Calvin Klein, autumn 1999
8” w. x 3 ¼” h. with 7 ½” drop
When I remodeled my home in 1986, a wonderful friend gave me some exquisite acid-etched black glass fruit bowls from the Japanese Sugahara Glassworks. They were beautiful in my new environment! This terrific little special occasion bag manages to recall that satiny-feeling glass, but in a rather more pragmatic “frosted” Lucite. The use of a glazed saddle leather for the handle is genius (even more so with the unexpected oxblood underside)—I love the shiny rich black against the softer matte black; the natural against the plastic—it’s a brilliant combination.
This can be worn as a modern shoulder bag high under the arm, or hung over the arm in an ironically lady-like manor. The greater irony, however, is how extremely difficult (Let’s be honest—almost impossible!) it is to open this otherwise perfect piece!!!
I found this modern minaudiere at the Calvin Klein flagship store on Madison Avenue. When in New York, be sure to see the fabulous interior designed by British minimalist architect John Pawson. This location opened in September 1995, and in the early years was adorned with enormous clear glass cylinder containers (think “high tech”) each containing five or six dozen perfect calla lilies—a visual feast!
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