Michael Kors reissues a Noughties icon

Some of the most-loved cult handbags of all time had their heyday in the early Noughties—from the Balenciaga Motorcycle to the Marc Jacobs Stam to the Fendi Baguette. And seeing the era of big belts and butterfly clips make a huge comeback in recent seasons, with few signs of slowing down, it’s no wonder designers continue to dip their toes into their It bag archives to revisit their greatest hits from that time. While some of the fashion and accessories resurfacing from the Noughties today can feel flash-in-the-pan, Michael Kors is reissuing a handbag that deserves a place in your wardrobe for years to come.

That bag is the Astor. In all its sporty, studded leather glory, the style, first introduced in 2004, is inspired by New York City’s downtown crossroads Astor Place. The historic Manhattan spot serves as the dividing line between two of Kors’s favourite New York neighbourhoods, Greenwich Village and the East Village. Marked by an iconic cube sculpture by Tony Rosenthal, Astor Place is all about the classical, cultured elements of New York—the likes of legendary restaurant Indochine and The Public Theater, where Hamilton, A Chorus Line and The Normal Heart, among other shows, first premiered. As for the handbag’s craftsmanship, Kors explains, “The artisanal studding and heavy top stitching are reminiscent of legendary sandal and belt maker Barbara Shaum, whose studio was on East 7th Street, right off Astor Place.”