Practical isn’t always the first word that comes to mind when investing in a new handbag—take it from someone who owns a micro Jacquemus Le Chiquito (too small for even a phone), a bag shaped like a dog (yes, really), another in the form of a starfish, and a currently all-consuming desire for a fully beaded Fendi Baguette. But every now and then, the fashion stars align and a bag manages to be practical, particularly chic, and universally adored. Introducing—or more accurately, re-introducing—the Max Mara Whitney.
First unveiled ten years ago in collaboration with the Renzo Piano Building Workshop to celebrate the opening of the then-new Whitney Museum of American Art, the bag’s signature ribbed design was inspired by the building's architectural façade. It became such an icon that it earned a place in the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, as well as the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. Not many bags can claim that level of cultural clout.
