My other BB
A bag with Brigitte Bardot all over it.
There are but a few women who have reached cult status in the 21st century. Beyond mere celebrity, these women transcend time and trends to become the icons that we revere for ages to come. Such an icon is Brigitte Bardot, whose name has become synonymous with the innocent sensuality that she exuded during her 21 years in show business. Her careless and carefree manner toward life and love transfixed the world and made it putty in her hands.
A symbol of elegant irreverence for society’s rules, Bardot or BB, as she is fondly known, popularized the bikini, the Bardot neckline that features bare shoulders and a chest-skimming scoop, tousled and unbound hair, and the pink gingham that she wore to her wedding of second husband Jacques Charrier. It’s these influences that inspired Lancel, the leather goods brand that was popular during the ‘90s yet has taken the backseat in recent years, to collaborate with the icon to develop the limited-edition BB bag.
The bag aims to be a reflection of the facets that endear Bardot to her public. Its wide mouth resembles the deep necklines she favors, while the rope detailing hints at a cinched silhouette, much like the one BB flaunted in her youth. The rounded bottom of the bag calls to mind the curves that plagued many a boyhood dream. The infamous pink gingham that is used as the inner lining serves almost as a private joke or secret that its owner shares with the siren. The air of youthful cheekiness that BB wears so well is not lost on her namesake, which maintains a decidedly casual style. Even Bardot’s advocacies were given consideration. As she is a staunch animal rights activist, the bags are produced in synthetic suede and tweed, despite the brand being primarily a leather goods house.
Indeed, the paradoxes that lay with Bardot collaborating with a self-proclaimed luxury brand make the collaboration that much more interesting. BB has made no secret of her feelings, proclaiming “I absolutely loathe luxury. It is the one thing I cannot stand.” This abhorrence, coupled with Lancel’s penchant for and rich history based on leather, paints an odd coupling to say the least. However, it is not the differences that the brand wishes to highlight, but rather the commonalities. Bardot is the epitome of the French légèrté, that elusively carefree frivolity that has been encapsulated in a flip of the hair, a heated glance, a sly smile or girlish pout, and now a stylish bag.
Lancel is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Riviera Luxury Retailers Corporation. Visit the store in Shangri-La Plaza mall or call 631-9775 for more information. – Article courtesy of Manila Bulletin
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