Hello and sorry I am late and bumping this thread!
What can I say? As many of you have said, Bottega hadn't been the same since a while ago. The addition of unnecessary crazy designs and embellishments was an invite for the non-Bottega target: people who probably had never stepped into a store or who wouldn't be able to recognize the intrecciato even if they had a wall made out of it right in front of them. I found
@anniebhu 's comment so spot on, this is for people who don't respect heritage, true luxury, quality, elegance and class (aka, millenials, generation to which I sadly belong.)
I will sound more bitter than I usually am and probably way off-topic, but what kind of world are we leaving to the people from the future? I know this is just fashion and a bu$iness after all and shouldn't be taken that seriously, but this is just a reflection of our society and of course, Kering is a company that has promoted this disrespect to designer's work, base customers' taste, loyalty and again, heritage by giving its back to all of this (again, I understand business are business.) Let's just take a look back to not-so-distant history and see what happened with Tom Ford, Stefano Pilati or Nicolas Ghesquière: they helped rebuild the brands they designed for and with this, they put them on top of sales and popularity. Then, after they were fully leeched, they were given the kick and forced out through the back door of dishonor. This is why I am also not surprised this happened to Tomas Maier and I can see the exact same thing happening to their current darlings Alessandro Michele and Demna Gvasalia in some years when all the hype goes down and the pendulum swings the other way again. In the end, it's true when they say that one day you're on the top and the next day you're on the bottom.
As for Mr. Daniel Lee, I am curious and fearful for the results (I've always been very resistent to change.) I could definitely see Phoebe Philo's Céline aesthetic harmonically mixing with Tomas Maier's Bottega Veneta, so in other words, I can definitely see Daniel Lee's aesthetic applied to BV. I am not sure though how that aesthetic can be turned into an Alessandro Michele-like, which is what Kering is looking for and this is why I am fearful. It could be a complete miss rather than a hit (I am envisioning a Frankenstein.) Only time will tell.
I also completely agree with
@V0N1B2 's comment on how the shift to Hermès is inevitable. I, as many of us here I suppose, have always been an H customer, but had never fully transitioned since I don't like sticking to just one brand and, on a more personal note, I certainly don't like what some starlets and
noveau riches have made of the brand. However, I have found that I've only bought and worn Hermès and not Bottega for a while now (well, I did start using my Bottegas again after I realized this.) If Mr. Lee doesn't bring something we, the base customers want or at least keep the namesake models, I can see most of us here transitioning to H rather than say, Moynat or Delvaux since those brands have very few models and are even less readily available. Also, their styles are not as fresh and effortless, yet classic and elegant, if that makes sense.