The Art of the Evening Bag

A Judith Leiber minaudière is a small hard-sided evening bag covered in crystals, made by hand in a process that has changed very little since Leiber founded her New York company in 1963. They arrive in shapes from cupcakes to Venetian masks, and each one holds little more than a lipstick and a card.

 

Among the eight in this grid, I would look first at the Judith Leiber Red Crystal Minaudière, the Judith Leiber Multicolor Crystal Floral Minaudière and the Judith Leiber Gold & Crystal Embellished Minaudière.

 

I treat them as small sculptures that happen to open. If you love fine detail, The Extraordinary Details Edit goes further into the craft.

Chanel evening bags are where Karl Lagerfeld got to play. The acrylic minaudières, the sequined clutches from the Cuba and Cosmopolite collections and the Brasserie Gabrielle clutch all treat a handbag as an object to be admired.

 

Among the eight in this grid, I would look first at the Chanel Gold Caged Heart Minaudiere, the Chanel Black Acrylic Perfume Bottle Minaudière and the Chanel Black Patent Leather Camellia Round Chain Clutch.

 

They suit a simple black dress best, because the bag already has plenty to say. For the wider Chanel archive, The Collectible Chanel Edit is the place to go next.

Dior in the Galliano years loved embroidery and texture, and the evening-leaning pieces here show it. Floral embroidery, silver mesh, pony hair and a satin wristlet trimmed in fur all appear, each with a slightly theatrical touch.

 

Among the eight in this grid, I would look first at the Christian Dior Purple Satin Street Chic Fur Wristlet, the Christian Dior Beige Embroidered Jute Book Tote Medium and the Christian Dior Silver Mesh Malice Shoulder Bag.

 

I would pick the one that fits the rest of my wardrobe and carry it with something plain. Galliano designed for drama, and these pieces still have it. The Art of Vintage Dior has more from the same years.

Fendi's Baguette in sequins, beads and embellishment is the clearest after-dark bag in the house archive, and its Zucca lurex bags add a quieter shimmer. The Baguette itself launched in 1997 and was made to be tucked under the arm.

 

Among the eight in this grid, I would look first at the Fendi White Embellished Baguette, the Fendi Multicolor Sequin Baguette and the Fendi Gold Zucca Lurex Mia Large.

 

I would reach for the sequin Baguette whenever the dress is simple. For the full range of the house, see The Fendi Archive.

Carry an evening bag as the one loud thing in the outfit. Keep the dress simple and the shoes understated, and let the bag do the talking.

 

Choose the design you would be happy to hold at the end of a long night, check how it closes and how it hangs, and enjoy it. These pieces were built for occasions, and they still make an ordinary evening feel like one.