I’ve had my Foley + Corinna city tote for some time now, and when I spotted the same bag in hot pink on Gossip Girl’s Jenny Humphrey character I took notice, not sure whether I should be proud I had it first or nervous that my favourite tote could be the newest trend explosion – in which case, I would have to retire it until the panic had settled.
![](http://theconveyorbelt.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/bronsino.jpg "\")
As if seeing my bag on Gossip girl wasn’t as exciting/sickening enough, I just received a press release about Vancouver’s newest “IT” bag, the Haarlem by Bronsino – a familiar looking tote than can be held by the short dual straps or folded over into a purse by holding from a singular long strap. (Update Nov 19, 2009: Bronsino’s designer has since advised me that her Haarlem bag was inspired by a purse from the ’70s and was in no way derived from the Foley + Corrina or any other similar bag, FYI).
For me, it’s time to put the bag away when it’s all over TV and duplicated even by the uber-cheap purse hawkers that sell them for $10 a pop at rickshaw markets.
It was time to change up my everyday tote anyway, I suppose…
Actually I have seen a similar bag from the 60’s. Maybe both artists were inspired by the look of that stlye. I think before we accuse our local designers we might want to ask them where they got there inspiration from…I know Bronsino has beautiful bags as I have recently purchased one myself, the designer seems very talented and genuine and I highly doubt she is the kind to steal another designers idea. Either way, they are both gorgeous bags!
Sarah