The IT bags (clockwise): Balenciaga 'Motorcycle',  Chloé 'Paddington', Mulberry 'Alexa', Fendi 'Baguette'
The IT bags (clockwise): Balenciaga ‘Motorcycle’, Chloé ‘Paddington’, Mulberry ‘Alexa’, Fendi ‘Baguette’

Could it be, could it be? It certainly has the goods to be one! The fashion Goddess that is Diane Kruger has been spotted ‒ more than once ‒ totting it around. Y-es friends, I’ve been lusting after it ever since I saw it on Gucci’s Autumn/Winter 2012 runway. In fact, I didn’t have this intense a bag lust since… the time I first clocked my eyes on a Birkin, which would be circa 2001, after watching THAT Sex and The City episode. Want. Need. Might die if I don’t get one by X-Mas. SO, want to see how the Lady looks like?

The Gucci 'Lady Stirrup' bag at the Autumn/Winter 2012 runway (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
The ‘Lady Stirrup’ at the Autumn/Winter 2012 runway… (Photo courtesy | Gucci)

Oh-so-refined and ladylike, no? The pared-down look… The rigid construction… The frame closure… The nocturnal colour palette… All of it simply speaks to my minimalistic sensibilities.

Gucci Lady Stirrup bags in plain and crocodile leather (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
In plain (top) and exotic crocodile (bottom) leather… (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
Gucci Lady Stirrup bags in suede, velvet and pony skin (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
In suede (top left), velvet (top right) and pony skin (bottom left)… (Photo courtesy | Gucci)

It comes in a number of materials: from plain and exotic leathers like calf, lamb, pony skin and shiny crocodile to rich velvet and printed suede. And they’ve been manually conceived by Gucci’s artisans ‒ impressive, right?

Jennifer Connelly carrying the Gucci 'Lady Stirrup' bag (Photo courtesy | Gucci/Getty Images)
How lush is Jennifer Connelly’s arm candy… ? (Photo courtesy | Gucci/Getty Images)
Diane Kruger carrying the Gucci 'Lady Stirrup' bag
…and Diane Kruger’s?

It’s roomy enough to elegantly fill all the

pointless

stuff that our kind tend to carry everywhere, and can easily take you from day to night. If you’re looking to buy a tasteful investment bag ‒ one which will last you a lifetime ‒ I’d suggest you consider the Lady as well. They are available at the Gucci boutiques in Mumbai and Delhi ‒ toddle over to one of them for a touch-and-feel experience. I did try to find the price for you all, but Gucci India has a “price upon request policy” with regards to this range ‒ soz. Say, at the least, we’re looking £1520 i.e. INR 132,722 😉

Gucci 'Soft Stirrup' bag (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
The Gucci ‘Soft Stirrup’… (Photo courtesy | Gucci)

Didn’t like the Lady? Does she keep too much of a stiff upper-lip for your liking? Then how about her boho version: the Soft Stirrup?

Salma Hayek-Pinault carrying the Gucci 'Stirrup' bag
Salma Hayek-Pinault with the ‘Stirrup’…
Gucci 'Soft Stirrup' bag at the Autumn/Winter 2012 show (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
…which paved way for the ‘Soft Stirrup’, seen at the Autumn/Winter 2012 runway… (Photo courtesy | Gucci)

First seen at Gucci’s Pre-Fall 2012 collection, this deconstructed form of the Italian fashion house’s distinct Stirrup handbag has been rendered in other versions since.

Li Bingbing carrying the Gucci large 'Soft Stirrup' bag while at Beijing International Airport on Nov 2, 2012 (Photo courtesy | Gucci/Orange Image Studio)
Li Bingbing… (Photo courtesy | Gucci/Orange Image Studio)
Naomi Watts & Rachel Zoe carrying the Gucci 'Soft Stirrup' bag (Photo courtesy | Gucci/Getty Images)
Naomi Watts (left) and Rachel Zoe carrying the ‘Soft Stirrup’… (Photo courtesy | Gucci/Getty Images)
Salma Hayek-Pinault carrying the Gucci 'Soft Stirrup' bag while out in London on 20th September, 2012 (Photo courtesy | Gucci/Getty Images)
Salma Hayek-Pinault carrying the Gucci ‘Soft Stirrup’ bag while out in London on 20th September, 2012 (Photo courtesy | Gucci/Getty Images)
Asia Argento & Abbey Lee Kershaw with the Gucci 'Soft Stirrup' bag
Italian actress Asia Argento (left) and Australian model Abbey Lee Kershaw with the ‘Soft Stirrup’…

And of course, a good few celebs were spotted with it; the power fashionista Rachel Zoe being the most notable one.

Gucci 'Soft Stirrup' bag in washed and nubuck calfskin (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
In washed (top) and nubuck (bottom) calfskin… (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
Gucci 'Soft Stirrup' bag in python skin (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
In python skin… (Photo courtesy | Gucci)

The Soft Stirrups come in washed and nubuck calfskin as well as exotic skins like python, ostrich and crocodile. Maybe it has to do with the slouchy feel this silhouette lends itself to, I’m not liking the Soft Stirrup much… But hang on a minute, I wouldn’t turn one down if I was offered :-p

Gucci 'Soft Stirrup' bag in crocodile skin, velvet and pony skin (Photo courtesy | Gucci)
In crocodile skin (top left), velvet (top right) and pony skin… (Photo courtesy | Gucci)

Yep, they are available at the Gucci stores in India; and like the Lady, they too come with a “price upon request” tag, but, say, it wouldn’t be less than £950 i.e INR 82,951… 🙂

Which one do you like better? Let me know!

P.S. You can catch the ‘Soft Stirrup’ in motion in Gucci’s Pre-Fall 2012 ad campaign. Btw, the soundtrack… <3