Words by THE C MAGAZINE EDITORS
An on-the-go carryall with clean lines and sharp symmetry is shaping up to be Burberry’s It Bag of the season. The Frances, an understated design in sizes that span from micro to mini and small to medium, is crafted in Italian-tanned grainy leather with leather-wrapped curved top handles and hand-painted edges. Versions in glossy leather embossed to replicate the crocodile effect also make the classic tote a perennial choice. Adorning the front is the polished TB motif, a Thomas Burberry monogram inspired by an archival drawing of the British house founder’s interlocked initials. The logo hardware is hand-inlaid with leather on the elegantly spare tote—creating a subtly outlined reference to the storied heritage label, which traces its beginnings to 1856, when a former draper’s apprentice opened shop in Basingstoke.
The structured Frances includes an open top with a magnetic closure and an adjustable shoulder strap for maximum versatility to move among morning meetings, afternoon errands, and moonlit dinners. And, heralding spring’s arrival, the tote is available in an array of candy-colored hues including cool cornflower blue, dusty pink, spruce green, cloud gray, pale blue, and oat beige. For those seeking a quieter, subtler palette, other options include rich navy, black, dark carmine, warm russet brown, saddle brown, and silver, or a version that combines a riot of neutrals—camel, archive beige, and warm tan—in one design. Add an understated personal spin to the bag’s leather-wrapped metal mirror charm by customizing the leather cover with foil printed initials. 301 N. Rodeo Dr., Beverly Hills, 310-550-4500; 3333 Bristol St., South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, 714-556-8110; 225 Post St., S.F., 415-392-2200; burberry.com.
April 4, 2023.
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