. Plus it all had these small pockets affixed to it — that was probably the first time anyone ever thought compartments were fab.
Now, its Philo’s former protégé, Hannah MacGibbon, who’s at the creative helm. MacGibbon’s vision for Chloe’s handbags retains the steel details but projects a cleaner, more streamlined design. Aside from the Paraty, there’s the Ethel, an official-looking bag tote that looks like it can breeze through the Copenhangen Climate Summit. Then you have the Heloise: a rectangular hobo bag with a braided strap and a capricious feel. (I just love how these designers choose the perfect names for their bags.)
When I look at these Chloe totes, I see usage that doesn’t require a time frame. I see bags that I can bring to the office, dump small shopping finds into at the mall, and, in vain moments, hang from my arm for friends to take notice. I tell you, these Chloes, they’re investment pieces. Definitely keepers.
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Chloe handbags are available in Adora, 2/L, Greenbelt 5.
