Elite Traveler Summer 2021

etr li at ve eler SUMMER 2021 101

GUCCI GG

MARMONT When Alessandro Michele took on the creative direction of Gucci in January 2015, he wasn’t new to the brand. Michele had worked at the Italian fashion house since 2002, and had a deep understanding of Gucci’s archive and heritage. Having headed up the bags division and been senior designer of Gucci leather goods, Michele recognized the powerful allure of a hero bag in a collection. So when he was charged with the goal of reinventing Gucci’s props amid deflating sales, it’s safe to say he took on the challenge with great aplomb. Despite a maximalist redirection of the brand’s ready-to-wear offering, Michele hit the archives for accessories, reimagining a simple interlocking double GG emblem from a belt the brand released in the 1970s on a collection of bags and belts for the fall/winter 2016 show — and thus the GG Marmont was born. The GG Marmont, named for the famed Los Angeles Chateau Marmont hotel, has gone on to become one of the most popular handbags of the decade. Characterized by its quilted body and antique-like interlocking GG logo, the bag has since been reimagined in several new silhouettes and sizes each season, including the beloved Marmont belt bag and backpacks.

Gucci GG Marmont mini top handle bag in hibiscus, $2,100, Gucci Fifth A 725 Fifth Avenue, New York +1 212 826 2600 venue,

Gucci GG Marmont mini round shoulder bag in tan, $1,390, Gucci Fifth Avenue, 725 Fifth Avenue, New York, +1 212 826 2600

Gucci GG Marmont matelassé mini bag in black, $1,450, gucci.com

Celine Nano Luggage handbag in Prussian blue, $2,700, celine.com

CELINE LUGGAGE Former creative director Phoebe Philo’s tenure at Celine — known affectionately among the fashion industry as #OldCéline — repositioned the French house as the one to watch in the 2010s, gaining critical acclaim among the fashion elite for her women-first designs and sleek minimalism. “I just thought I’d clean it up,” Philo said at the time about her debut for the brand in 2010. “Make it strong and powerful — a kind of contemporary minimalism.” The British designer did the same for Celine’s accessories, and a slew of hero bag status designs followed, such as the Trio, Classic, Cabas and the extremely popular Luggage tote. Launched in 2010, the Luggage bag, affectionately nicknamed by some as the ‘robot face bag,’ was the first of many ‘It’ bags that Philo designed for Celine. The top-handled tote in drummed crossgrain leather followed the designer’s contemporary minimalist vision for the brand and was an immediate hit, flying off the shelves and sparking long waits for stock when it was first released, and was frequently spotted on the arms of models and Fashion Week attendees in New York and Paris.

Celine Micro Luggage handbag in light khaki, $2,900, celine.com