If you really want your purse to make a statement this season then put yourself on the waiting list for a Prada Fairy Bag. Since its launch earlier in the year, this bag has fast become a celebrity favorite, and sold out at Neiman Marcus in just 2 days!
Giving a nod to the current romantic trend, the bag is in keeping with Prada’s silk-printed shirts and matching cropped pants, with their nymph and fairy prints. According to purseblog.com, the fairy print is the iconic print of the season and is being touted on clothing, handbags and even Prada’s shoe boxes.
Style.com quotes Miuccia Prada, as saying her focus was “about trying to find a new creativity…a softening up of the last 2 seasons." She has certainly succeeded this year, with her Fairy bag and romantic prints, creating new fans of the brand from teens to housewives.
The purse's soft deerskin leather has a slight sparkle to it, and its print features waif-like sprites in romantic, dreamy poses, in a forest glade. The artist is Taiwanese born, James Jean, known as the cover illustrator for the comic book series, Fables and The Umbrella Academy. The limited edition bag comes in 2 sizes, a small and large version, with differing prints.
Currently internet blogs are abuzz with details of this purse, and the latest editions of fashion magazines such as Marie Claire and Madison (May 2008) are enthusing about the product. Due to its popularity there is currently a waiting list, a long one! On the social networking site Handbaggers.com, the Prada Fairy bag is now top of the list of their Top 10 handbags, drawn from member votes.
Delicate Fairy Prints
One blogger, AshleyK, on her Purseblog, 25th May 2008, warns that the fairy bag should not touch water as the print is so delicate. There were initially a number of red flags raised in this area, (on various blogs) with regard to possible color bleeding of the first editions. However, with a dreamy bag like-this, who in the right mind would want to get it wet? According to AshleyK, “When you see the bag in person, its even more striking. The way they used different colors and strokes it is like a water painting.”
How to Prevent Color Bleeding
Purseblog's current update of 13 March 2008 “Update on Prada fairy bag bleeding problems” gives an indication that newer production batches the Fairy bag “have a stronger, clear coat put on last which will make the bag less supple but less likely to bleed.” This has been confirmed by a number of bloggers on the site, including Markella, who initially purchased a first edition bag in Milan and then retuned it to the Prada showroom, in exchange for one of the newer batches. She has since reported that she experienced no further problems.
However, one thing is certain, this is a bag to treasure so needs to be handled with care. With fragile designs such as these, color bleeding problems are by no means exclusive to Prada, and the sensible thing to do would be to cover delicate bags of this nature in a plastic bag when it's raining or in danger of getting wet. Above all, store this bag carefully in its felt-cover pouch, when not in use, to protect its soft leather and dreamy illustrations from the elements.
How to Wear the Prada Fairy Bag
This bag is your statement piece so resist detracting from its splendor by teaming it with fussy outfits. Madison magazine, May 2008 edition, suggests that you take your color cues from the bag, with touches of creams, reds and beige. Work it with simple, neutral tones and single-color outfits.
A Collectors Item for 2008
If you have a passion for purses and are willing to fork-out around $2400 then Prada’s Fairy Bag is definitely not one to miss. This is an enchanting bag and brings romantic femininity back to your wardrobe. James Jean's work of art is an iconic, much talked-about piece, which may well become one the great collectable purses of our time.
