While the luxury handbag world contains no shortage of must-haves, it takes something special to catch the eyes of many. For Celine, a fashion house which has existed since 1945, it’s a desire to consistently reinvent the wheel that sees their accessories added to an endless array of wish lists. Their latest creation is no exception, with the Matelassé handbag already adored by celebrities and it-girls alike.
The name Matelassé is a nod to the bag’s stitching technique, which creates a quilted pattern and boasts an added layer of dimension. This particular design exploded in popularity during the 18th century in France’s oldest city, Marseilles, but is now appealing to an entirely new generation, who, in turn, are dreaming up new ways to style it.
The Matelassé bag hit the runway in May 2022, debuted to a room of fashion aficionados in the Hôtel de la Marine and Hôtel National des Invalides. The Dan Paris collection formed the Celine Winter ’22 Womenswear line. Leather was a focal material, appearing in a pair of sharp-toed boots and of course, the handbag range, which saw the Matelassé Monochrome Celine emerge as the hero design.
The versatility of the Matelassé was part of its instant popularity, pairing perfectly with black combat boots and a silver, metallic minidress, but equally as striking in an all-black ensemble featuring knee-length combat boots, trench coat and minidress.
Lisa’s BLACKPINK, who is an ambassador for the house, not only walked the runway, but was later spotted wandering the streets of Paris with the Matelassé handbag in tow. Sporting a casual outfit, the singer wore black pants with a black vest and white long-sleeved top, sipping a bubble tea with the coveted bag slung casually over her left shoulder. The muted colour palette was the perfect way for the bag to shine, with the gold lettering sparkling in the afternoon light.
Kaia Gerber, who has been a friend of the fashion house for some time now, has extensively documented her love of the brand’s bags, often spotted with the Celine Ava handbag. In fact, she loves Celine’s designs so much, that in 2020, the brand’s creative director, Hedi Slimane, designed a shoulder bag especially for her, which was later included in the S/S ’21 collection and now remains a core design for the house.
It makes sense, then, that the model was spotted with the new Matelassé back in March of this year, prior to the general public being able to get their hands on the design. She styled the bag with a pair of black sunglasses and a black dress, again making a strong case for monochromatic dressing.
While the bag’s minimalist design allows it to be paired with virtually anything, those who have already styled the design have successfully proven that keeping it simple is the most effective aesthetic. Seldom seen with a colourful look, it’s a pair of blue jeans, a black dress or a trench coat that pair best with this understated, yet eternally stylish accessory.
Available in both black and nude, this is the first handbag iteration to feature the Celine name in bold, metallic lettering. As for how the bag can be worn, the oversized chain allows the Matelassé to be styled as a shoulder bag or cross-body bag depending on the desired look.
The Matelassé Monochrome Celine bag is available to shop here for $5,100.
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