Martine Sitbon l Pleated Handbag

Last fall, I talked about Martine Sitbon's ever so elegant pebbled bucket bag, and having a hunch about the bag being a creation of a French designer before finding out who was behind it. Now that I knew what Sitbon's delicate touches looked like, I recognized right away that this peachy rose petal colored (paging Qui, Qui to The Baggage Claim), pleated bag had Martine Sitbon's name on it. I just love what she has done with the leather here - all those pleating and pintucking give the bag a very soft and organic look. Upon opening the magnetic closure, you will discover that the inside of the bag is just as precious, too, with smooth suede lining starting where the buttery leather ends. In fact, the texture and the color of this bag make me think of a pair of comfy, silk PJs! Trust me. This is definitely a compliment, perhaps of the highest kind, from someone who loves sleep. LOVE it.

That said, much like silk PJs, I also wonder if this bag can stand the wear and tear of everyday use. The part that concerns me the most is how the handles are attached to the main part of the bag. I'm sure the sewing job is sturdy and top notch, but I just tend to cramp my life into a bag once I start using it (and perhaps this is more my problem than the bag's) and the handles are usually the first to feel the pain, getting stretched out, or even developing tears in the leather... This is one of those bags that I'm tempted to buy and stow away in my closet, only to take it out once in a while to admire the craftsmanship (Yes, I have done that. After about a couple of months, however, I did break it out). Not that I can afford to buy a $427 bag and just have it sit around... The Martine Sitbon pleated bag measures in at 16"H x 18"L x 4"D, with a 6" drop of handles.

Image: Courtesy of ShopBop.