Here at T&C, we pride ourselves on our discerning eye for quality. With , our editors will give you an inside look at the pieces they simply cannot live without.
Each year we are presented with new handbag launches and re-editions from the luxury houses, all of which vie for a coveted place as the it-accessory amongst the stylish set. And every once in a while, you know the minute you see a handbag that every woman with taste is going to want it. Such was the case when the Prada Buckle Handbag with a belt made its debut this year.
From the second I laid eyes on the style, I knew it was different. So different, that I actually thought to myself, "Wow, that might be my holy grail handbag." The bag, most simply put, is an amalgamation of everything one could want in a statement piece. Structured along ladylike lines, the piece is neither rigid nor slouchy. As it's Prada, there is an underlying playfulness that comes to the fore, highlighting not just functionality, but a lightness in the design. The bag's silhouette is classic, structured with a top handle and an elegant soft sculptural silhouette that narrows at the top. And this? This is where the buckle bag sets itself apart from the rest. At the mouth of the bag, the narrowing is enhanced by a buckle belt that gives the leather a slight relaxed feel (the best way I could compare is giving it the shape of a great belted pair of vintage jeans that is tailored to one's body) with a feminine nip that is complemented by the masculine details of the almost utilitarian hardware. Needless to say, I find this perfect. Did I mention that the belt is removable, too?
A close up of the removable belt on the Prada buckle bag.
This elegant pragmatism extends to the functionality of the Buckle Bag as well. The large version, which has a nappa leather interior (to match the oh so buttery feel of the exterior leather), features an interior pocket, and though it's not oversized, can fit a 12-inch laptop and your daily necessities with ease. I was able to hang on to the piece for a few days and can attest to how well it wears, too. I really loved that it's weighty, but not too heavy to take with me when I leave the house at 8 am for a full day of meetings and events. The buckle detail around the handles? A genius way to make the piece feel more secure, even though it doesn't zip shut. And the caramel colorway offers maximum versatility as well, as the hue works with a fall winter color palette, but still looks seasonally appropriate in warmer months, as do the clay gray and black iterations. An investment, yes, but for a bag that can be carried to work, throughout one's day to day, and looks refined enough to still carry in the evening, it is well worth it.
The smaller buckle made for the handles keeps the bag secure and adds an extra refining detail.
Needless to say if I had to pick one handbag above the rest to receive as a gift, it would be the Prada Buckle Bag without a sliver of a doubt. I've been extra good this year, so maybe I'll be in for a surprise. I'd venture to guess many stylish women are hoping to find the same wrapped up for them in a few weeks time.
Photography by Eli Schmidt.
Roxanne Adamiyatt
Deputy Digital Lifestyle Director
Roxanne Adamiyatt is the Deputy Digital Lifestyle Director at Town & Country, spearheading style coverage for the web, with a focus on everything from fashion & accessories, jewelry, beauty & wellness, home & design, and even sometimes travel. In her role, Roxanne regularly contributes pieces for the print magazine, often on the intersection of social media and luxury. For example: the new class of watch influencers shifting the markets, and why some blondes are style mavens from beyond the grave. Previously, she held the role of senior digital editor from 2018-2022. Prior to her time at T&C, Roxanne was the beauty & fashion editor at Us Weekly, and before that, she was a beauty editor at InStyle.com/MIMI. A life-long New Yorker, Roxanne received her ungraduated degree from Barnard College and her MS from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. When she’s not attending market appointments and writing about trends, you can find her scouring the internet (and thrift shops) for the very best vintage designer fashion to squeeze into her Manhattan closet and vintage furniture for her seemingly endless apartment decoration project, or researching the very best new age wellness treatments to try next. You can find Roxanne on Instagram and TikTok at the handle @roxanne_adamiyatt .