one of fashion’s most dreaded accessories is making a come back. in 2011, there have been many popping up from different fashion houses, including hermes and diane von furstenberg.
i know that most people probably hate them, but i’m one of the people who love them and think that it can be possible for them to look good. i’m also one of the people who like uggs so maybe i have bad taste…but to each his own, right?
the term “fanny pack” has become associated with the bulky nylon packs tourists wear so now they’re being called a variety of different names: belt bag, waist bag, bum bag, hip pack, etc. (and you can substitute bag for pack or pouch and end up with even more options). i prefer the term belt bag or waist bag myself. i got my first (fashionable) waist bag from coach in 2006 i think and i’ve been a converted fan since. i take mine pretty much anytime i travel anywhere. people who despise them say that they’ll use the more fashionable cross-body bag (which is also making a big come back), and while i like cross-body bags too, they still put weight on your shoulder and throw your balance/spine off. with waist bags (aka fanny packs), the weight is evenly distributed and because it’s around your waist/hips, it really doesn’t feel that heavy. it does sort of make me feel like a mule with a saddle bag though. part of the reason it’s less heavy is also because they typically are rather small and can’t hold too much, which is perfect for traveling. when i’m traveling, i probably don’t need all my keys (house and car)…i pretty much only need my money, some id, and my phone. and because it’s kept close to my body, it’s also harder for it to get snatched or pick pocketed in more seedy areas. i love them!
in fact, i love mine and use mine so much that it’s looking pretty nasty and i’ve been wanting to replace it for a while. the jacquard fabric has been darkened all over the back from dye transfer (a casualty of dark denim). to be honest, i still have a lot of life left in mine but i want something shiny and new. i’m also not a fan of monogram, which is what mine is. so i’m on the hunt for a new one.
perhaps the moment the waist bag stopped being a fashion faux pas was when stylist patricia field dressed sarah jessica parker in gucci’s version in “sex & the city”, making it probably the most popular/purchased one (i have a friend with one and have seen countless fakes in asia):
better view of the gucci belt bag
even celebrities are wearing them!
rihanna in louis vuitton
and here’s one of my favorite bloggers, jane aldrige (sea of shoes), wearing one:
there are many out there–and even more on the way–but these are some of my personal favorites:
left: hermes, right: pucci
top left: hermes, top right: pucci, bottom: diane von furstenberg
i really like hermes’ take but would prefer it to be more boxy. the flat, thin envelope-like pouch seems like it’d look terrible if you actually put anything inside it besides papers. and for $4,700, it better at least be functional!
that’s what makes the michael by michael kors hamilton belt bag so perfect! it has all the elements i like from hermes’ version with the depth i desire.
and with a retail price of $128 it’s much more in line with my budget. unfortunately, this is from last year and although i’ve looked, i haven’t been able to find it anywhere. i found a black one on ebay but i like the luggage brown color so much more. when it was on sale, i think it sold for around $60–what a bummer!
i think the catwalk purse belt from jaeger london’s pretty cute too. it also comes in navy, red, and green.
and diane von furstenberg has several different ones in her collection; more than what’s pictured below.
i’m partial to the elaine from dvf:
but i think the winner is the chloe marcie bum bag in tan:
i ordered it on a whim (and have already returned it) and fell in love with it. i can’t afford to spare $570 at the moment so i’ll be waiting for the friends & family sale that should be happening later next month. i was hoping to have the bag in time for when i go to chicago and new york but if it means saving over $100, i don’t mind waiting.
studio bokeh 