Straighten up for Bottega Veneta’s Hop bag — with a slouch so charming, no mother will disapprove. 

The gauntness of a strap, the slouch of gussets, and the outward bloat of the body. Slight as it may seem, when one discusses a shoulder bag, the central focus always comes back to its form. It is what makes a shoulder bag handsome — the simplicity of its lines can measure its seductive foxiness, a sturdy structuring can prompt to its dependability, and the swell of a frame can be a tell-all on its trustworthiness. A lasting impression, though, occurs with a coup d’œil of a shoulder bag’s lateral perimeter. Unlike other classes of carriers, the shoulder bag is scored on the handsome scale by means of its side profile. Its build demands it to take on a front-facing enterprise, to be cohesively suited to the wearer’s outfit of choice, or flexible enough to try. 

And Bottega Veneta seems to have formulated the golden ratio. Hobo bags have long been ingrained in the house’s DNA, dating back to Bottega Veneta’s pre-rebrand days in 2002. But the Hop is not to be sidelined any longer. Born from a three-dimensional Intrecciato technique, the Hop takes on a slouchy yet geometrical role. A resultant pyramidal silhouette breathes latitude in its lineaments. Signature thin Intrecciato weaves contour the thicker, tubular handle, while supple calfskin holds up the Hop’s suspension — from being hung from a shoulder and pressed against the body of the wearer.

Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up with our May 2024 issue.