It was quite the season. Ask any fashion insider and they’ll tell you the past month has been a sartorial whirlwind. All eyes were on the runways (in Paris and Milan, especially) as so many new creative directors made their debuts—14, to be exact. The result was a mixed bag of collections, and that’s what made the season so buzzy. There were shows that were divisive (Duran Lantink for Jean Paul Gaultier), shows that sparked joy (Matthieu Blazy at Chanel), shows that insiders say were made for IRL viewing, not your phone screen (Dario Vitale at Versace), and shows that refreshed house codes in the most beautiful way (Pierpaolo Piccioli at Balenciaga).
When it came to the accessories, this spirit of renewal and exuberance pervaded. There was modern vintage at Chanel, a reinvigoration of classic styles at Balenciaga, an amping up of textural detailing, from fringe to patchwork, at Bottega Veneta and Fendi, and a whimsical darkness in the details at Dior.
If we’re hard-pressed to choose, these are the bags we predict will be on spotted arms and feeds very soon.
Balenciaga Le City
Originally released in 2001 by then creative director Nicolas Ghesquière, the Le City bag has cemented its status in sartorial history. Piccioli, in line with his recalibration of the maison’s history, sent out versions of it with fringe, plusher padded leather, and in this lush oxblood shade that just is undeniably chic.
Chanel’s ladylike shoulder bag
Days after the Chanel show, my feed was filled with images of that gorgeous set, the sparkling front row, and the exciting new vision. With his bags, a Chanel mainstay, Blazy didn’t disappoint. While the verdict is still out on the crumpled versions of the classic 2.55 bag, we loved this ladylike, 50s-inspired chain-link-strap style in the house’s signature monochrome.
Loewe’s bug clutch
After establishing Proenza Schouler as one of American fashion’s most interesting labels, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez are bringing their artistry to Loewe. The duo continue the proverbial cheeky wink and nod that defines the Spanish house, and this curvilinear bag with an oversized beetle perfectly encapsulates a collection that brought together modern design and Spanish references.
Louis Vuitton’s Speedy 30 redux
Nodding to the house’s origins in trunk-making, these bags by Nicolas Ghesquière brought to the runway new editions of the Side Trunk and Speedy 30, all reworked in classic textiles, the same ones that typically make up the interiors of the traditional trunks.
Hermès Birkin 30 Veau Doblis
When it comes to bags that everyone wants to get their hands on, Hermès is far ahead. After all, no bag has spawned such intensity and intrigue as their Birkin. And believe us when we say that these new utilitarian and equestrian-influenced styles, like the Birkin 30 Veau Doblis, in a camel-hued suede, will only further fuel this momentum.
Alaïa’s python Doctor bag
Quite frankly, when it comes to creating the accessories of the moment, Alaïa can do no wrong. Their mesh flats are the accent du jour, seen at school drop-offs and city jaunts. Their Doctor bag in python is a sleeker, more streamlined style and promises to be the next arm candy.
Lady Dior, as reimagined by Jonathan Anderson
Some of the adjectives to describe Jonathan Anderson’s much-awaited debut were eccentric, eclectic, and layered. The Lady Dior, one of the most recognisable bags in the world, has been made over by Anderson with a sculptural four-leaf clover motif (his good luck charm) and even a little ladybug.
Alexander McQueen’s new De Manta
Slouchy with fringed leather, stitching and metallic embroidery, this is not your basic black everyday tote. This reinvention of the archival De Manta bag plays on its geometric silhouettes and echoes the corsetry details that tie it in (pun intended) with the ready-to-wear.
Valentino DeVain
Titled ‘Fireflies’, this collection was a metaphor for hope during bleak times told through rich stories of colour and embroidery. The DeVain embroidered shoulder bag is equal parts nostalgic and current, which makes it a standout from the collection. This is not your grandmother’s needlepoint anymore.
Fendi’s woven shopper
If there’s one thing Fendi has always aced, it’s the It-bag. Remember, this is the house that brought you the Baguette and the Spy (recently reissued). The last show with Silvia Venturini Fendi at the helm had bags that were the sartorial equivalent of the exclamation point (with all due respect to Taylor Swift). There was so much colour! Floral motifs and daisy charms! Sequins! Fur! And while the soft, slouchy Peekaboo is a close favourite, these woven totes are what we plan to pack our lives into next season.
