Former Hollywood superstar Ali MacGraw may have said “Goodbye, Columbus” 30 years ago, but these days it’s “Hello handbags.”
The ex-fashion model-turned-movie starlet just launched a line of accessories that is being sold exclusively at New York’s Bergdorf Goodman.
The line of bags and shawls — inspired by MacGraw’s frequent trips to India — sells for $900 to $1,100.
The actress who starred in such popular flicks as “Goodbye, Columbus” and the internationally successful “Love Story” — for which she earned an Oscar nomination — also designs an embroidered pashmina, which sells for about $1,200.
“We just got the collection in about three weeks ago, and it’s doing very well,” said a spokeswoman from Bergdorf Goodman.
The silk handbags are embroidered in gold bouillon and silver and were designed by the brunette bombshell herself.
Her partner is Veena Advani, whom the movie star met in India, and whose company does the embroidery for other high-profile designers, such as Badgley Mischka.
“The line is more of an expression of Indian culture than it is about trend,” said a Bergdorf spokeswoman.
“She has focused on archival items and Indian historical pieces. The line fulfills MacGraw’s personal need for simple unstructured pieces that incorporate Indian textiles.”
But MacGraw is not the only celebrity to carry around baggage.
Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky designs and sells her own brand of bags and sells them exclusively on the Internet through her website http://www.the realmonicainc.com.
“Keeping busy and creative was the biggest help in getting through a time of high anxiety and difficulty, and I started by learning to knit,” said Lewinsky on her website.
“‘Made especially for you by Monica’ bags are created with excellent quality and richly colored upholstery material which lend the bags their fashionable appearance.”