We love a new handbag, who doesn’t? Finding justification for why we need this incredible new bag and how we would pay for it. Ramen for dinner every night is absolutely worth it to save up for your dream clutch.
Not willing to give up basic essentials for a month — or two — just for a luxury bag? Yes, we are over that too. Luckily, high design does not need to come at an over-the-top price with designer Christian Siriano’s new handbag line.
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You may remember Siriano as the youngest winner of Project Runway, taking home the fashion gold and soon after, launching his first collection at New York Fashion Week in 2008.
The young designer is known for his fairytale whimsical designs seen on Taylor Swift and Rihanna. Gowns straight out of a modern day fairytale and ready-to-wear pieces tailored to perfection. Siriano is a part of the fashion design elite, inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in 2013, a major accomplishment for such a budding designer.
But let us not forget the incredible bags! Siriano has launched his first official handbag line, debuting in February 2016 on Farfetch, Bloomingdales and his own website. Similar to his clothing designs, Siriano creates and thinks with you in mind. Nothing too trendy, preventing you from carrying that carry-all into next season. Siriano once said in an interview with The Gloss, “I don’t pick trends to like or not. Overall, I think underdressing can be underwhelming. I think being a little more dressed up is a successful way to go.” We like his non-trendy way of thinking. Beyond a one and done trendy purse, Siriano wanted the line to be approachable for all women, “Bags aren’t something you really think about for women of different sizes, but I did,” he said. “Even if you see a bag that’s short, it always comes with a shoulder strap, because for any woman who’s over a size 12, it can be uncomfortable. My mom’s voluptuous, and that’s inspired by her, because I wanted her to be able to carry all these bags.”
The bags range from under $100 to $250 in soothing neutrals and pop-of-color versions you will adore. We are partial to the totes with the eye-catching elephant charm. All the bags are faux snake, leather and crocodile materials with the elephant charms an ode to animal activism. Siriano’s good friend and activist, Alicia Silverstone, “Turned me on to Year of the Elephant, which is about supporting non-poaching,” Siriano explained in an interview with Marie Claire. “Thousands of elephants are killed every year just for their ivory, so for every bag and charm sold, we’re donating to organizations working to end poaching.”
If your budget needs even more of a break, Siriano has also created a wallet-friendly line of shoes and bags with everything under $50. Available exclusively at Payless, the designs are nothing short of luxe looking. Fringe details and fun prints in clutch, crossbody and tote styles, with a high-end look and feel.
And if you wanted to learn more about why and how the fabulous bags are made, Siriano is giving fans a glimpse into the behind the scenes magic with Verizon’s #WhyNotWednesday campaign. The designer will be giving video tours of his design studio where viewers can see the master at his craft. “I think I’m most excited for fans to see my take on red carpet dressing. I love that we’re able to give cool tours of the studio, so fans can see where magic happens. This is something I haven’t really done before, so it feels really special and unique. People will get to see into my world a bit.”
