Online - June 07, 2005

Buy Me a River

Perfume River Purses

Face it, life isn’t fair.

Gisele can scarf down pizza and model lingerie the next day. Guys don’t have to submit to down-under waxing. And you don’t have enough vaca days to take off on a two-week tour of Thailand.

You can cry yourself a river or simply take a trip down Perfume River, Huong Caitlin Nguyen’s darling new bag collection. The designs, which were inspired by her early childhood in Saigon, feature intricate bouquets of floral and argyle patterns hand-embroidered by Vietnamese craftswomen. (These creations bear no resemblance to that minimalist black tote you should have retired three years ago.)

Casting an eye toward the likes of Anna Sui, Peter Som, and Matthew Williamson, Nguyen incorporates unusual shapes and curves into her whimsical, worldly designs. Faves include the Bella Bohemian bag, the Orleans tote, and the Petite Bebe purse — all of which have that elusive I-found-it-in-a-market-in-Hoi An feel.

Even though the closest you’ve been to Southeast Asia is the leftover curry you’re eating for lunch.

Available online at perfumeriver.com or ishopblush.com.