The Owen Handbag Line Is Art Deco With a Touch of McDonald's

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Meatpacking District boutique Owen—an essential New York store—has won over the fashion set in the past three years with its consistently unique selection of under-the-radar brands, plus that insane ceiling installation. And in two weeks, store owner Phillip Salem will debut the store's first-ever collection of art deco-inspired handbags, totes, and clutches.

The line, called Owen Private Label, reflects Salem's obsession with symmetry and admiration for New York architecture. "I love the Chrysler Building. The handle even looks like the top of it!" he told Racked. But there was another inspiration: "I wanted a woman to go to dinner and put her bag on the table and for everyone to just, like, gag. She could be at McDonald's. She could be at ABC Kitchen."

Each of the three styles come in multiple color and material combinations, including matte or shiny leather in mint, orange, red, blue, white, and black. "We wanted to give the customer a reason to buy all of them," he explains. The bags will also be available in black crocodile—though Salem says they'll likely sell out so fast that they won't even make it to the store.

Inside, each bag has either mauve deer hide or soft black leather, and the hardware, which comes in gold or gunmetal, wraps all the way around the outside of the bag.

"We designed it for someone who's city-chic and sexy at the same time—willing to wear it with jeans or a gown." he says, adding, "I'd love to see this bag with a jean short."

Only 100 pieces in total have been produced thus far, though Salem says that'll grow in the next season, when the bags are likely to become available outside of Owen. For now, however, they're available for pre-order in the store only. Prices depend on leather, with the large satchel running between $2,495 and $2,795, the mini satchel at $2,195, the medium clutch $2,250, and the long clutch $1,995.

· Take a Tour of the Dramatic Meatpacking District Shop Owen [Racked NY]
· Sporty Crop Tops, Graphic Prints, and Luxe Trenches at Owen [Racked NY]
· New York City's 38 Most Essential Stores, Fall 2014 [Racked NY]