Colleen Atwood handbags
When you’ve got three Oscars and a CFDA Award to your name (and it just so happens to be the first one ever given to a costume designer) among other accolades and the respect of an entire industry, we think that you’ve earned the luxury of taking it easy. But for Colleen Atwood, Hollywood’s go-to costume designer, that wouldn’t be in her MO. Instead of just resting on her celluloid laurels, the designer is taking her talents to the street. Thanks to L.A.’s Citizens of Humanity, Atwood — whose resumé includes Memoirs of a Geisha, Chicago and just about every single Tim Burton creation — is set to premiere a new line of luxe leather bags this fall, giving us all a chance to get in on the Tinseltown sparkle.
Colleen Atwood
“I have always loved beautiful leather objects, especially the detail that goes into designing them both inside and out,” Atwood told Vogue UK. “I took part in a philanthropic video series with Citizens of Humanity last year and when they asked me what I would like to do next and I told them about wanting to design a handbag line. They offered to help me bring it to life and I jumped at the opportunity.”
In addition to the video series, Atwood helped design a tee-shirt with Citizens of Humanity last year, with proceeds going to charity. Mikhail Baryshnikov and Christy Turlington Burns were also in on the action, but for the new handbag line, Atwood’s making it a solo act. And while über-luxurious leather bags might not be what you’d expect from Citizens of Humanity, Atwood couldn’t be happier with her partner. After scouring the world for inspiration, including Japan and Italy, she got an inside look at the premium materials and craftsmanship that go into making a great bag.
“I think that this collection will be great for the busy women of today,” she said. “The bags go from day to evening easily and are elegant in both color and style. They are for women who are combining family, career, and a bit of fun. They are for people who love luxury and understated style.”
The debut collection includes three classic shapes, including an envelope clutch called the Chiara, a boxy backpack that also doubles as a tote named the Sojourner and an elegant pochette, the Scala. The styles are available in leather, lizard, and haircalf and we’re told that they’re manufactured in the same factories as Chanel’s iconic creations. Colleen Atwood handbags will range from $2,000-6,000 when they hit stores this October.
Images courtesy Vogue UK
