A STYLISH FRAUD

Some people claim to be interested in fashion and style. Among them Mary-Kate Olsen is a fraud. Writing a piece about her favorite bag for the New York Times she blabbers about one of the most eminent creations of Modern Fashion Design History... Her inability to explain why the 2.55 is her favorite is striking. for someone claiming to study fashion at University, she doesn't seem to be aware that this bag represents more than being a beautiful item.Source:http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/25/style/tmagazine/25ttimeless.html?_r=4&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

The 2.55 quilted bag designed by Gabrielle Chanel on February 1955 - hence the name - deserves better than a little "piece" by an overly mediatised Mary Kate Olsen who certainly can afford fashion but - like many rich brats - doesn't quite get why the bag is beyond simply being a bag. Gabrielle Chanel made several breakthrough in women's fashion history, a modern woman who really understood her times. Women had taken a lot of responsibilities during WW1 and WW2 when men were away and had become more emancipated. Values shifted and the more practical view on dressing suited them.

When Coco Chanel instaured black as a color, and not a colour to wear only in mourning, women plebscited it. Bags were usually with short handles for the upper class. Only messenger bags , which were bags for workers, had shoulder straps. Chanel was inspired by its practicality and she feminized it with double chain/ leather shoulder straps so women's hand would be free. It became a huge success, corresponding to a real demand of practicality and aethetics alltogether. Aside from being the first shoulder strap bag, the quilted material was inpsired by her Suede Sofa's pillows and, being truly original, required real craftmanship.

Although now declined in different sizes and with a different clasp, the original 2.55 - described by MK Olsen as her favorite - was perfect in size since it was discreet enough to be worn under the arm but big enough to put the necessary items of a busy modern woman. When Mk Olsen mentions the many sizes of the featured bag she owns, I suppose she refers to the 2005 edition of the quilted bag, revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and with a new turning clasp instead of the CC logo. I don't think she even noticed the difference with her "Designer's Eyes" and her ugly shades.

So, what to expect next from NY Times? A piece about Birkin by Hermes from Victoria Beckham? I hope not, I do not care to know that she can put her oversize shades in it!