When you need to make an entrance, you call Lady Gaga. To announce his arrival at the helm of Celine in 2018, Hedi Slimane enlisted the performer to tote around his first handbag for the maison, months before its official release. An expertly engineered celebrity blitz is a smart move, no doubt, but it’s just as telling that Slimane’s very first sketch as Celine’s new creative maestro (a post he held for six years before stepping down last October) wasn’t of the bouclé jackets, A-line minis, or $1,350 jeans that would become his ready-to-wear signatures. It was of this handbag, known as the 16.
One could argue that it’s de rigueur for any designer taking over a heritage house to start in the archives. But paying lip service to history is not what turns a bag into an It bag the minute it’s born. The 16 (named for Celine’s Paris atelier at 16 Rue Vivienne) was inspired by house designs from the 1960s, which is evident in the trapezoidal silhouette and discreet hardware. But it’s also unmistakably modern, made for the 21st-century woman, with functional details (removable straps, interior pockets) and in a range of sizes, colors, and materials. How about a classic black calfskin for the C-suite, this shearling for Aspen, and a mini python for opening night of Maxime’s New York? Just a suggestion.
Celine by Hedi Slimane Classique 16 BAG ($5,400), celine.com
Hedi Slimane began his tenure at Celine by introducing the 16, named for the brand’s Paris HQ at 16 Rue Vivienne.
The trapezoidal silhouette, short flap, and turnlock closure pay homage to 1960s Celine.
The 16 repertoire now includes a variety of materials including shearling, python, and lizard, and it’s available in three sizes. Each bag is finished with a luggage-inspired padlock.
This story appears in the February 2025 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW
Leena Kim is Town & Country’s Editor, covering the travel, jewelry, style, arts and culture, education, and weddings beats. She has no priors—she has been at the magazine for 11 years, having started her career at T&C as the assistant to the editor in chief.
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