In the Spring of 2017, C(é)line’s then-creative director debuted a sleek, feminine frame bag on the runway during Paris Fashion Week. Phoebe Philo’s career was at its peak, and where she led, many followed.
Her tenure at the Parisian House had a massive impact not only on Celine as a whole, but on the entire fashion world, and specifically the accessories industry.
The handbags that debuted under Philo’s time at Celine’s helm remain coveted silhouettes nearly eight years later, with a select few still in production. The Celine Clasp bag, however, introduced just before the intersection of Celine’s new chapter, never quite got the love it deserved.
Today, we’re giving it a second look.
The Frame Bag is one of the handbag world’s most sophisticated silhouettes. It is innately feminine, oozing a sleek appeal that is truly unlike any other shape.
Offering a structured body and an elevated appeal, it’s not a bag for the every day, but it is one that still deserves its place in the modern woman’s wardrobe.
Though brands like The Row and Mansur Gavriel released similar silhouettes at the time with major media outlets proclaiming the frame bag was back, most of the mid-late 2010s popular handbags were vastly different.
The focus remained on trend-driven shapes that made waves on social media (like the Gucci Marmont) rather than than the elegance of the Celine Clasp Bag. The Clasp Bag, an ode to the bags of yesteryear, had its moment, but the moment was fleeting, and it got far less love than it deserved, IMO.
There’s not all that much to say about the Clasp Bag. Its shape is simple, mimicking the true lady bags of the past. Sometimes less really is more, and the delicate design of the Clasp Bag with its distinct top handle (though there is a small crossbody version) is more relevant today in 2024 than it was then.
While Hedi Slimane’s Celine is beloved in its own right for its It-bags and strong POV, Phoebeo Philo’s Celine will go down in fashion history. As frame bags see relevance once again, today, we remember one of #OldCeline’s most underrated designs.
