Bag for all seasons

...and other travel-ready finds at the Melissa holiday/summer 2017 collection.

The weather forecast in Florence — hometown to some of our leather goods faves — spells nothing but soiled leather and suede bags and shoes for the next couple of days. I am on my way there, and I imagine the sky mourning over owners wrapping their purses in plastic or worse, covering their purses but not their heads while they run for shade.

Sao Paolo-based accessories brand Melissa, thanks to the versatility of its signature material PVC plastic plus designer collaborations (this season Jason Wu designed flats and emerging Brazilian designer Viitorino Campos did sandals and bags), makes it effortless to beat the elements.

For holiday, the shoes are in ladylike thong sandals, wedges and ballerina flats in pastels, some with a dainty black bow.

Campos’ Pupila bag couldn’t be a timelier addition. And like the season’s much more diverse, “anything-goes” offerings in bags, those who call Florence and neighboring Paris home are all about that metallic buckle. Campos’ design is a classic square bag with two straps which won’t cramp your style whether you’re going for urban cool, strap draped over one shoulder of your oversized down jacket or as a handbag, the finishing touch to your corset-cinched, petticoated ‘50s coat in your upcoming holidays trips.

Inside it is a thermal and waterproof lunch bag. For those beach-bound, you won’t need those spartan “waterproof” pouches anymore. It’s sure to serve you well even after summertime next year.

Melissa is available in Alabang Town Center, Ayala Cebu, Centrio, Gaisano Davao, Glorietta 3, Greenbelt 5, Marquee Mall, Robinsons Magnolia, Shangrila, SM Aura, SM Cabanatuan, SM MOA, SM Megamall, SM Seaside, TriNoma and UP Town Center.