By Kaviesh Kinger & Rhea Jetwa
Before the start of a new year at university, it’s natural to debate your wardrobe and make some new purchases. We all want to flaunt on campus and keep up with trends, but for most the trickiest item to find is a timeless, inexpensive and practical ‘uni bag’ to take with you everyday. A simple browse around campus- or even in London for that matter will show you that many of us are on the hunt for a uni bag. And some of us have found one: the Longchamp’s Le Pliage tote bag.
Longchamp’s most popular bag surfaced in the 90’s fashioned out of washable nylon canvas with leather straps and a snap-closing flap, costing £110 for a large travel bag – it’s marketed as a simple yet practical luxury good. The tote grew a massive following around the 2010s when ‘it-girls’ Alexa Chung, Katie Holmes and even Kate Middleton were spotted wearing it to elevate their preppy aesthetics. From then onwards the classic tote became a staple for many, and has recently surged in popularity yet again after Kendall Jenner wore Le Pliage’s leather sister and of course it’s upsurge on Tik-Tok.
The appeal of the bag is clear, it has a simple design and can easily be thrown onto any outfit to maintain that sleek, clean-girl aesthetic. With added benefit, if the nylon body of the bag gets worn away or damaged, Longchamp offers an in-house repair service which rejuvenates around 30,000 Le Pliage totes a year. It also offers an in-store, free engraving of your initials.
As trendy as the bag may be, we come as a voice of reason for those infected with the epidemic of the Le Pliage. A stunning addition for all the preppy darlings at LSE, we definitely think there’s something to say about its accessibility. Does accessibility trump fashion?
Perhaps not. We aren’t here writing this same article about the COS oversized side bag rocked by London’s fashion girls. While fashionable and price-accessible, that bag has not oversaturated our surroundings. Our issue is not its accessibility, but the bandwagon of hundreds opting to buy a bag they claim is classic. In reality, the Le Pliage is not a classic, it’s plain simple. To us, the Longchamp Le Pliage is not In Vogue. Apologies to our Tik-Tok girls, but it’s time to move on. Our thoughts reserved for the Le Pliage are the same as those for the infamous Goyard tote. Rather than joining the masses in doing what everyone does, let’s choose to stray away from what everyone does.
If you are walking into the Longchamp store for a canvas tote that’ll put you to sleep, or into Goyard for a monogrammed tote that’ll break your bank and look like plastic: stop for a second. Walk into the store and check out their other styles, explore the fashion ethos of the store and see if it resonates with you. If not, walk out and find another. The options are endless, pick the one that’s right for you.
A uni bag is essential and an everyday staple. Pick something customizable and timeless. If the Longchamp Le Pliage resonates with your inner Rory Gilmore, then go for it. But if you’re more of a Van der Woodsen, take another look and choose wisely.
Reference: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/a45218797/longchamp-le-pliage/
Image by Ben Chen
