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Olympia Le Tan
As a child, you could always find me hiding behind the pages of a book—quite literally. There I could shed my day-to-day routine in exchange for the more fantastic adventures of my current heroine. Jetting to Paris to shop at Chanel? I was before Emily in Paris ever acquired her passport. Eating at a Michelin-starred restaurant? Traversing the jungles of Africa? All waiting for me to unearth.
As I got older, I still found solace and escape in reading. When my kids were little and my days felt overwhelming, I often turned to reading, sometimes devouring a novel a day. And lately, while I’ve had less time for reading, I still love a good book. Belle Burden’s Strangers? Don’t even get me started. I couldn’t put it down.
My latest obsession? It’s not a novel; it’s a clutch—specifically a literary clutch crafted by Olympia Le Tan.
A celebrity favorite, Le Tan’s bags can be found on the arms of some of the most fashionable women, including Kim Kardashian, Chloë Sevigny, and, more recently, Lupita Nyong'o, who sported an Odyssey clutch at the New York premiere. Showstoppers, one and all.
I stumbled upon Le Tan several years ago. I think I first saw her tucked under the arm of a celebrity in InStyle magazine back in the days when glossy pages still reigned supreme—a tiny rectangle felt collage that popped against a brightly-colored ball-gown skirt. A book stitched and rendered in felt, a book as a fashion accessory? How divine, and… perfect. While I don’t remember the exact book title or whom the celebrity was, the clutch struck a chord. I was obsessed with hunting down one of my own.
Through the years I culled through hundreds of Le Tan’s bags. Would I pick The Great Gatsby, my favorite book? Or would I select The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a book I once taught as a fourth-grade teacher? Or would I instead reach for the brass ring and bring home The Catcher in the Rye? My secret wish? A Princess and the Pea clutch—inspired by the book my grandmother used to read to me when I was a little girl. A pipe dream? Maybe, but Le Tan will craft special orders.
In the end, I chose a tiny little gray jewel box of my own featuring a lithe Parisian tennis player, her arm and racket extended over the net, the title “La Vie Parisienne” arching boldly above her tennis whites.
Chef’s kiss. Exactly the kind of maximal minimalism I love. Paired with an all-black or all-white ensemble, the Le Tan speaks loudly so the rest of the outfit doesn’t need to. And that’s the beauty of Olympia Le Tan. Each of her pieces is so arresting that they are really all you need—giving the rest of your outfit permission to whisper.
And that’s what makes Olympia Le Tan’s creations the perfect accessories. Accessories are, at their core, what gives your outfit its voice, if you will. Take a white tee shirt and a pair of jeans. Anyone can wear them. But add a fabulous accessory, and suddenly, the whole look evolves. That is the beauty of a Le Tan.
But an OLT clutch moves the bar an extra notch. Not only does it elevate your look, it is also the embodiment of your style and your taste. Are you a Francophile at heart? Do you love dogs? Is tequila on the rocks your beverage of choice? Is Old Man and the Sea your favorite tome (it definitely wasn’t mine)? No worries, Le Tan makes a clutch for each.
And as of now? While The Princess and the Pea still remains as elusive as the genuine princess herself, my love of Olympia Le Tan continues to grow.
And the little girl with her head in a book? She probably never realized she’d grow up to carry one on her arm.
Put a Pin in It
Simkhai Karlene Feather-Embellished Crepe Mini Dress
Manolo Blahnik Callamu Mule
David Yurman Petite Pavé Pinky Ring
Olympia Le Tan Swan Lake Clutch
Toteme Sleeveless Fine Turtleneck
High Sport Kick Flare
Olympia Le Tan Versailles Clutch
Jude Date Flat
Khepri Diamond Petite Pear Hammered Bezel Studs
De La Vali Mia Chiffon Top
Ayr The Culture Jean
Olympia Le Tan Anne of Green Gables Clutch
Staud Brigitte Mules
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