A LITTLE INTRO
La Baie des Anges, which inspired the movie from the 60s that depicted the glamour of the French Riviera, is now the background of Celine’s Summer 2022 Collection, available since the 25th of February. And their new bag is all about that. I love shoulder bags, and Celine’s chain Triomphe is among my top right now.
In this post, I will go through the bag’s features, my first impressions, and why is it my go-to bag right now!
THE TRIOMPHE MOTIF
The iconic Triomphe closure motif was designed in the 1970s and the story goes along the lines of : Céline Vipiana’s car breaks down in Paris, right in front of the Arc de Triomphe and she (unbothered by the little incident) gets inspired by the chain sorrounding the iconic monument, creating the iconic double Cs logo. However it was not until 2019, when Hedi Slimane joined the house as artistic director, that it was rediscovered. In this sense, since Slimane took over Celine, he has been looking both to the past and the future with refined silhouettes to appeal to younger customers while honouring the house’s savoir-faire.
ABOUT THE BAG
The new Triomphe shoulder bag features premium quality shiny calfskin and lambskin lining, making pride to Celine’s love and care for leather goods. The interior consists of one large main compartment with an inner flat pocket, making it perfect to carry the essentials. The new bag shares shape and almost dimensions (is 0,5 cm longer and taller) with the prior Triomphe model, with the only difference being the chain instead of the leather strap. However, although it might seem insignificant, the change is noticeable since the chain adds extra glamour and sophistication to the bag. Nonetheless, the new version keeps its minimalism, focusing on the leather that delivers elegance and timelessness. Over the seasons, Celine has enlarged the silhouette of the Triomphe, making it more noticeable when carried under the arm. This transition into a longer baguette shape allows the Triomphe to peek out from under the arm a bit more and gain more presence. In the end, ‘it’ bags like this are designed to be seen.
AT £1,950 FOR THE MODEL IN SHINY CALFSKIN AND £1,850 FOR THE ONE IN TRIOMPHE CANVAS, THE TRIOMPHE CHAIN SHOULDER BAG IS AT A SIMILAR PRICE POINT TO THE CELINE’S TEEN 16.
click below to get your Triomphe!
THE BAG’S FEATURES
CALFSKIN
LAMBSKIN LINING
GOLD/SILVER FINISHING
SHOULDER CARRY
TRIOMPHE METALLIC CLOSURE
INNER FLAT POCKET
CHAIN WITH 24 CM DROP
Size
20.5 X 10.5 X 4 CM
Materials available : SHINY CALFSKIN/ TRIOMPHE CANVAS / SUEDE CALFSKIN AND SHEARLING/LIZARD/ PYTHON/SEQUINS AND CALFSKIN
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE CUIR
Moreover, Celine has recently released a bolder version of the shoulder bag that, instead of the hardware in gold, features the Celine logo embossed in leather, what the brand calls the Cuir Triomphe. This model is available in black, yellow and Triomphe canvas with a tan closure. The Cuir Triomphe is another of Celine’s insignias as it lets the leather handiwork of the French house shine. Recently it has been used a lot by the brand, for example, in models like the Cuir oval bag, which is super chic for a night out.
CLICK BELOW TO SHOP THESE ICONIC CELINE BAGS
The Triomphe Collection
Triomphe, Triumph in French, is one of the brand’s most valuable bag collections. Celine launched their first Triomphe bag as part of the Fall-Winter 2018 Collection, which soon became a statement handbag. At that time, it represented a break from every traditional rule in Celine’s book, as it put the brand at the centre for the first time. Celine’s handbags were known for their quality and sophistication, but unlike brands like Luis Vuitton, their name wasn’t a crucial feature of the bags. However, for the Triomphe, they decided to put the double C for Celine in medium size in the centre lock, leaving no room for confusion.
The shoulder-carry model debuted in the Spring-Summer 2021 Collection, adopting the rectangular shape and the shorter strap that the new one also features.
Moreover, last December, Celine launched their Mini Triomphe for those who love tiny bags, which measures 11 cm wide and 8 cm high. In this case, the shape is more rounded and compact than the shoulder-carry model, and it features a removable and adjustable leather strap with a 55 cm drop..
But there is more in the Triomphe Collection. In between the first model and the shoulder bags, Celine released the Teen model, a more compact version than the original that maintained the square shape. This model features a long strap to wear cross-body or hanging from the shoulder and is available in a wide variety of colours and materials. So far, it is the one with more designs in the Triomphe family, and they have just released a Cuir version in their summer 2022 Collection. And last but not least part of the Triomphe Collection we have the Chain Besace shoulder carry on bag, and the very new box shaped Triomphe Bag.
SHOP THE COLLECTION
…TO THE POINT
As I mentioned before, one of my favourite things about Celine’s new Triomphe shoulder bag is its versatility. It is youthful and urban yet elegant, which makes it the perfect companion for any occasion you may encounter on your day. You can wear it to work, run errands or attend an event, and it will look appropriate every time. Although I am becoming a fan of colourful handbags, nothing beats the utility of a black leather bag, and Celine leather goods are always the right answer. I love how the gold chain and hardware add distinction to the bag without making it too flashy and the comfort when I carry it around. It already has a spot in my collection and is definitely going to be in my suitcase many times this summer!
