In the second half of 2020, one trendy handbag after another emerged, dazzling fashion enthusiasts. Among them, one name that cannot be missed is the Gucci Jackie 1961 Bag. The Jackie 1961 Bag, making a strong comeback after more than half a century, has been creatively reinterpreted by Creative Director Alessandro Michele with unique visuals and aesthetics, swiftly taking the fashion world by storm and quickly becoming a must-have bag for fashionistas. Let’s now deconstruct the unique charm of this vintage handbag together and understand why it has captured the hearts of the public in a short period of time.
// 美國第一夫人 Jackie Kennedy 之愛袋 //
The earliest version of the Jackie 1961 Bag actually originated in 1958. As for the reason it is now named “Jackie 1961,” we have to go back to the time of the former First Lady of the United States, Jackie Kennedy. Jackie Kennedy was famous for her elegance and fashion taste. Her outfits were a reference for women at the time, making her a true fashion icon. In 1961, whether she was attending public events in elegant and dignified outfits or on vacation in casual styles, she always carried this Gucci bag, increasing its exposure and even making it popular.
// 演變過程 //
The above-mentioned Jackie 1961 Bag started in 1958, named only with product code G1097 at the time, and the creative inspiration was the “equestrian” that Gucci often pays tribute to. The classic metal clasp on top is designed based on the tubular spring lock in equestrian sports.
After that, in 1961, this handbag underwent its first redesign, starting with the improvement of the iconic metal clasp and modifications to the shape of the bag. The width of the bottom increased, providing more storage space, and the overall semi-circular and rounded silhouette became simple and smooth, highlighting the femininity of women. It was after this transformation that this bag caught the eye of Jackie Kennedy, solidifying its timeless and unshakable status as the “eternal It Bag” in the fashion world.
In 1996, Gucci re-launched this handbag and named it the “Jackie O Bag” in tribute to former First Lady Jackie Kennedy. The original Jackie Bag was named the “Bouvier Bag” after Jackie Kennedy’s maiden name, Bouvier. Subsequent creative directors at Gucci have also revisited this iconic handbag style several times, such as Tom Ford in 1999, who changed the signature lock to a square design and gave it a vibrant new look.
In 2008, the then Gucci creative director Frida Giannini enlarged its size and used soft leather and tassel embellishments to give it a more neutral and handsome feel. Frida then created different styles of the Jackie Bag in 2011, incorporating rolled edge decorative elements; and in 2014, she launched The Jackie Soft series, which in addition to the crescent-shaped bag, also added styles of shoulder bag and tote bag.
// 混入 Alessandro Michele 獨有復古美學的 Jackie 1961 Bag //
In 2020, Alessandro Michele once again reshaped the brand’s classics, successfully igniting everyone’s attention and love as expected. Michele looks back on the brand’s past handbags, with a particular fondness for the Jackie Bag, stating, “The Jackie Bag is a handbag that can travel directly from the past to the present, and interest anyone.”
He incorporates his beloved retro aesthetics and Renaissance qualities into this classic bag, blending vintage and modern styles together, making the new Jackie 1961 handbag very “Michele”. The new Jackie 1961 bag is made of GG Supreme canvas and leather, and features the classic red and green striped woven strap, full of nostalgic vibes from the 60s and 70s that look even more fashionable in modern times. In addition, Michele has added richer color tones and pattern styles to the handbag, such as lilac, cream, sky blue, pink and other sweet candy colors, as well as a completely different python pattern, making it irresistible to any style of girl.
Michele also created the Jackie Bag in medium, small, and mini sizes, with detachable shoulder straps for added versatility. Paired with the simple and sleek dumpling bag design, it is sure to become everyone’s go-to fashion accessory.
// 納入 Gucci Mx 無性別系列 //
Alessandro Michele has always advocated for blurring gender boundaries, even intentionally creating the Gucci Mx gender-neutral series, making gender no longer a key element in determining fashion, and the Jackie Bag is also included in this series. The Jackie Bag reinterpreted by Michele exudes a neutral quality, whether paired with soft dresses, lace tops, or stylish suits and wool jackets, wearing the Jackie 1961 Bag shows no discord, showcasing the non-binary nature of this handbag.
// 世界各地名人加持 //
Another key factor that quickly brought the Jackie 1961 Bag into the public eye is, of course, the endorsement of celebrities from all over the world. IU, a loyal supporter of Gucci, was one of the first to show off the monogram style of the Jackie 1961 Bag back in July. She interpreted this handbag with three different looks: a romantic purple sweater, a neutral denim outfit, and a stylish all-black ensemble, perfectly demonstrating its high versatility.
And the extremely stylish actress Cate Blanchett also showcased her fashion taste at the Venice Film Festival with an off-duty look featuring the black leather Jackie 1961 Bag, highlighting the extraordinary charm of the handbag. As for Gucci’s favorite and “best Gucci interpreter” Harry Styles, he paired a shirt with corduroy trousers in autumn attire to complement the black Jackie Bag, showcasing the handbag’s non-binary characteristics.
圖片來源： @gucci , @dlwlrma , @choisaaaa , @ngk , @juno_mak , Pinterest
