MARK CROSS SS 2016

A refined yet contrasting mix of rose, azure, rattan, leopard spots and nectarine shades inject character into the Mark Cross SS 2016 collection, which true to its name continues to thrive as an emblem of whispered luxury. It's the richness of the hues and textures, in fact, that defines and enhances the less-is-more aesthetic of each bag, true icons of haute craftsmanship, meticulously detailed, down to the last stitch of the exquisitely lined interiors. A name, a story soaked in time and tradition yet utterly contemporary. Founded in 1845 in Boston, Mark. W. Cross & Co. was a purveyor of carriage saddles and harnesses that became known as Mark Cross when Patrick Murphy acquired the company in 1875 for $6,000. He paved the way for international expansion, relocating to New York and opening a shop on Broadway. His son Gerald Murphy joined the company and married trend-setting heiress Sara Wiborg. Together they set up home in Paris, befriending and entertaining characters of the Lost Generation: Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Cole Porter (a friend from Murphy's Yale days) and the Fitzgeralds. They all fell under the couple's charm. After different ownerships, the company closed its doors in the 1990s until it was resurrected in 2011. Today it produces pieces in the same factories in Italy as the celebrated originals, which have been reimagined with a fresh eye. The collections are inspired by the archives of decades ago – the Grace Box bag, for example, was originally created by Gerald Murphy for Grace Kelly's role in Rear Window. Seasonally updated, Mark Cross' bags are a reassuring buoy of good-taste in today's ocean of luxury offerings.