On the subway this morning we had a slightly awkward run-in with the girl sitting next to us. Sitting there, reading August Vogue Paris, we glanced over and saw everything this woman owned inside her see-through PVC bag.
We saw incoming messages on her Blackberry (no, we didn’t read them), her itinerary for the day, and even her workout gear for an after-work gym visit. All that and more on display for all of New York to see. Our only thought was, “Why would you wear that?”
From clear plastic shoes to bags and jackets, PVC is just one of those materials that hasn’t hit our radar. Sure, it’s waterproof, which makes it great for a beach bag or maybe a slick raincoat in a downpour, but the idea of all the contents of our bag on display for any passerby is kind of creepy. Plus, does beach ball material really belong in our wardrobe?
Sure, Marni, Gareth and Balenciaga have all experimented with the synthetic substance in non-see-through colors for clothes, but we’re still not sure it’s a great idea, especially since you know it doesn’t breathe well, or, at all, and could cause embarrassing squeaky noises every time you move.
But back to the bags – do you really want everyone seeing the stuff you cart around, your credit cards, your brand of mints, your stuff you keep at the very bottom?
Or are we just a bunch of prudes over here?
–KYLE HAYES
Tags: Balenciaga, Gareth Pugh, Marni, PVC
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do you guys take the subway together, or has kyle taken to using the “royal we”?!
just kidding…i think carrying a clear bag is so weird, and even weirder, one is being used in a current tampon commercial. the girl says, “don’t worry, I’ve got them right here!” or something and pulls them out of her clear bag! I mean, aren’t these products pretty much the main reason one shouldn’t carry clear bags?
some times department stores require their employees to use them to prevent theft.
Some schools and/or places of employment require see-through bags. Back in the stone age, I had a retail job that required a clear bag and there were no cute ones. We all had clear plastic cosmetic travel bags. Yuck.
didn’t LV produce some PVC bags a couple years ago or something like that? Maybe it was Chanel…or even both…? Either way, I don’t remember and don’t really care to. PVC reminds me of cheap makeup pouches (hey, which are fine) and rave-esque accessories. Gross, sweaty…and yes…squeaky.
No, definitely not a prude.
Plus it makes me think of the pinkish clearish plastic bookbags we used to carry in the second grade…
Chanel Fall 08, get ready to see more clear PVC.
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/F2008RTW/complete/slideshow/CHANEL?iphoto=36
shame seems to be lurking somewhere in here? who cares? when i was nineteen i was sitting in the neiman marcus at the fashion show mall in las veags. a friend of mine was visiting her old stomping grounds, and an older lady she used to work with still happened to be there. she was salty, brazen, and hilarious. she smoked (inside, no less) and from under the table where she was sitting, she pulled out a fake fendi bag that was clear plastic. it looked so great on her, with all of her stuff in it, that i almost considered trying to find one.
another story: about four years later i was standing in a the dark room of pasadena city college’s photo lab. an older asian woman i had been tutoring was having an LV show off with me. all i had at the time was my wallet. upon presenting it to her, she said, “yes, but in your purse or pocket, no one can see it.”
just saying. display your shit proudly. who cares if someone sees your tampons or condoms or cocaine? let it shine!
Clear PVC bags… No thank you! P.S. I don’t think they are very fashionable… and the girl who was carrying it reading Paris Vogue… I do not think it is so Vogue-y.
re: post #6
that’s unfortunate (in my opinion)
re: post #7
I don’t think there should be any shame in showing whatever junk you’re toting about, but I personally don’t like the look of PVC. Transparent, opaque, whatever.
I like them for the beach, but that’s as far as it goes.
i have the chanel one pictured (in gold not silver) and i LOVE it, but i only put a sleek wallet, cell phone, and lipstick in it. i think holding keys, papers, or anything else too ordinary ruins the look.
I have a clear bag which I used for the beach, but any use beyond that is just tacky.
Yes, I really like making it easier for pickpockets by telling them, “Hey, look! Here’s my wallet! Ooooh, and my iPhone! Don’t forget the iPhone!”
I think I might like it…
but I’d spend so much time worrying about what
was going inside that I’d never end up leaving my house!
This is a bit of a strange post. Don’t you guys do a video every so often of Jazzi looking through people’s bags? So why are you suddenly saying it’s creepy?
I think the whole clear PVC bag trend is just so designers can have something to offer within a broke person’s pricepoint. You know, like most of the Marc by MJ stuff you see in the sale section of elux.
gah
i hate PVC, whoever came up with the idea needs to be hunted down and slapped. it weird to be able to see everything in a persons bag walking down the street. i don’t really need to know what brand of condoms people carry around, or how organized, or unorganized it is. i remember when PVC backpacks invaded my middle school. oy it was bad. students are not the neatest people in the world
if i did have a clear pvc bag it would be to show off a nice wallet- like post #7 said and i would only put the minimal in there so it didn’t look messy or crowded. oh, and nothing that would spill. i do have a clear beach bag with cute little designs all over it, but that’s strictly for the beach.
you are.
i have the clear chanel one n it adds interest to a plain outfit. ive had it for over a yr now so i dont even use it anymore. pvc has been around forever. stupid post
PVC is also a known carcinogen and when disposed of wreaks havoc in landfills, etc. I did research for an article on eco-fashion and everyone I spoke to–Charmone shoes, Treehugger.com, etc.–said polyvinyl chloride was awful for the environment.
That said, I think it looks tacky. But agreed on the dept. stores…I see a lot of Saks girls with them.
i had a clear PVC backpack in the 8th grade. It cost me $5 from office depot. NEVER AGAIN.
yeah i’m not getting the problem.
maybe you guys are just too nosy.
Thank you #20. PVC is horrible for the environment. And cheap looking. I would def think twice.
A drag queen in college always wore see-through backpacks.
Noooooooooo!
Why do “we” care so much? Won’t you take out the stuff out sooner or later anyway? At this point, people will see it. And in the case of a subway, it’s people you’ll never meet again.
By the way, it’s also an innocent way of saying: hey, I have the new iPhone 3G! And again, why do we think about what others think so much?
But you are right. In many cases, it’s by far not the best choice.
I still have a pvc bag – when I needed a new purse and didn’t have the time to shop for one I emptied my daughter’s wood blocks out and put in my stuff. I’ve been to cocktail parties with it and have gotten compliments, although one time I left the wipes in there and went out to dinner. Opps, parenthood, gotta love it :)
i love my PVC bag. it’s very small though so it only holds my camera, cell phone and lip gloss. I only wear it to parties.
I agree with the “weird” sentiment of commenter 15… you guys have a weekly segment of going through people’s bags so clearly there are many out there who are comfortable having their personal belongings on display. It would be shooting yourselves in the foot if you made them feel prudish about it!!
i honestly don’t get what the big deal is.
i carry around a large, clear pvc and leather/snakeskin tote. it’s absolutely adorable and i get complements on it all the time. yeah, sure you can see right through, but i always put a book or something to cover all the random belongings.
it’s cute and, actually, i’m happy that everyone is against it, because hey, it’s unique.
more pvc bag love for me!