A MARK CROSS OVERNIGHT CASE, ANYWAY. COMPACT BUT AMPLE ENOUGH

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Teresa Cannata'

It’s intriguing to see how cinema can turn simple items into icons. Many accessories have become objects of desire after appearing in a film – from the red seen on Alicia Silverstone in Clueless to the Chanel Rouge Noir nail polish sported by Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction, for example. Cinema is a form of artistic expression which feeds on human dreams, and symbolical objects in films can surely fuel this fire.

Another excellent example is a bag seen on Grace Kelly in one of Alfred Hitchock’s masterpieces, Rear Window (1954). Her character – the posh fashion consultant Lisa Carol Fremont – wore flawless outfits designed by Edith Head (including the dramatic Paris dress); her most notable accessory was a Mark Cross overnight bag.

That bag was designed by Gerald Murphy and symbolized everything a classy woman could wish for: as Lisa said in the film, it was “compact but ample enough”.

The recently revived American brand has produced a modern version of that iconic bag, giving it the name of the actress who made it famous. The original bag had a mirror and multiple pockets, details which are unfortunately missing from the Grace bag. The shape of the small box trunk is a little bit different from the original, too; moreover, a brass lock closure and detachable shoulder strap have been added.

Despite the minor modifications, the Grace bag still holds an incredible cinematic charm that can be enhanced by classic outfits – a sleek suit, a basic sheath dress, a v-neck top worn with a flared printed skirt, if you feel like channelling your inner Grace Kelly.

http://markcross1845.com/home.htm