Which handbag camp do you stand in? British Vogue’s head of editorial content, Chioma Nnadi, is “usually more of a medium-to-large bag girl, at least on a normal work day,” she explains. “Just because I tend to carry half of my life with me to the office” – a sentiment that a lot of commuters can relate to.
However, her newest everyday companion, Alaïa’s Le Teckel (meaning “Dachshund” in French) – a slimline silhouette that we’re calling the “chocolate bar” bag – doesn’t fit her usual proportion requirements. With slight 32cm X 10cm X 10cm dimensions, the Teckel isn’t on par with The Row’s sizeable Margaux, an Hermès Birkin or the Miu Miu holdalls that spilled out belongings on its spring/summer 2024 runway. By comparison, it’s a scaled-up glasses case.
Whatever you’re comparing it to – chocolate bar, glasses case, dachshund (the headline “sausage dog” bag crossed my mind) – this bag isn’t as impractical as it may appear. “I was surprised to discover just how roomy Le Teckel actually is,” explains Chioma. “It easily fits my wallet, make-up bag, and phone without any trouble, while still leaving room for a cheeky snack or two.” Clearly people have clocked on to the unexpected capacity that Le Teckel can promise, given it bears “sold out” and “coming soon” banners on retail sites at the time of writing.
In the same vein, there’s also Bottega Veneta’s intrecciato Brick, Loewe’s shapely bracelet pouch that you can wrap around your wrist, The Row’s Edith – akin to a Pringles tube rather than a Twix – and the angular totes seen on Miu Miu’s autumn/winter 2024 runway, which were scaled down versions of the overflowing styles they showed the previous season, rendered in colourful suede. Bottom-line: ludicrously capacious bags are no longer the dominant arm candy.
