A style worthy of my love
When Azzedine Alaïa established his brand in the ‘80s, masterfully sculpted dresses and glamour-exuding ensembles quickly became hallmarks of the French Tunisian designer’s archive. Now almost half a century later, it’s these same design principles that influence every part of the brand’s creations – including the bags. One style that beautifully encapsulates Alaïa’s signature sculptural silhouettes is the Alaïa Le Cœur bag, affectionately dubbed the Alaïa Heart bag by fans (of which I am a huge one).
First debuting at the start of 2022, the Alaïa Le Cœur bag is defined by its structured heart shape that feels simultaneously novelty and classic. This design is a standout in my bag collection and is the kind of work of art we’ve come to expect from the brand. So let’s dig a little deeper into the design. Plus, in this review you’ll find everything you need to know about the size, material and colour options, and, of course, how I love to style mine.
ALAÏA LE CŒUR BAG DETAILS AT A GLANCE
Structured heart shape
Dual zip opening with pull tabs
Adjustable shoulder/crossbody strap
Colour options – red, blue, garnet red (burgundy), optic white, black, gray, dark blue, grege (light beige), denim blue, leopard print, natural, silver, pink, peach
Embossed logo detail
Calfskin lining
Size options – small, classic
Material options – calfskin, patent calfskin, suede goatskin, denim, haircalf leather, perforated calfskin, straw paper, crystal-embellished suede
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Novelty That Lasts
These days it feels like the fashion world loves handbags that make a statement, and this so often comes in the form of an out-there novelty design. Certainly during the early 2020s when the Le Cœur bag was first released, it felt like crazy novelty creations pushing the boundaries of what a handbag actually could (and couldn’t) be were everywhere. And so when Alaïa launched its Le Cœur, the internet and street style regulars went crazy for what everyone was calling the Alaïa Heart bag.
But, crucially, as many weirdly wonderful novelty bag designs left fashion’s spotlight as quickly as they entered, the Alaïa Le Cœur bag has stuck around. The smooth sheen of the calfskin leather as it softly curves into the perfect heart shape, the long leather strap that you can carry on your shoulder or crossbody. The Alaïa Heart bag is … dare I say … practical, too. I have the silver version that’s almost reflective like a mirror, and also the red one. So while it’s very much a statement bag that’s great for adding a shiny addition to my evening looks, it’s not one of those gorgeous yet hopelessly impractical creations that I have to awkwardly hold while I’m out. It’s so easy to elegantly sling over my shoulder, and if you want to switch things up and use it as a day bag, the strap works great crossbody, too.
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Which Size, Material & Colour To Pick??
When a bag gets popular, it’s always fun to see the new colour, material and size options that the brand introduces to the ranks. And the more variations available is a strong sign that the brand is betting big on the design. In Alaïa’s case, the Le Cœur has pretty quickly become a favourite within the label’s bag offering so that means we’re all treated to a bountiful array of variations to choose from.
The first is size. The size options are not expansive, but they don’t need to be – it’s just classic or small if you’re looking for a mini version of the original that’s even more compact. The classic can fit all of your basic essentials (including the largest size iPhone) so I’ve never had a problem with it. But in terms of the small Alaïa Le Cœur size (it’s more like a mini bag), you’d struggle to fit most phones in there and a little more than the bare (bare) basics so that’s something to consider.
Next up are the material and colour options which are sort of linked because many colours are only available in a certain material. Standouts for me include my silver version (of course). Plus, burgundy in both calfskin and patent calfskin variations (hello autumn wishlist), leopard print haircalf leather (it sort of has a pony hair effect), and denim (it’s a pretty dark blue shade which I love).
Are you guys as in love with the Alaïa Heart bag as I am? Which is your favourite colour and material option?
