Yahoo Lifestyle These are the celeb-approved party bags we’re wearing this festive szn
A strap looped over a shoulder, a handle swinging from our wrist or a clutch bag nestled in the crook of an arm, our accessories all have one thing in common this party szn – they're Lulu Guinness creations. For over 35 years, the designer has been fashioning eye-catching, statement-making handbags for her eponymous label and racking up a long list of celebrity fans in the process.
The likes of Bella Hadid, Ashley Graham, Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Katy Perry have all been spotted carrying Lulu Guinness bags over the years. Even Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales – AKA Kate Middleton – has repped the British brand.
It all started with an idea for a lady’s briefcase, a style that had previously been aimed exclusively at men. “I wanted to create something that was supremely elegant, made from black leather with a colourful lining, that had all these separate little pockets,” Guinness tells Cosmopolitan UK. “That’s where all it started, from my basement in our Notting Hill house.”
Designing bags with a vintage aesthetic that reflected the 1940s and '50s ideals of glamour and femininity, it was Lulu's Rose Basket that really made the brand take off. First launched in 1993, Guinness credits the style with making her brand famous. The concept behind the novelty silhouette was to spark joy by carrying around a basket of flowers while simultaneously providing function and fashion.
The flower basket design has proved so popular, it ended up being placed in the permanent exhibition at London's V&A Museum – a moment Lulu describes as a career highlight. “It feels good to be part of fashion’s history,” she says. In the years since, it has continually evolved and been reinvented with current iterations including the Lily of the Valley bag, Hydrangea Basket and Chartreuse Rose Basket.
However, it's likely Lulu Guinness' Lips Clutch Bag that the designer is most synonymous with, recognised around the world as a symbol of her distinctive, quirky aesthetic. “I love the idea of creating any objects into bags – therefore why not a lips clutch!” The symbol has become the brand's logo, adorning the majority of designs in even the subtlest of ways. The ice blue satin Hayworth Clutch that Kate Middleton carried on a Royal visit to the Bahamas in 2022 featured gold lips as the bag's fastening.
Able to turn even the simplest of ensembles into something seriously chic, all through the power of accessorising, Lulu Guinness designs are instantly recognisable in large part thanks to the whimsy and witticism that is practically sewn into the linings. There's no need to jazz up with bag charms.
“I very much liked the idea of my bags being a conversation piece. Handbags you put on the table not the floor,” Guinness explains. “Also, my bags are very tongue-in-cheek. Life’s short so you may as well cheer people up if you can.”
That's exactly the mentality we're taking into our party szn dressing. Be it a tote, crossbody or evening style, Lulu Guinness' party bags provide the perfect finishing touch to every outfit whether you're headed to a Christmas party or New Year's Eve bash. Shop the most joyful, celebrity and fashion editor-approved Lulu Guinness bags now.
Black Crossword Bibi Tote
Silver Lips Medium Clutch Bag
Black Birdcage Clutch Bag
Silver Castle Clutch Bag
Hot Pink Moire Bow Clutch
Black Lily of The Valley Bag
Chartreuse Rose Basket Bag
Black Lulu Mail Envelope Clutch
Pearl Satin Plisse Lois Clutch
Black Fontaine Clutch Bag
Hot Pink Moire Present Clutch Bag
Black Leather Cara Clutch Bag
Hydrangea Basket Bag
Black Satin Bow Monroe Clutch Bag
Pearl Shell Clutch Bag
“My advice would be not to take yourself too seriously in fashion – and life, come to think of it,” Guinness offers, in way of sign off from our interview. “I’m not really a rules person; wear what you love and what makes you feel good. And red lipstick never goes amiss!”
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