Low is the New High: Luxury Totes Look like Grocery Bags

Curious about all of those luxury handbags and totes that look exactly like grocery bags? But cost a LOT more? The trend is still with us for fall winter 2019-20. Here’s a round-up of this season’s luxury designer handbags and totes that look like grocery, bodega or retail store shopping bags made of paper or plastic.

Low is the New High: Luxury Totes that Look like paper or plastic Grocery Bags

Luxury handbags that look like grocery bags are still a thing. Balenciaga caused a stir in 2017 with its $1,000 version of an IKEA shopping bag. It followed with a black leather version of its own store shopping bag that was priced at almost $2,000. Celine featured a translucent PVC plastic tote bag imprinted with a choking hazard warning that looked like a disposable bag from a local drug store.

You might have thought (or hoped) that this was a passing fancy. But’s its still with us. What’s up with that? Is it all part of the ironic, high-low, postmodern vibe in the luxury world? Are these designers laughing with us? Or at us?

We have no answers on those profound questions. But if you’re in on this trend, or just want to learn more, dear reader, you’ve come to the right place.

Here are some of the latest crop of luxury designer handbags and totes that look like grocery, bodega or retail store shopping bags made of paper or plastic.

1. Balenciaga

Balenciaga Shopping Phone Pouch shoulder bag ($950) is meant to look like a shopping bag; it features rolled topped handles and a detachable shoulder strap.

2. Balenciaga

Among the Balenciaga’s fall-winter 2019-20 collection is this “brown paper bag” calfskin tote. One side has a happy face – and the other, a frown.

3. Jil Sander

Jil Sander’s Market patent leather tote ($1,180) is similarly designed as an homage (or is it a rebuke?) to a plastic supermarket shopping bag.

4. MM6 Maison Margiela

MM6 Maison Margiela’s white tote bag is inspired by padded plastic document cases used for carrying art supplies. It has a press-stud top that suspends a padded ripstop compartment.

5. Gelareh Mizrahi

Miami-based designer Gelareh Mizrahi’s python “Thank You” tote ($1,500) is crafted of black python appliquéd at the front with white “Thank You” lettering.

6. Gelareh Mizrahi

Ditto her “Have a Nice Day” tote ($1,500). Both are witty plays on the ubiquitous shopping bag.

7. Off-White

Off-White’s debuted its “New Commercial” totes earlier this year, and people couldn’t’ help but point out the resemblance between them and IKEA’s famous blue shopping totes. Off-White’s bag comes in three colors, has a sturdy construction and two pairs of handles that sport the brand’s name.

8. Alexander Wang

The Alexander Wang Wangloc Thank You Mini-Shopper ($1,695) is 

Luxury Totes that Look like paper or plastic Grocery Bags

That’s our roundup of the latest designer handbags and totes that look like paper or plastic grocery bags. 

The staying power of this particular trendlet seems to have a lot to do with a new definition of luxury. Or perhaps a desire to foster a rebellion against it – an “anti-luxury” movement.

In an interview with Vogue, designer Gelarech Mizrahi summed up her views about it this way: “I’ve watched how, in my generation, the conventional idea of luxury has changed. For me, doing what you want is the ultimate luxury. I’ve taken the everyday plastic shopping bag and elevated its message. Looking at the bag reminds me to be grateful. And it makes me happy. To appreciate the little things.”

What do you say? Are you in on this?

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