Are you loving the year of the IT bag yet? I know I am! I love the resurgence of classic IT bags such as the Coach Swinger, and the Chloe Marcie. It’s also fun to see all the current modern IT bags from Bottega Venetta, Givenchy, and more. Also, have you seen the Prada Cleo yet? This bag took inspiration from Prada’s IT bag line-up in the 1990s and added a modern twist in order to become the ultimate IT bag for 2021. Check out my review here.
OK, let’s get to the IT list! There are three, piping hot handbags right now; this cute little basket bag from Loewe, the Coach Swinger which is reasonably priced under $300, and the destined to be classic Antigona Soft by Givenchy. Have you snapped one up yet?
Combat boots are proving to be the hottest shoe style of the moment. They were hotter than hot during the fall and winter seasons. Now, the style is showing it will carry well into spring. You can pair them with jeans and a tee as the weather warms up, and throw your new basket bag on your arm for a little spring flair. Love!
Too cold to wear anything spring? No problem! Spring nail polish is the top selling item right now, and it’s not a surprise. This fabulous spring hue from Chanel sparkles, and it offers a fun, cheery color for the warm weather season. It also brightens up a cold and dreary, winter day. Are your nails saying “spring!” yet?
Bracelets stacks are back, and these gemstone bracelets from a local designer are hot. At $25 each, you can buy more than one and create a fabulous stack. Or, you can grab one and enhance a current stack from your jewelry box. Either way, the price is right to indulge.
These distressed jeans are priced right, fit well, and offer a great everyday look. I love my pair! Snap up a pair before they are gone!
Shop the BAF Weekly IT List online:
What is your favorite items from the weekly IT list?
Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO
Cathy
Pictured: Bracelet stack and IT bag from this week’s IT list (original post here)
You might be looking at the title of this post and asking, what in the world??? Yes, I said the same thing when I heard that New York Fashion Week, or should I say the CFDA, had renamed their calendar to the “American Collections Calendar.” Since many designers who show at New York Fashion Week actually come from various parts of the United States, the CFDA decided to rebrand the agenda and name the schedule of runway shows/presentations the “American Collections Calendar.” After all, designers no longer show all together, in one compact week. They show before and after the designated week; and then they trickle into the following month. This makes the schedule less of a week, and more of a season.
I have mixed feelings about the new name. The name “New York Fashion Week” doesn’t need to be literal. It has a historical vibe, and blends well with the other fashion runway events around the world; most of which use the (city name + fashion week) formula. It appears, for now, the event is still referred to as New York Fashion Week, but the schedule has taken a name change to be more inclusive to designers from throughout the United States, as well as those who show outside the traditional NYFW dates.
The American Collections Calendar shows designer shows scheduled February 2, 2021 through April 15, 2021. The bulk of the shows, which would traditionally be referred to as part of New York Fashion Week, will occur on February 15, 2021 through February 17, 2021. Since the shows are predominantly virtual this season, they have been consolidated into three days instead of the usual six or seven day calendar. That being said, there are a handful of shows a few days before and after those three, jam-packed days.
The fall/winter 2021 collections will be shown mostly virtually again this season, with the hopes of returning to more of an in-person, normal event in September 2021. This means the shows will, once again, be more accessible to fashion fans everywhere since they can be viewed online. Although many designers are sending out invitations for their virtual runway shows, the shows can still be viewed Runway360. You can watch along with me again this year! Love that!
I will do my best to cover the virtual events this season, and bring you the best trends from the runways, and the fall/winter 2021 color trends, to look forward to in the autumn season. You can join me on Instagram for my runway stories, and also read about the runways here on the blog at the end of the week. Enjoy the American Collections Calendar!
The Prada Cleo is here! While not as hard to get as some other IT bags in recent years, the Prada Cleo does require a bit of searching, and a lot of patience, to obtain.
It took about one month for me to get my hands on my Prada Cleo. I initially ordered one in white, but after two weeks, the retailer cancelled my order stating they miscalculated stock levels. <sigh> Back to the web searches! I finally found one in the larger size, in black. While I initially wanted one in white, the cancellation made me rethink my choice, and I decided to go for a more 1990s color; black. After all, the Prada Cleo is inspired by Prada’s famous IT bags of the 1990s; and I am here for it!
If you lived through the 1990s like I did, you may remember it wasn’t patent leather we saw all over the place, it was abrasivato finishes, and spazzolato finishes, which dominated the streets. Patent leather was a bit too shiny. The 1990s were all about high gloss leather, without crossing into patent territory. Patent leather had it’s moment in the 1980s, so it had an old fashion vibe during the minimalist 1990s. Patent was thought of as a bit too flashy, but high gloss leather, THAT was modern and chic. Loved it!
Another trait of handbags in the 1990s was simple, black, and chic. It was all about bags with no fuss. We wore nylon totes, nylon shoulder bags, simple hobos, and simple top handle bags. The big brands were Prada, Kate Spade, Coach, and anything Gucci or Chanel. Shoulder straps were high and tight. We wore our bags under our arm pits, safe and snug. If they had a top handle, they were worn by hand. Carrying your bag on your forearm was an early 2000s thing; not in the 1990s, you would never carry your bag like that!
Since I was a young adult, just starting out, I could not afford the beautiful nylon and spazzolato finish bags Prada designed. They were the IT bags of the moment, but my budget was found on the clearance table in the back. I had a similar bag to the Prada Cleo, which had a strap that used to break all the time. Since I knew shoe repair, I was able to maintain my clearance table bag during the 1990s. Thankfully I had splurged on a Kate Spade nylon tote for work, so I wasn’t always a hot mess with my bag. haha
Now, let’s talk more about the Prada Cleo! This beautiful bag takes inspiration from Prada’s 1990s archives. It has a hobo silhouette with structured, spazzolato leather. The high gloss is very 1990s. The bag fits under the arm without violating the armpit. That’s a huge plus. Armpit bags really aren’t that comfortable, and they slip off your shoulder. The Prada Cleo sits nicely, and stays put, on the shoulder. That’s everything!
The lining of the bag is exactly as I remember it in the 1990s. I love the thick, fabric lining which has the signature Prada logo print. It’s sturdy and easy to clean; perfect for handbag lining. There is also one pocket inside. It does not zip, so it’s more of a phone pocket. It’s not ideal for loose coins. I prefer to use it for receipts or paper notes.
The Prada Cleo is lightweight, and fits all my purse essentials. There is still room inside for my sunglasses, and few snacks for my kids, as well as hand sanitizer, and a spare mask. The bag also has been good at keeping it’s shape when filled my things. This is important since the Prada Cleo isn’t your typical hobo shape; it has a modern twist.
Did you notice the back of the Prada Cleo is longer that the front? This gives the bag a three-dimensional vibe which is geometric and modern. It definitely elevates the Prada Cleo from a 1990s clone, to a 2021 IT bag. Love that!
Since the Prada Cleo sits snugly under the arm, it is pretty safe from pickpockets. That being said, there is a nice magnetic closure to keep the bag closed. I have never had anything fall out of the bag. It’s pretty secure.
The Prada Cleo is a great everyday bag. It’s simple and chic. It pairs well with casual denim looks as well as dressy outfits with skirts and dresses. The simple yet modern silhouette also lends well to staying power. This bag won’t be easily dated as time goes on. I can see it being worn for several years. That being said, the spazzolato finish is not as sturdy as pebble leather, so don’t lay it down on concrete or throw it around; you’ll scratch it. Treat it nicely, and your Cleo should last for many years, and keep it’s nice, high gloss finish as scratch-free as possible.
Shop the Prada Cleo online:
Don’t worry if the Prada Cleo you want is sold out. You can pre-order one here! There are also three different sizes to choose from. The small size has a flap closure, the medium and large look like mine. I purchased the large which isn’t much bigger than the medium; it’s a slight difference which I wanted since my kids always give me things to hold. haha
What do you think of the Prada Cleo? Do you love it? It’s the hottest IT bag of 2021, so when you get your hands on one, snap it up!
Thanks for stopping by!
XOXO
Cathy
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