The Legacy of Longchamp’s Le Pliage

You can hardly call Longchamp bags a “hot new trend;” the company has been churning out pieces for more than 60 years (first leathergoods, in founder Jean Cassegrain’s native France), but the company’s “Le Pliage” nylon tote is more popular than ever. From high school highways and college campuses to celebrities and busy moms on the go, they’re the ubiquitous no frills bag noted for quality craftsmanship and simple appeal, punctuated by its iconic racing horse logo. Solids reign supreme, but more creative patterns are making their debut, and most of what the company makes still comes from the workshops in France. You can spot Le Pliage bags around the world, and they are a favorite among travelers for their durability. (For an everyday bag, I prefer more structure, but judging by its popularity, I’m the exception and not the rule.)

While the flagship boutique is appropriately perched on Paris’s most fashionable address, rue Saint Honoré, you need not jet on over to shop for a Longchamp. Newport’s Island Pursuit carries the tote (small: $98; medium: $125; large: $145). C’est Manifique!