What happens when a luxury brand, or a famous fashion designer, decides to tap into some lifestyle elements of the present and the past to interpret and reinterpret those objects and inspirations that are part of our culture and our daily lives? Let’s discover some iconic accessories of this fruitful union between fashion and other elements such as books, food, and more…
Barilla Bag by Nikolas Bentel
A simple box of penne pasta (not the smooth ones!) that stares at you while you’re staring back at it, in the middle of a global pandemic, when you are forced to stay locked in your house, without knowing what will happen in the future: this is how the idea of this bag was born, in a moment of boredom experienced by the designer Nikolas Bentel who decided to interpret in a unique way an event of global scope.
Released in August 2021 in a limited edition of only 100 pieces, the bag perfectly reproduces the box of Barilla penne which we all love. After all, it’s not the first time that the designer reinterprets and redesigns everyday objects: Bentel aims at showing how many times (maybe always) it’s the simple things that save us, giving us a glimmer of light and hope. “An irreverent interpretation of the past year,” that makes you have fun and think, as well as being an accessory for those who want to experiment with a strongly pop look.
Swarovski Harry Potter Jewelry
“It’s Leviòsa, not Leviosà:” how many of us can remember this quote? The Harry Potter phenomenon has been a real, unprecedented success. Precisely for this reason, Swarovski decided to dedicate a line of jewelry to one of the most famous fantasy sagas of all time, which is still capable of gathering an incredible number of fans of all ages. The brand has managed to combine the iconic finesse of its canons with the most famous symbols of the world of our favorite wizard: between a ring with a thunderbolt and one with the symbol of the Deathly Hallows, perhaps the most recognizable piece is the necklace with the Time-Turner, used in the third chapter of the saga by Harry and Hermione. Accio… everything!
Mickey Mouse Bag by Gucci
For the 90th anniversary of the most famous mouse in the world, one of the most famous fashion houses in the world could certainly not exempt itself from celebrating this anniversary: Gucci in fact, in the Spring/Summer 2019 collection, gave space to Disney and, in particular, to the face of Mickey Mouse. The iconic bag presented during the fashion show is made entirely of 3D print and enameled plastic; there is also its counterpart in white, with red details that look like handmade graffiti. It was worn by a male model and on the website, it is included among the men’s accessories: therefore, by doing so, Alessandro Michele once again cleared the gender stereotypes.
Barilla Hat by GCDS
Defining himself as a “pastaphile,” Giuliano Calza could not help but reinterpret the most famous Italian pasta brand in the world with a dedicated capsule, launched in 2019. The campaign also features another icon of Italian culture, the great Sophia Loren. Calza, in bringing the collection to life, chooses as a base the color fuchsia, which is so recurring in the lines of the brand, in opposition to the blue (now become light blue) typical of Barilla packaging, in full Urban style and with the writing “YesCarbs,” a challenge and a provocation against what they say about carbohydrates, often unfairly accused of “ruining” the diet. The must-have accessory? The wool hat with the “new Barilla GCDS,” of course.
My Little Pony Backpack by Moschino
Designer Jeremy Scott, known for his sparkling creativity, decides to give space to the iconic ponies of the 80s, namely My Little Pony by Hasbro, in a collection of t-shirts, clothes, and accessories in the Spring/Summer 2018 collection, which re-evokes the atmospheres full of pastel colors and rainbows, without forgetting the fantastic mini ponies. All these sweet and “sugary” elements are accompanied by stronger accessories, such as bracelets and studded boots strictly in black: a rock ‘n’ roll touch to shake things up. In particular, iridescent leather backpacks have become the cult accessory of the collection. A nostalgic moment dedicated to lovers of cardboard and 80s/90s atmospheres.
Balenciaga x Ikea Shopper
How many times have we used the classic, and very large, blue bag from Ikea? Well, try to imagine it with a “slightly” higher price, that is 1700 euros… and you will get the bag made by the brand in collaboration with Balenciaga! This makes it sound like a simpler object than what it actually was: the shopper, released in 2017, is made of genuine leather and the Demna Gvasalia decided to “copy” this everyday object, bringing pop culture to the world of luxury. However, this is not the first time that the creative director of Balenciaga ventures into the “common and cheap” world that surrounds us to denounce as “excessive” the consumerism in which we are immersed.
Coca Cola Bag by Pinko
Even Pinko, in 2016, decided to wink at the street lifestyle, collaborating with none other than Coca-Cola. A limited-edition capsule collection, with a few very rock ‘n’ roll touches. In particular, the must-have bag that stands out is the one with the two swallows on the closure and branded with the famous slogan of the brand: “Delicious – Refreshing, Thirst-Quenching.” Did someone say “thirsty“?
McDonald’s Phone Case by Moschino
Again Moschino, again Jeremy Scott, with a collaboration that stirred so much controversy: some called it “bad taste” and some loved it; what is certain is that it has remained in the annals of fashion, becoming unforgettable. Moschino’s Fall/Winter 2015 collection features dresses and accessories inspired by the world’s most famous fast-food chain and, surely, the best-selling and iconic item was the phone case shaped like a bag of chips. The collection received harsh criticism from anti-obesity associations, even though, perhaps, the message was just the opposite: not so much trumpeting extreme consumerism, but rather shining the spotlight on what doesn’t work, while making the concept ever more extreme.
