Olympia Le-Tan's Book Bags

I don’t like to watch films or plays about English professors because it’s too much like going for a long walk on a mail carrier’s holiday. I also avoid professorial style cliches, like sensible shoes, and any other ones you can think of.

However, I’ve just learned of both a witty and beautiful way to integrate my career into my personal style.

Visiting Rollergirl yesterday, I was overcome by the “book bags” from Olympia Le-Tan, Parisian designer, that the always savvy Rollergirl photographed and posted on her site.

These clutches, which I like to call “pocketbooks” (always an editor) are embroidered representations of first-edition literature covers.

Here’s a selection: voici the Lolita bag next to the actual book.

Then there’s Moby Dick, if you like long novels . . .

And Arthur Miller’s The Misfits, if your style is, shall we say, edgy and experimental . . .

And Steinbeck’s The Pearl (and just look at the Liberty fabric inside!) for a classic individual.

My favorite is Carson McCullers’ pocketbook, far above. Rollergirl’s site better captures the really pretty green of the cover.

These pocketbooks (book bags!) will be available at Browns. I know I’ll be checking the online shopping site daily!