In My Bag
The only baggage you should hold onto.
If asked what’s inside your bag, it’d probably be an array of personal essentials: phone, keys, wallet, headphones, lipgloss—you know the drill. But how does your bag itself stand out? Is it the logo displayed on the front? Is it the defined monogram printed all over? Maybe it’s the color—maybe it’s the shape? The purses we’ve familiarized ourselves with possess something so striking, eye-catching, and memorable.
Gen-Z is arguably one of the most nostalgic generations. This could be due to it being the last generation to live a childhood before social media, the world's most rapidly evolving and immersing enigma today. With access to countless photos, videos, and artifacts that have graced generations before, Gen Z can curate an entire fashion revolution based on archives of the past.
The Y2K resurgence has left its footprints on virtually every facet of fashion. The ever-iconic Dior Monogram Saddle Bag has debuted for round two, and it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere. Seen on the likes of Beyonce and Paris Hilton during its heyday in the early 2000s, the bag’s longevity is proven seamless by the It- Girls and elites of today, such as Rhianna and Kylie Jenner.
Who better worth mentioning than Fendi if we’re talking bags? The quintessential Baguette is making its rounds in the current trend cycle, celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary and Gen-Zifying the baguette this time. It’s not just any bag. Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw sealed this deal while getting mugged in an episode. “It’s not a bag, it’s a baguette”, Bradshaw famously exclaimed. If you wear your bag with pride like Bradshaw, you have the right to correct that thief who claimed your bag was just like any other. Releasing twenty-five re-editions this fall, Fendi is rebranding itself. What better way to celebrate the revival of an item so iconic than by using supermodel Linda Evangelista as the face of the campaign? Silvia Fendi, the artistic director of accessories, recognizes the power of the purse in a press release for the anniversary—“It was a special day when I designed this bag; the stars aligned. The horoscope said it was a Fendi day.”
Gen Z’s style revival has extended a helping hand to fashion houses like Prada and Balenciaga. Prada’s 2000s staple, the nylon bag, has been reused and recycled thanks to young Gen-Z fashion fanatics. The compact and chic size, plus the variety of color options certainly appeals to the crowd. Prada understood the assignment, releasing a re-edition a few years ago for a new generation of shoppers. Balenciaga’s City Bag has surely evolved. As a part of Balenciaga’s pre-fall 2021 collection, the Le Cagole bag made its debut. The bag has graced the closets of Gen Z’s sweethearts, worn often by celebrities Bella Hadid and Alexa Demie. Don’t you want one too?
The power of a bag doesn’t go unnoticed.
Yellow outfit by Kansai Yamamoto
Remember the Bushwick Birkin?
That’s Telfar, otherwise known as the bag for everyone. Telfar Clemens, a Liberian-American queer powerhouse, had no idea his name would forever be imprinted in fashion’s history. From starting the brand in 2005 to solidifying itself as a 2022 essential, Clemens has revolutionized the bag standard. It’s remarkable how one logo in a variety of different colored, boxed-shaped totes, can unify a collective of individuals.
The beauty of these bags? You don’t have to drop a bag to buy it. Ranging at a price point that’s under $300 is music to any fashionista on a budget’s ear. But don’t get too excited: make sure those post notifications are on if you want to get your hands on this beloved bag.
Not to bore you in this designer ditch— a bag doesn’t need to be stamped by a luxury fashion brand to be deemed stylish. The beauty of a bag comes from the beholder. You don’t need the double C’s to make a statement with your purse.
You know the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. This in fact applies to the curated archive in our closets and the carriers that lay in it. You don’t need to spend your entire paycheck on a bag you may not wear often. The best way to wear the bag of your dreams is to shop secondhand. You’ll never know what lies at your local thrift, and you may just find a gem that can carry the ones in your current bag. This is by far the best way to find something one of a kind; just like the person wearing it.
What’s in your Bag?
If you’re a New Yorker, you might be familiar with the bustle of Canal street’s counterfeit corners. If you’re unaware of this NYC phenomenon, Canal’s sidewalks are practically logomania central. The streets are adorned with Dupe Dior Saddle Bags, the Louis Vuitton Monogram shoulder bag, the YSL crossbody, Gucci galore, and much more. But are these bags any different from the authentic ones?
While yes, the quality is seamlessly better, the appeal and overall aesthetic remain the same for most luxury bags. And while dupes are significantly more affordable, the thirst to attain the real bag must be quenched for some.
Gen-Z has a funny way of creating slang, and the word ‘bag’ has plenty of other meanings in the Gen-Z thesaurus. For most, the word is associated with finances and the security that comes along with it. For others, it may be a sense of swagger or a sense of personal security. However, in this case, we’ll use both interchangeably.
The question remains, what’s in your bag? This time, your answer should omit the materials that inhabit it. Have you been chasing yours?
Despite whatever that looks like, people can tell the difference between an authentic bag and a dupe. It may not always be surface level, but someone is bound to check you on your inauthenticity. The best way to wear your confidence is by believing it. True self-sufficiency doesn’t happen overnight. It’ll take some styling, but remember, never undercompensate for your worth.
The funny thing about the counterfeit corners on Canal is that each seller will charge you a different price. And what’s funnier, is the fact that you can negotiate with each for an entirely different price point. The authentic bags are significantly higher in price. The bags are hundreds, maybe even thousands more, but it hasn’t stopped anyone from buying them, nor have the brands failed as a result of the expense.
The brands don’t discount the price. Why should you?
The minute you cheapen your energy is the moment you step away from your bag. If it’s your bag, no one can tell you how to remain in it. You just have to know your worth and wear it the same way you would a cute purse. Remember, you are not a knockoff; you are a luxury— the authentic one. Even if your bag isn’t on the outside, you should wear your internal bag with pride within.
Models: Shatiana Graham and Xiara Reyes
Photographer: Penelope Peralta
Stylist: Jacob Day
Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist, Beauty Director: Gillian Tokar
Videographer, Production and Set Director: Luna Abreia
Editor-in-Chief, Creative Director: Pilar Bradley
Photo Director, Creative Director: Kervens Jean
Fashion Director: Monica Robles
Managing Editor: Nova Krasner
Graphic Designer: Lesley Valdovinos
Writer: Pilar Bradley
