Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Mansur Gavriel's Bucket Bag: The Most Popular Handbag in the World?

According to the following article, the answer is yes. I blogged about this coveted accessory some time back. I also spoke about this particular style of bag, and the fact that it's hotter than hot at the moment. I also poo pooed those styles designed without a sturdy, structured bottom (they tend to be heavier once you've added your stuff). While I actually hadn't been shopping for one, I ran across Steve Madden's "BGEMMA" at Burlington and was instantly smitten.

Not only do I love the color, but the inside bottom has a sturdy insert, which should help distribute the weight evenly.

In any case, here's more about the "it girl" and celebrity-approved Mansur Gavriel.




Unless you're an avid follower of fashion, you probably haven't heard of Mansur Gavriel.

 Founded in 2012, the New York-based label is the namesake of Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel. The duo, who both have design degrees, met at a The XX concert in 2010 and quickly discovered they shared a dream to develop a brand from the ground up.

"Both Floriana and I felt we couldn't find a beautiful, classic bag below the designer price point range," Rachel told The Telegraph in 2013. Thus their range of beautifully simple and practical leather bags was born, starting with their signature bucket bag - a roomy drawstring-fastened tote with a bold-coloured lining (black outer, red inner is the flagship combo) and an understated embossed 'Mansur Gavriel' in gold, which retails at £395.

A star was born; the bag quickly sold out everywhere it was stocked, becoming something of a elusive cult item - an impressive feat for a product without a major fashion house attached to it.


That was almost two years ago and demand for the bucket bag hasn't waned. Lyst.com - an online fashion aggregator and e-tail platform with more than 11,000 partner retailers and designers - has revealed that since the start of 2015, 56,732 customers have tried to purchase the bag through Lyst.

The demand is so high that for every one Mansur Gavriel bucket bag that becomes available on the site, 288 people try to buy it. That makes it nearly 30 times more popular than any other bucket bag on offer from Lyst's partner retailers and designers. .

Sienna Miller and Kirsten Dunst both have a Mansur Gavriel  bag.

But what makes its appeal so strong? The price is certainly something to do with it. In a market where a similarly-sized bag by Gucci will cost you upwards of £1,500, £395 is practically a steal for something that provides a similarly hefty amount of sartorial clout.

"When designing the collection we decided to emphasise cost in the quality of leather and craftsmanship, and minimise cost in areas such as lining and hardware. We simplified in order to accentuate quality and keep the price point manageable," explained Rachel.

The bucket bag in it's original and mini size.

Owing to its success, the winning bag is now available in a mini version and a rainbow of colours, and also in canvas form - alongside the brand's other bag offerings, which include an also-popular tote and backpack (one Refinery 29 writer tried to get her hands on the backpack earlier this month - it sold out within six minutes of being restocked on Mansur Gavriel's e-commerce site).

Of course, bigger brands have jumped on their coat tails, introducing their own similarly-styled bucket bags, but the thirst for the Mansur Gavriel design still appears insatiable. So if you want one, prepare for a fight. (Daily Telegraph UK)

Steve Madden's "BGEMMA" Bucket Tote in Citron.
(amazon.com has a few left, but I don't think in this color. dsw.com also has some.)






Vince Camuto Drawstring Bag
$129.99

Vince Camuto Drawstring
Bag, $129.99
(saksoff5th.com)

Carlos by Carlos Santana "Rebeca" Drawstring Bucket Bag, $98; macys.com
Dooney & Bourke "Siena" Drawstring Crossbody Bag, $228; dillards.com

Kenneth Cole New York Nevins Street
Drawstring Bucket Bag, $109.99

SUSU "Ava" Bucket Bag, $129.97
Nine West Angular Zipper Bucket Bag, $39.97
(nordstromrack.com)

Sole Society "Nevin" Drawstring Bucket Bag, $59.95; solesociety.com

Born "Humboldt" Drawstring Crossbody Bag, $170.99; 6pm.com
Banana Republic Drawstring Bucket
Crossbody Bag, $168;
Bananarepublic.gap.com

Free People "Bleeker" Bucket Bag, $68;
freepeople.com

SJP by Sarah Jessica Parker "Bleecker" Bucket Bag, $272.98
Patricia Nash "Evora" Bucket Bag, $199

Patricia Nash "Evora" Bucket Bag, $199 (nordstrom.com)

Deux Lux "Lucy" Bucket Bag, $95; shopbop.com

Unusual Engagement Rings

With the wedding season in full swing, I thought I'd share this unique assortment of stone-laden beauties. Whether one prefers to tap into their bohemian side with a ring fit for the wildest "flower child," or perhaps full-on glamour is the preference with a "chunk of a thing," packing a diamond-filled punch. There's something for every taste. I've added a resounding YES to all those which I favor.


Wild Posy Twist Diamond Ring, Alex Monroe

Caldera-cut Aquamarine Ring, Jessie Western


Yes!

18kt Yellow Gold, Diamond and Emerald Ring, Amrapali
Moment Rings, Alexandra Jefford

Rose Gold and Black Diamond Grand Tiara Ring, Anna Sheffield at Liberty London

Park Tourmaline Elongated Rosette, Anna Sheffield
Dusty Diamonds 18ct Rose Gold, Green Diamond and Olive Quartz Ring, Annoushka

Yes!


Diamond Triple Wrap Ring, Astley Clarke

Magnitude Plait Solitaire, Ayako Kanari
14kt Yellow Gold and Diamond Ishtar Star Ring, Bee Goddess at Harrods

Yes!

18kt Yellow Gold Oxidized Silver Carved Cushion-cut Ring Set with Black Mother of Pearl, Smoky Quartz and Diamonds, Armenta, Talisman Gallery

Heloise Aquamarine Ring, Cassandra Goad

Yes!
Twist Ring, Chopard

Yes!

White Gold Diamond Phalanx Ring, Delfina Delettrez

18kt White Gold and Diamond Serpent Boheme Toi & Moi Ring, Boucheron
Sapphire and Pink-gold Flat-coin Ring, Dina Kamal

Oui Ring, Dior

Délices D'ETé Pink Spinel Ring, Fabergé

Yes!
Pink Tourmaline Ring, Jessie Western
White Gold Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Kristina Charrington

Diamond and Peridot Bombe Ring, Kiki Mcdonough

Yes!

Luna Gems 18ct Yellow Gold and Blue Topaz Ring, Links of London
Pompadour 18-karat White Gold, Sapphire and Diamond Ring, Maison Martin Margiela Fine Jewelry

Fitrovia Bramble Cocktail Ring, Mappin & Webb

Yes!

18kt White Gold and Diamond Liz Ring, Messika at Selfridges

Yes!
Gold Diamond and Aquamarine Princess Cut Ring, Nick Armstrong at Liberty London 

18ct Gold Vermeil Maiya Ring in Rainbow Moonstone with Leopard Print Cut-out, Missoma

Crush 18k Diamond Ring, Niza Huang
18kt White Gold and Diamond Crystal Glacier Ring, NOA Fine Jewelry

Rose Quartz Ring, Omega

Sea Urchin Grande Ring, Patrick Mavros
Devotion Sapphire 13.01 cts Ring, Fabergé

Yes! Yes!

18kt Yellow Gold Uncut Grey Diamond Ring, Pippa Small

Gold Sapphire Ring, Ruth Tomlinson, Liberty London
Single Cherry Blossom Ring, Shaun Leane at Harrods

Gold Lemon Quartz Oval Ring, Suzanne Kahn, Liberty London

18kt White Gold and Diamond Planar Ring, Geoffrey's at Talisman Gallery
18kt Yellow Gold, Champagne Quartz and Caramel Diamond Aurora Ring, Shaun Leane at Selfridges

Yes!

Aquamarine Pavé Diamond Florabunda Ring, Theo Fennell

Yes!

Diamond Flower Ring, Tiffany & Co

18kt White Gold Spiked Diamond Ring, Yvonne Leon at Browns

Yes!

harpersbazaar.co.uk