no more skipping rope, skipping heart beats with the boys downtown

Olympia Le Tan is a French designer who takes inspiration from books, movies, records et al to create unique clutches that are intricately hand-embroidered, and absolutely gorgeous. OLT's signature accessories are clutches that resemble classic books. For example; The Catcher in the Rye, Dr. Zhivago, Heidi, Jane Eyre, Lord of the Flies, Moby Dick, the list goes on. Basically, there's a wide variety of novels to please any book-lover (that is also a fashion-lover.)




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This shot of the Charlotte's Web clutch really shows the detail that goes into these bags. Source


Hey, Lolita, hey. This is the original cover from 1955. Source


A better view of what the inside looks like. Source

Why do I love Olympia Le Tan? Well, let's see... I love books, movies, and records. I love a well-designed cover, I love classic artwork, I love old typography, I love embroidery, I love good use of colour, I love attention to detail. There is something sort of Pop Art about the OLT accessories; the simplicity of the idea of it all, technically unoriginal because it's just a replication of a product that has been in existence for some time - but yet it's been re-imagined and transformed into something new, so it's like a replica but better. That's art (and fashion) for you, everything is just recycled and re-interpreted. It may look like a book, but it's actually a fully functioning purse. So feel free to judge these purses by their covers, if you're thinking about getting one of your own.


My pick would be (duh) The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I love this cover, again it is the original cover designed by Shirley Tucker in 1966. Source

Aside from books, OLT has done bags inspired by other things, such as milk cartons!




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The latest Olympia Le Tan collab is with Disney, and it is in stores now. For someone like me, who adores classic Disney, these clutches are a dream. The original artwork itself is beautiful, and then when it's hand-embroidered with such precision, and turned into a bag, the result is truly magical.


Cinderella "The Great Love Story" Available for pre-order $2543 CAD Source


Cinderella "It's Fun! It's Magic!" $2543 CAD Source


"Cinderella 2" Available for pre-order $2543 CAD Source


"Cinderella" $2543 CAD Source


"Alice in Wonderland" $2543 CADSource


"Alice in Wonderland" SOLD OUT Source


"Peter Pan" $2543 CADSource


"Sleeping Beauty" $2543 CADSource


"Snow White" SOLD OUT Source

Olympia Le Tan's website

I'm currently on a friends' computer and I'm going to attempt to publish a quick post, because it's been a really long time.

Last time I was home, I received a copy of Fashion magazine that had been waiting for me - the September issue with Lana Del Rey on the cover. My mom had saved a copy for me (two, actually) because quite honestly I am devoutly obsessed with Lana. There was a lot of good stuff in that magazine. Something that caught my eye, was a clutch by designer Anya Hindmarch.

clutch by Anya Hindmarch, $1595.00

Pearl necklace by Cezanne, $28.00, available at my work, Hudson's Bay :)

Anya Hindmarch is a British handbag/accessories designer. I've only just discovered her, but after visiting her website I instantly fell in love. I especially love the AW 2014 collection, "Counter Culture". That's where the above bag is from. It's a rectangular clutch with a print of a vintage box of Corn Flakes! I love this so much. There are others, too; Coco Pops, and Frosties (Frosted Flakes). This entire collection, and the fashion show, had grocery store vibes. JUST like Chanel AW 2014, which was set in a faux grocery store and featured models carrying very ornate shopping baskets. For Anya's show, some of the models pushed regular shopping carts. I always love when food finds its way into fashion, so I obviously love both aforementioned shows. The magazine I saw it in, Fashion (originated out of Toronto) did their own shoot inspired by the Chanel show, in a grocery store in downtown Toronto. It was quite good, and very colourful.

There's something very pop-art-esque about incorporating brands into fashion and art. Like how Andy loved to draw and paint things like Campbell's soup cans or Brillo boxes. Making a bag out of old cereal boxes seems, sort of simple, but I think its fantastic in its own right.

And now, here are my favourite pics from the Anya Hindmarch AW2014 show:

I love this foil candy wrapper purse so much!

Runway shot

All images taken from the Anya Hindmarch website

And here are some close up product shots of my favourite pieces:

These are not cereal boxes, they are clutches

THE bag. I want it so bad! In many colours!

This little tin Custard Cream clutch is also super cute

Vintage Frosties

Tony the Tiger

Coco Pops

Shop the collection here