We like our luxury “it” bags—they offer a certain sense of comfort and stability. When we’re not sure what to wear or if we can pull off the latest trend, our purses are there to make sure we are always (at least a little bit) stylish. But at a certain point don't they become sort of—boring? Yes, they are iconic bags, but we have to confess—we’re sick of seeing the same insipid Birkin day after day. There’s something spectacular about mixing new and classic designers, high and low price tags and clashing trends to create a style that is all your own. Blacksea is throwing a little curveball our way with their brand new line of handbags and clutches; all in basic shapes, rich leathers and almost cartoonish detailing.{start-jlvideo}1672,640,361,thumb{end-jlvideo}
Founded last year, the line was named after creative director Jane Lerman’s childhood home in the Odessa region of the Ukraine, and drew inspiration from the environment, heritage and culture of the surrounding area. Meant to be representative of nautical themes in and around the Black Sea, tones of blue, sand and gold are rich in the collection as they are commonly found colors at the seaside. Chicer black and white shades were added to give the bags a touch of contemporary New York, as homage to their production location.
Mathematical inspiration also finds its way into the new line through the geometric use of shapes and linear symmetry. Envelope bags that are a caricature of their sleeker counterparts create an almost two dimensional outline, playing with the eye in an optical illusion. Probably the coolest use of geometry in this collection (though we can’t quite make an argument for function), is the Tribeca Pochette—a harshly angled bag that has way more style than it does room. But that’s never stopped us from rocking minis before.
While the Tribeca bag might be big enough to hold your phone and a lipstick, the Greenwich Clutch was designed to be large enough to hold tablets and iPads, as well as the necessary compact, wallet and keys. The Broadway Brief is large enough to house a 13-inch laptop and we love the black and navy bag as the perfect office-to-cocktails piece.
Made of rich Italian leathers and 100 percent cotton weave, the collection is quite basic in terms of design, color and fabrics, but as this launch is the brand’s very first collection of bags, we’ll undoubtedly see growth over the coming seasons. There is a clear aesthetic and direction which many first-time labels lack, but with just a few simple designs and a couple of dedicated shades this collection can help add a little mix to your closet and add a dose of individual style.
Blacksea is available online and currently priced from $600-$900.
