Would you spend $290 on a designer paper bag? The new must-have for ladies who pack their own lunch



Only the finest for your juice box and apple. The humble paper bag has had a designer makeover, courtesy of top fashion designer, Jil Sander.



But while the traditional paper sack is usually purchased in bulk or handed out gratis, the Jil Sander 'Vasari' retails for a hefty $290 - the same cost as about 50 ham and cheddar sandwiches.

The German fashion house sent a solemn bevy of cashmere-clad models down the fall-winter 2012 runway, clutching the rolled-up bags in leather-gloved fists. Now the unassuming accessory is hitting stores.

Out to lunch: Top fashion designer Jil Sander has redefined the paper bag with her $290 version

Instantly recognizable in humble peanut brown, the sacks were also done in matte and vinyl black.

The Rolls Royce of paper bags, should you fancy the splurge, is rendered from high-durability coated paper, featuring stitched seams, metal eyelets (for ventilation, naturally) and a prominent designer logo. It's certainly minimal - on par with the designer's aesthete.

Hot off the runway: Jil Sander's lunch bag rendition in black coated paper (left) and brown (right)



Packing plastic: Jil Sander's $150 designer carrier

And - the non plus ultra lunch bag of all lunch bags - 'Vasari' also comes in a black leather iteration, which is selling for a whopping $630.

It is a surprising accessory for a luxury label that typically caters towards a well-heeled demographic.

The fashion pack are hailing it a must-have though. According to style bible W Magazine , the design is 'turning a necessity into an indulgence... Forget recycling - this bag is a keeper.'

This is not the first time Jil Sander has debuted a nondescript 'It' bag, however.



Last year, the label sold a $150 acetate (aka glorified plastic) carrier, perfect for those weekly grocery runs. Though it may far exceed the cost of its contents.

These utility bags are likely to be a continuation of the stealth-wealth trend, which kicked off with Prada's $900 nylon rucksack, first introduced in the Eighties and has enjoyed a lengthy resurgence since the early aughts.



It's understated luxury at a n eye-popping price.

