Name a better duo than Mary-Kate Olsen, circa 2004, and her mint green Balenciaga Motorcycle bag. Throughout the early aughts, Olsen, who was still an NYU student at the time, hardly went anywhere without her striking handbag. She wore it on the crook of her arm with her Starbucks cup in hand. She carried it on her shoulder when shielding her face from the paparazzi. She even wore her bag in its beaten-up state, with a red wine stain on the bottom.
Today, Olsen would sooner be spotted sporting the Margaux bag from her and her sister’s fashion brand, The Row. But the images of her and her beloved Balenciaga accessory have left a lasting impact on fashion—so much so that the French luxury brand has brought back the bag over 20 years later. Say hello (again) to the Balenciaga Le City bag, the brand’s revamped version of the Motorcycle bag.
Like the original bag, which was introduced by designer Nicolas Ghèsquiere in 2001, the Balenciaga Le City features a slouchy silhouette, braided leather handles, and metal studs and hardware. In fact, it’s more or less a replica, with the sole update being its sustainable approach to production, according to Balenciaga.
Otherwise, the Balenciaga Le City bag still boasts that rock and roll attitude that spoke to the It-girls of the 2000s, including Kate Moss. The supermodel was recently seen with the new Balenciaga bag in black, like some sort of fashion flashback. Now, she stars in a new campaign for the bag, joining Danish model Mona Tougaard, Chinese actress and singer Yang Chaoyue, and K-pop star Juyeon of The Boyz.
In the monochromatic photographs shot by Mario Sorrenti, the stars show off the bag in their own way. Individuality is kind of the point of the accessory, whose lamb leather exterior is meant to attain a unique patina over time—no wine stain necessary.
The Balenciaga Le City bag is now available in stores and on balenciaga.com. You can choose between two sizes, medium and small. The latter comes with a crossbody strap. The accessory is offered in an array of colours, from classic shades (think: black, white and beige) to striking metallic versions.
But if you’re feeling nostalgic, you can consider getting the bag in green, which has already been worn by the cool girls of today, like Devon Lee Carson and Joey King. You would also have the approval of one Olsen twin—what more could you ask for?
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