The Panther: Cartier’s ’30s Muse Inspires a New Collection

Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin, Catherine Deneuve — they’ve inspired many a collection, all while not giving a flying je ne sais quoi. For its latest capsule, Cartier drew on Jeanne Toussaint, a French designer who began as director of fine jewelry there in 1933. Her nickname, Panther — earned because she decorated her apartment with a variety of exotic skins — inspired one of the house’s most iconic motifs. This week, the company launched a six-piece collection of ladylike, structured totes and chain bags titled the Jeanne Toussaint Collection, which is available now at stores and online. Click through the slideshow to see all the pieces in the collection.