Couture Week runs on a different schedule than the regular fashion seasons. Because clients order directly from the brands and designers don’t need extra time to collect orders from and ship stock to retailers, you don’t get the six-month lead time between the show and the season in which the clothing is intended to be worn. That means that the Fall 2016 couture shows just wrapped up in Paris, even though the season’s ready-to-wear shows happened back in March. I doubt there’s any industry on Earth with a more complicated schedule than fashion. (Maybe book publishing?)
Anyway, back to the point: the couture shows just wrapped up, which means we did a fresh crop of bag-spotting and we’re here to share the spoils with you. A lot of the biggest celebrities were frustratingly bag-free (handbags aren’t a couture product, after all), but we still identified several dozen noteworthy purses on the arms of models, starlets and fashion luminaries alike.
Adriana Abascal
Delvaux Brilliant Bag
$6,000 via Barneys
Adriana is one of those former fashion models who has become something of a citizen of the world.
Adriana Abascal
Valentino Glam Lock Bag
$4,075 via Neiman Marcus
That means she’s often invited to (and attends) very fancy fashion shows.
Alexandra Golovanoff
Prada Cahier Bag
Shop Prada via Bergdorf Goodman
Alexandra is a French fashion editor, but she very recently also launched a line of cashmere sweaters. This Prada bag isn’t out yet, so you know she’s special.
Ayemeline Valade
Dior Diorama Bag
I love saying Ayemeline’s full name out loud. It’s a great model name.
Bao Bao Wan
Dior Lady Dior Bag
Bao Bao’s a jewelry designer first and foremost, but she’s also collaborated with MAC.
Bella Hadid
Givenchy Lucrezia Bag
$2,395 via mytheresa.com
It seems as though’s Bella’s older sister didn’t make the trip to Couture Week, but at least one of the Hadids was on hand to look great in clothing.
Bella Hadid
Givenchy Pandora Box Minaudiere
$1,690 via Saks
And to attend parties! Also to look great in clothing while attending parties.
Caroline de Maigret
Chanel Frame Shoulder Bag
This is just speculation, but at this point, Caroline has such a long Chanel attendance streak that she and Karl Lagerfeld probably consult on the date before it’s scheduled.
Céline Dion
Dior Diorama Alligator Bag
Honestly I’m so happy Céline and the fashion industry have embraced each other this year.
Céline Dion
Roger Vivier Miss Viv Bag
$2,550 via mytheresa.com
It’s not just 23-year-old fashion bloggers and starlets who look great all dolled up in multiple designer outfits per day!
Chiara Ferragni
Dior Diorever Tote
Although, to be fair, they look pretty good too.
Elena Perminova
Dior Stardust Backpack
Don’t forget the Russian oligarchs’ wives! They are also extremely stylish.
Elena Perminova
Miu Miu Dahlia Saddle Bag
$1,850 via Saks
Elena is their current queen.
Elena Perminova
Prada Micro Galleria Bag
Shop Prada via Bergdorf Goodman
My favorite fun fact about Elena is that she and her husband met when he helped her get out of jail as a young woman. (She was in there because of a bad boyfriend.)
Elizabeth von Guttman
Dior Mini Satchel
We spotted this new bag in the hands of several attendees and aren’t quite sure what its official name is yet.
Ines de la Fressange
Roger Vivier Large Pouch
Shop Roger Vivier via Neiman Marcus
Ines has a longstanding relationship with Vivier and usually carries the brand’s bags no matter which shows she’s attending.
Ines de la Fressange
Roger Vivier Shoulder Bag
Shop Roger Vivier via Neiman Marcus
For example.
Joan Smalls
Miu Miu Dahlia Saddle Bag
$1,850 via Saks
I love when paparazzi catch the models emerging from shows because their theatrical makeup is such a great contrast to their surroundings.
Kristina Bazan
Valentino Lock Bag
$2,345 via Saks
Kristina is giving the goth look a go lately.
Laura Bailey
Chanel Classic Flap Bag
Chanel didn’t have quite as large a parade of bag-wielding celebs as it often does, but we still caught a couple.
Li Bingbing
Dior Diorissimo Mini Bag
What a cute little sailor dress. (Without, you know, being a sailor dress.)
Lucie de la Falaise
Dior Diorama Clutch
As you might have guessed by her last name, Lucie is indeed related to fashion legend Loulou. (She’s Loulou’s niece.)
Marianne Faithfull
Chanel Classic Flap Bag
You never know who might turn up at a Chanel show; this year’s most delightful surprise was rock n’ roll legend Marianne Faithfull.
Marina Hands
Roger Vivier Prismick Denim Bucket Bag
$1,550 via Roger Vivier
Marina is a French actress, which is a group of people often found at fashion shows.
Marion Cotillard
Dior Diorama Club Bag
Where there is a Dior event, there too shall be Marion Cotillard.
Milla Jovovich
Chanel Classic Flap Bag
Milla was another surprise at the Chanel show; she brought her daughter, which is one of Karl Lagerfeld’s favorite things in recent years. (For example, Will Smith attended this year with his daughter Willow, who’s currently staring in her first Chanel campaign, though neither carried bags.)
Miroslava Duma
Gabriela Hearst Nina Bag
Miroslava’s seasons-long dedication to this bag is one of the most confusing mysteries in fashion for me. Is she…personal friends with Ms. Hearst?
Miroslava Duma
Miu Miu Python Top Handle Bag
$3,450 via Saks
Miu Miu doesn’t have a couture line, but the brand did sponsor a big party for the fashion set during the week’s festivities.
Natalia Vodianova
Dior Diorama Bag
Personally I am very much in favor of the trend toward models retiring from the runway but continuing to attends shows and look flawless.
Olivia Palermo
Dior Diorama Bag
Speaking of looking flawless: Olivia Palermo has this whole Fashion Week thing down to a science.
Olivia Palermo
Dior Mini Satchel
She was also among the recipients of Dior’s unreleased new bag.
Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece
Dior Diorama Bag
If we’re keeping score, Dior probably attracts more royalty to its shows than anyone.
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand
Dior Lady Dior Micro Bag
I mean, if you were a princess, wouldn’t you want to wear Dior?
Sabine Getty
Dior Lady Dior Python Mini Bag
The Gettys may not be technical royalty, but they’re about as close as America gets.
Stella Maxwell
Gucci GG Supreme Backpack
$2,690 via Gucci
Stella has never done anything quietly in her life and, you know, good for her.
Vanessa Paradis
Chanel Envelope Clutch
Vanessa Paradis looking every inch the Karl Lagerfeld favorite she is seems like a strong way to round out another Paris Couture season.