In tandem with the continuing influence of minimalism in the fashion world, Chanel’s latest “it” bag is the Boy, named after Mademoiselle Chanel’s love of her life, Boy Capel.

“Chanel used men’s underwear to make  dresses;  she  had  this boyish attitude, in fact it is the very  spirit of Chanel. She got it from Boy Capel, the great love of  her  life,  which,  incidentally, explains why the new bag is called the Boy Chanel,” explained designer Karl Lagerfeld at the launch of the Chanel Boy.

Worn either as a longer line shoulder bag or an across-body-bag, the Chanel Boy has a distinctly masculine feel to its rigidly shaped box-type body. The basic shape of the Chanel Boy was based on a cartridge bag – used to carry shotgun cartridges – made for hunters and previously carried by Mademoiselle Chanel herself says Chanel.

Glamour remains however in the luxurious, padded leather and large round-link metal or ruthenium chain used for the handles and straps. The brand name is boldly embossed across the front of the bags and on their flattened, book-like “spines”; the closure combines the classic double Cs in a mixed-metal clasp.

Created in glazed calfskin, the Chanel Boy bags are available in a flat red, black, grey, lead green and ivory and are priced from $3,940 for the smallest Boy Chanel flap bag.

The Chanel Boy bag is now available from Chanel boutiques at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands and Takashimaya Shopping Centre.