Selena Gomez loves this £1,000 Alaïa handbag - we've found a near identical version for £79
French fashion house Alaïa has been around since 1964, but in the last couple of years, the brand has really come into its own. From Rihanna’s fully bedazzled mesh gown to that pair of studded ballet flats, Alaïa’s ultra-feminine, show-stopping designs have made it a favourite of fashion darlings everywhere.
No piece exemplifies this better than Alaïa’s Le Coeur handbag. The heart-shaped leather crossbody (that’s where the name Le Coeur comes from) is playful without veering into kitsch, and is now available in 17 different shades, from patent burgundy to leopard print. There’s even a version in the brand’s now-iconic diamante stud leather.
Alaïa’s Le Coeur handbag is a hit with the style set
But it’s not just us that coeur the Le Coeur. Celebrities from Selena Gomez to Anne Hathaway and Dua Lipa have been papped with the Alaïa staple, with Vogue hailing it the ‘handbag that stole our hearts this fashion month’. High praise indeed.
The one element we’re not quite so keen on? The price. Plain versions of the Alaïa accessory start at £1,000, with patterned designs between £1,200 and £1,400 and a brass version fetching £2,560. We’ll be honest: unless Santa’s feeling very generous, we’re not going to be able to afford one anytime soon.
Enter another blossoming brand: JW Pei. Best known for their scrunch-top minibags in eye-catching hues, its designs have managed one one of the trickiest feats in fashion: to be both affordable and A-list approved.
Selena Gomez is a fan of the bag
So it’s not infrequently that we sit scrolling JW Pei’s website, and during a recent browse, we spotted an accessory that looked excitingly familiar. The Francisca Heart Shaped Crossbody bag is an excellent dupe of Alaïa’s Le Coeur – albeit it’s £920 cheaper than even the basic designer models, at just £79 (it was originally £100 on the site, but has been reduced as part of the Black Friday sale).
Like all JW Pei’s bags, the Francisca is made from vegan leather, and has a matching adjustable crossbody strap to the Alaïa version. JW Pei’s also has a secure inner card slot and zip fastening, which we’re always grateful for after one too many at our festive bashes.
For £79, we definitely think there’s space for the Francisca on our Christmas list. The brand is promising delivery before Christmas with Express Shipping - so there's no excuse if we don't find one wrapped under the tree on the big day itself.
The Francisca Heart Shaped Crossbody bag, £79
