Fashion’s Favorite It Bag is Getting a Makeover
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Picture this: It’s 2001. The Simple Life reigns supreme, Starbucks venti lattes are flowing, and paparazzi capture “It” girls like the Olsens, Nicole Richie, and Kate Moss at every gas station. One accessory linking them? A Balenciaga Le City Bag, once known as the Motorcycle Bag. So it makes sense that Demna, Balenciaga’s creative director, would reintroduce Le City in new colorways and reworked silhouettes. And who better to be the face of it than Moss herself? (Other ads feature Danish model Mona Tougaard, Chinese actress and singer Yang Chaoyue, and Korean singer Juyeon.)
In 2001, just 25 City Bag models went into production, but when Moss started wearing the oversize carry-all on her shoulder, the demand skyrocketed. Back then, Vanessa Hudgens was a fan of the giant Hardware City Bag, Heidi Montag wore a blue Vélo style, Richie preferred the classic in distressed black, and Nicky Hilton often carried a demure mini-version in pink.
To reimagine the line, archival styles were examined and remodeled but still have the same beloved hand-assembled 25-panel construction, dimensions, and interior layers. The bags’ defining features include reinforced corners with metal buckles, thimble-esque studs that form a distinctive design across the body of the bag, and various interior and exterior pockets. These attributes, as well as the leather-strung zipper pulls and rivets, subsequently inspired the aesthetic of another Balenciaga line, Le Cagole. Still, Le City was created to echo the circa 2001 reference almost exactly.
The bag debuts in a reenergized palette of white, yellow, black, light purple, metallic steel gray, metallic silver, green, blue, and beige, assuring that Le City remains as alluring as it was 23 years ago. Y2K, we’re still listening.
On @stylenotcom’s Instagram page, fans reacted with fire emojis, “OMGs,” and “Mmmmothering!” Over on Balenciaga’s, you’ll find several “OMG we are SO back” comments, heart eyes, and acclaim for Moss herself.