Kidney Turbigo For Dinner Anyone?

I have to confess that my first response, on seeing a Louis Vuitton Multicolore Leonor in the multicolore range was - "Wow, that looks just like a colorful kidney!"

That it stands out in a crowd was a given. What worried me was wether or not it would be useable as a bag.

With a sizing of 12 and a half inches long, 7 inches high and 4 inches deep it has the same general space as many other bags in the Louis Vuiton range.

There is a lot to look at in the Louis Vuitton Multicolore Leonor and it's safe to say that it will certainly surprise you as you spot new touches each time you take it out to use. You'll suddenly see something that you've never noticed before, like the fingers of cowhide leather formed around the bottom of the bag or the way the leather forms a collar for the strap fixings on the top of the bag.

But - and you knew there was going to be a "but, didn't you? - sometimes I think a bag can have too much detail and too many little touches to be a sensible, useable item.

Now I suspect that 9 out of ten users of the Louis Vuitton Leonor will only ever use it as, what I call, one of my "going out" bags. This would be totally impractical to use as a day bag, unless I needed a bag that would carry a pure minimum of day articles that would also need to double up as a bag for some 'Do' in the evening.

But this bag will need to be co-ordinated to your dress etc very carefully - or it will become the sole focus of attention and detract from the rest of you! It's because it's too "fussy", in my mind!

So - how about the actual, down to earth useability?

Well, it scores badly I'm afraid.

Firstly, the top opening flap is broad, providing a frill edged hangover to the bag lip. Fine whilst it's closed, but when you try to open the bag you soon find that the frilly cowhide ruffle rubs into the straps on either side.

The flap itself is secured by a buckle. I agree that it is a nice big buckle with good sized, rimmed holes but - it's still a buckle and a buckle with two tongues to get into the holes. They don't always match up straight, requiring a lot of fiddling! Buckles may look nice - but they work better if they have a clasp or snap closure hidden underneath.

And don't think that you can put this bag down at all, unless you're happy with it lying on it's back or front on whatever surface is at hand. Balancing this on it's bottom isn't going to happen!

I know, I know - I'm being awfully negative. Well, I don't think I am - I think I'm actually being very honest. This bag is interesting to look at, certainly. It's what you'd expect a Designer Label Handbag to be - visual, unique and a talking point.

But for $2,570.00 I would also want the Louis Vuitton Leonor to be practical, easy to use and for it to compliment my ensemble, not overpower it.

In these things I think it fails.