Coco Chanel: Drawing by Cecil Beaton
Fashion Designers have been influencing fragrance since Coco Chanel created the first Designer perfume in 1921. Over the past six months I have noticed that there is a trend emerging; Fashion Designers are creating purses inspired by perfume flacons.
First I spotted Charlottte Olympia, the British brand known for Old Hollywood Style and famous clients such as Beyonce and Alexa Chung, Spring 2013 collection that included three vintage inspired handbags that are references to Parisian Perfumes of the past. $1250.00 at Neiman Marcus
Photo Credit: Courtesy Lanvin
Promise her anything but give her a Lavin Arpege Minaudière. To celebrate the 85th year of Andree Fraysee's iconic fragrance, a purse to match. Black enamel and serpentine gold handle and gilt clasp, a clutch to covet. $3,610, Available at Lanvin boutiques worldwide.
Photo: Chanel Collection Cruise 2014
Which brings us back to Coco Chanel. For Cruise 2014, Karl Lagerfeld and his creative team introduced the ultimate fashion assessory. Chanel is the only brand in the world that can turn the most iconic fragrance ever created into the most coveted handbag.
So now wearing perfume takes on a whole new meaning. My vote for the next "it" bag? Yves St Laurent 1977 Opium Parfum designed by Pierre Dinard (who recently designed Neela Vermeire's bottles).
What iconic fragrance flacon would you like to slip your lipstick and mini perfume into?
–Michelyn Camen, Editor-in-Chief