First introduced in 2004, the Michael Kors Astor was designed as an homage to Astor Place in New York City, home of legendary restaurant Indochine and The Public Theater.

“The Astor Place subway station, with its powerful cube sculpture by Tony Rosenthal, is the dividing line between Greenwich Village and the East Village, two of my favorite New York neighborhoods,” says Michael Kors. “The Astor bag itself will be turning 20 very soon. And the sporty glamour that exemplified the early Aughties seems incredibly relevant to the way we are all living and dressing today.”

The Astor bag’s clean lines and luxe leather craftsmanship speak to uptown polish while the distinctive stud hardware adds a downtown, tough-chic edge. It’s a juxtaposition of sensibilities the designer has explored throughout his career, and one that makes the Astor bag as timeless as it is covetable, a handbag that works perfectly in any city in the world.

“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,” says Kors. “The Astor bag is truly one of those things in your wardrobe, like a great pair of jeans, that gets better and better with time.”