August 19, 2009
Left: Barneys New York “The Discreet”; Right: Valextra Boston
This Barney’s private label bag, “The Discreet” indeed is discreet in it’s subtle design but what isn’t so discreet is the blatant rip off the the Valextra Boston. Yes the Boston is a doctor style and the Discreet is more of a square tote but you cannot deny the design similarities. Barneys has done an exceptionally good job with their private label bag line, tasteful styles with incredible quality. I just find it ironic that they would call this The Discreet. At least it’s not a knockoff so if you want the look without paying $3170 for it (price of the Valextra Boston), this is a perfectly good option for $750 at Barneys New York.
I’ve been eyeing this bag for a couple of days trying to decide if I’m going to buy it. If I’m being perfectly honest, I actually like the Barneys bag more than the Valextra one. I prefer the ringless handles on the Barneys design. It’s a bit more posh than the Valextra Boston and you can’t beat the price.
the designs on these bag are not exactly “unique”….its easy to “rip off” since they look pretty basic.
I agree with WGS. How can one make such a ridiculous accusation? You could also say the Valextra Boston is a blatant rip-off of so many other bags in the past which look similar to this, no?
I kind of like the Barneys more myself. It looks a little like the Chanel Cerf Tote which I really love.
i don’t think this would count as a rip off unless it had the ringed handles and/or the rounded patches on the corners.
I discussed Barneys’ private collection at length with Julie Gilhart once. They like the clean lines and the simple designs of Valextra bags and source factories in Italy who are able to produce good quality bags at much less prices. I bought a computer bag from the Barneys line and love it.
Yes, I sometimes get tired of the “knockoff” accusations when there are so many worse offenders out there. The only real similarities i see here are cleanness and color. I would say the aesthetic is similar, but this, in my opinion, is no where near approaching the the realm of knockoff. And honestly, these days even the most revered “designers” produce things that are much more derivitative of previous designs yet, do not get called out. Either that or they only produce one style in different colors every season. Sorry, that’s the end of my rant
I agree 100% with Nancy. All handbags are just interpretations and iterations … I too saw these in Barneys and compared them side by side(quality wise they are identical) and all it proves is that the Valextra is severely overpriced (like all luxury brands you are paying for the name)
They’re not even close! However, neither bag is original in design. Simple yet beautiful bags like both of these have existed for at least 55 years. You’re just too young to remember.Oh…the Barney’s bag definitely has it over the Valextra.
Honestly the Barneys reminds me more of Tod’s in terms of the handles. Just curious, did Gucci come out with its Boston bag first, or did Valextra? I agree that these are all simple shapes, variations, but to me there’s more similarities between the two Bostons.
I thought the Boston (Gucci/Valextra) looks almost EXACTLY the same as the Speedy (LV) – or am I missing something? I’ve not seen the Valextra in person before, but surely the LV design came first in 1933?