STYLE Edit: Givenchy’s Mystic bag reflects Clare Waight Keller’s flight into the myth of Icarus

For Givenchy’s pre-fall 2019 collection, artistic director Clare Waight Keller drew on the Greek myth of Icarus. The new Givenchy Mystic bag follows in this seasonal canon with an equally legendary haute couture silhouette.

The new pre-fall bag offers a semi-structured form; sculptural shoulders with a top-handle and V-shaped flap. Exuding elegant restraint, the Mystic is a modern status symbol.

Waight Keller, who also designed Meghan Markle’s wedding dress last year, is adept at mixing modern elements with traditional forms.

The high level of craftsmanship is indisputable. The exterior uses a fine calf leather while the interior is lined with contrasting suede. Handmade topstitching and hand-painted edges are thoughtful, meticulous details that only a luxury house like Givenchy could provide. The suspended top handle is made of a triple layer of suede, calf leather and a hand-applied bombé cushion that takes on its own individual patina.

But the V flap – or perhaps, what the flap “teases” – is the most eye-catching aspect of all. The Mystic name is in honour of its half-hidden lock, showcasing the stylised double-G clasp in a new silky gold finish. When opened, the flap still shields one’s interior contents like a well-kept secret. Indeed, Mystics sported by celebrities have been worn and photographed in this unique way.