English Version | Love is in the air...chive

The passions of times gone by – the good ones, the ones that make memories, the ones that mark moments – always leave a sense of nostalgia. Those kind of memories that we fondly return to, that come back to us time and time again, that shaped events in our lives... whose trigger can be as simple as the bag we used on a certain date, in a certain job interview, on a certain girls night out. There are even accessories that, in themselves, are passions of times gone by, worn to the point of exhaustion, the pain of having to repair them due to the wrinkles they gained or going into denial and continuing to wear them as if it were the first day, as brand new. There are accessories that are passions of times gone by, but that have had their time. Others not, like those that make up Guess' new range of vintage bags, which delve into the archives to awaken (new) passions. With roots in its emblematic American retro style, but reimagined for 2023, the brand has returned to everyday Guess icons that promise to be as coveted now as they were at the time of its launch. Using the basic lines of some of their signature models – and not just any, the ones that made and make their fans sigh –, they now arrive reinterpreted to renew romantic vows.

Belle Vintage is the (appropriate) name of the standout line for autumn-winter 2023/24, which revives the Elongated G bag in three designs. With the logo in denim, in two-tone jacquard and in cotton, the options – which share familiar features, but which differ enough in shape and size to suit different looks – wink at the Wild West of American imagination, that is part of the inspiration for this capsule. The versatility doesn't end with the lines: in a color palette that ranges from vibrant to sober, with more classic shades such as black and brown, but also in cheerful yellows, orange and pink, these bags go from morning to night, and through seasons, from summer to winter, as they went through the years - without fading their love-appeal.

The scope also translates into contrasts: each piece encapsulates a cool side with a touch of glamour, a relaxed side with a touch of sophistication, an effortless side with a touch of dress up, a casual side with a touch of elegance. And it is in the balance of these two that the perfect relationship lives: one that allows the allure of each of these bags not to be exhausted in the shop windows, but rather to come to life on the shoulder, arm or hand of whoever gives them a (second) life, the one that begins after the piece leaves the archives, leaves the drawings, leaves the imagination of its designers for the better half that belongs to it.

Available on the official Guess website, as well as in selected stores and retailers, even the most monogamous in style will want to opt for polyamory when it comes to bringing these models into their everyday wardrobe – yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Translated from the original in The Love & Hope Issue, published December 2023. Full stories and credits in the print issue.