What’s the opposite of quiet luxury? Some stars are adopting the answer literally as of late, trading in their Birkins and Margauxs for ironic totes and takeout bags.
Just because our everyday bags are destined for a life of mess doesn’t mean that they have to be boring. In fact, that’s where we can let personality shine through. Just last week, Jennifer Lawrence strolled through Beverly Hills with a Cheesecake Factory bag in hand. Trading in her Loewe Puzzle for a plastic takeaway probably wasn’t intended to be a fashion statement on Lawrence’s part, but there is something to be said about a chic celebrity toting a bag from an accessible restaurant in place of an expensive, sought-after purse.
While arriving to his show in Philadelphia earlier this week, Pete Davidson carried a tote bag boasting the logo of the defunct movie rental chain, Blockbuster. Undoubtedly an ironic piece, his Dumbgood bag, which originally retailed for $68, is a wink and a nod to scarcity. Sure, getting a Birkin takes some legwork, but Blockbuster merch? Talk about a true collector’s item.
In an era of Louis Vuitton Speedy bags and Gucci Horsebits, perhaps the new answer to logomania lies in accessibility. Totes and the takeout bags—the bottom-tier sacs that hold our leftovers, uncapped pens, and crumpled up receipts—are the real heroes of the day. They’re the ones who do the dirty work, allowing the top-dollar purses to hold only the finest belongings. So why not have a little fun with them?
