Longchamp’s Left Bank summer

SUMMER’S the time to cut loose, and Longchamp’s SS2018 collection allows you to do so, with a little bit of style, and a little bit of class. Longchamp, the French luxury goods brand seen practically everywhere, from First Class to Coach; from Benzes to buses, takes inspiration from the Paris Rive Gauche: the left bank of the Seine. While on the other side lies white-bread propriety, the Left Bank offers wild parties within a bohemian air: the culture of the Left Bank nurtured the eye of several designers, most notably, Yves Saint-Laurent. To illustrate the multiculturalism present on the Left Bank, Longchamp tapped the motifs present in African decor, especially those coming from the Maasai people, present in the Mademoiselle and the Roseau bags. To compliment the summer sun, Longchamp has also launched a collection of eyewear, in frames that range in shape from aviator to horn-rimmed. While the Mademoiselle bags (french for Miss) show ladylike restraint, perfect for beyond the summer, rendered in neutrals and in creamy pastels, the Roseau is a little more avant-garde, with fabric printed to look like a weaving straight from Africa, and even some trompe-l’oeil detailing that makes it seem as if the bag has somehow bulged. As for the materials, the bags have been rendered in everything from lambskin, fabric, to bullcalf. The designs are also perfect for light travelling, and reflect the sensibilities of someone well-traveled and willing to go a little bit more on the wild side. —