At this point, we’ve all accepted that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen have an uncanny ability to make us want to buy things. We have dissected the Margaux—its rise, reign, and untimely discontinuation—and more recently, the structured, no-nonsense India bag. But leave it to The Row to quietly add another contender into the conversation. The Row Marcel bag isn’t vying for attention, it already has it.
If the Margaux was your effortlessly chic friend, and the India your put-together older sister, the Marcel somehow manages to be both. Structured enough to mean business, soft enough to feel lived-in, it’s made in Italy from nappa leather that only gets better with wear. Its gently-sloping curves give the rectangular shape a sense of ease, which is grounded by two top-handles in the center (not unlike Marcel the Shell himself). A concealed zipper closure keeps things tidy. It’s a quiet IYKYK moment, which of course, is what The Row does best.
Offered in one size, two colors— black and dark brown—and leathers (smooth at $3,200; grained at $2,300), the Marcel lands on the more approachable end of The Row’s prices (relative, of course). Just large enough to fit a large iPad, it makes a compelling case as an everyday workbag. But, he (I do believe this one is a he, not a she) doesn’t clock out at 5 p.m. Throw in a small beauty kit for a sunny Friday afternoon that could turn into an endless night. Or bring it on your next city trip as the understated carry-on.
Fashion editors are onto the style, and Hailey Bieber was seen carrying a black Marcel last December in Los Angeles—so the clock, as it does with The Row, is already ticking.
