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Fashion fans have been wondering what Hedi Slimane’s Céline would look like since the brand announced back in January that he would be taking the reins. And yesterday the designer provided the first hint via a bag that was spotted dangling on the arm of none other than Lady Gaga. Gaga was seen carrying the purse as she left her A Star Is Born co-star Bradley Cooper’s apartment in Paris. She paired the piece with an Azzedine Alaïa leather trench coat and spikes heels for a ladylike look with a dramatic touch.
Of course, the true test of a good handbag is how many different outfits you can pair it with. Given the recent sightings in France and Italy, Gaga is proving that Slimane’s new bag is certainly versatile. The piece provided the right contrast to her neon orange House of CB bandage dress as she posed on the rooftops of Paris for an Instagram post. It was also the ideal match for the slinky black Jonathan Simkhai resort cocktail dress she chose for her trip to the Venice Film Festival, balancing on the edge of her water taxi as she cruised into Palazzo del Cinema di Venezia earlier today.
The black structured satchel with gold hardware seems worlds away from Céline’s classic handbags—consider the ubiquitous Phantom tote or Box bag, both wildly popular under Phoebe Philo—but right in line with the rock star glamour Slimane is known for. Monogramed with the initials L.G. and calling to mind a vintage purses of the 1950s, the bag represents an interesting merger of past and present.
Whether or not that vibe will echo in the final collection remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: There’s no better way to launch a new product than on the back of the famous. With Beyoncé introducing the world to Riccardo Tisci’s first Burberry collection, Rihanna wearing fashions before they hit the runway, and Kim Kardashian serving as a living-breathing advertisement for Yeezy, celebrities are—for better or worse—the new billboards.
Now Read: The Most Breathtaking Celebrity Looks from the Venice Film Festival 2018
This article first appeared on Vogue.com
