This morning marks the opening of another season of shows at New York Fashion Week, and when it’s over, we’ll be moving straight on to the collections in London, Milan and Paris. Although it’s exciting to see new lines debut and new trends take shape, on of our favorite parts of Fashion Week is the opportunity to see how show attendees, both famous and not-so-famous, express their own personal style on the way to and from shows.
We’ve gone over our coverage of shows spanning the past five seasons and picked out 35 handbag highlights to whet your (and our) palates for the upcoming weeks. Check out our favorites below.
Alexa Chung
Burberry Calf Hair Heart Clutch
Shop Burberry via MATCHESFASHION.COM
I don’t even particularly like this bag, but in this context, on Alexa, it’s totally perfect. If you’re in the effortless-and-natural school of Fashion Week dressing, this is as good as it gets.
Alma Jodorowsky
Chanel Milk Carton Bag
This bag outfit is a master class in taking a novelty bag and making it look subtle.
Anna Dello Russo
Bulgari Isabella Rossellini Bag
The blue in this bag and this dress are so perfectly coordinated that I’m still surprised they’re not from the same designer.
Anna Dello Russo
Fendi By The Way Bag
$1,850 via Barneys
Unlike the easy-and-effortless girls, Anna’s look is all about effort, and even when I don’t love her choices, her obvious joy for fashion is still inspiring.
Anna Dello Russo
Paula Cademartori Faye Bag
$1,709 via farfetch.com
Paula Cademartori bags are now a cult favorite among fashion people, and Anna was one of the first to carry the brand publicly.
Chiara Ferragni
Céline Classic Box Bag
Picking Chiara’s greatest hits was something of a challenge; she may be something of a trend-follower, but her bag collection is the stuff dreams are made of. This icy blue Céline is as pretty as it gets.
Chiara Ferragni
Chanel Graffiti Backpack
Instead of trying to dress up this very casual backpack, Chiara dressed it down, and I can guarantee you that she was the most comfortable person at the show she was headed to.
Chiara Ferragni
Chanel Velvet Classic Flap Bag
The lush velvet of this bag and the intricate embroidery of her coat remind me of Christmas, but in the best way possible.
Chiara Ferragni
Moschino Moto Jacket Bag
$1,753 via farfetch.com
Whether or not you like this look (I’m not a particular fan), you have to admit that wearing a full runway look from a buzzed-about collection the day after it debuts is a total power move.
Chiara Ferragni
Saint Laurent Monogramme Mini Bag
$1,850 via Barneys
A nice reminder that, when she feels like it, Chiara can do “effortless” with the best of them.
Christine Pitanguy
Fendi Baguette Bag
Shop Fendi via Saks
Between the coat and the bag, the amount of texture going on in this outfit is absolutely mesmerizing.
Daria Shapovalova
Prada Face Shoulder Bag
Shop Prada via Bergdorf Goodman
Daria’s bright red shirt dress creates a perfect background for the heavily detailed bag.
Elle Fanning
Miu Miu Top Handle Bag
Shop Miu Miu via Net-a-Porter
Miu Miu tends to prefer very young celebrities for the front row at its shows, and in this outfit, Elle looks absolutely angelic.
Georgia May Jagger
Céline Python Classic Box Bag
It’s hard to tell what’s going on with this look over all, but this particular bag is too pretty not to include, even on its own.
Hanneli Mustaparta
Christian Dior Lady Dior Mini Bag
Somehow, Hanneli manages to make this midriff-baring dress and highly detailed Dior bag look casual and natural.
Jing Li
Max Mara Medina Bag
$1,290 via Bloomingdale’s
I’m a sucker for exactly this type of lush minimalism.
Joan Smalls
Givenchy Pandora Box Mini Bag
$1,790 via MyTheresa
“Model off duty” style is a particular subset of Fashion Week street style, and Joan typifies it here–simple clothes, great bag, supermodel face and body to make it look like a moment.
Johnny Weir
Hermès Birkin Bag
Something that probably isn’t clear from most celebrity and street style coverage of Fashion Week is that there are hordes of fabulous men there, in addition to the female stars and industry vets that we all know.
Katie Holmes
Michael Kors Envelope Clutch
Shop Michael Kors via Neiman Marcus
The bag isn’t the star of the show in this photo, but Katie’s look is so idyllically feminine that it deserves inclusion.
Leandra Medine
Mark Cross Grace Box Bag
$2,195 via Net-a-Porter
The red stripes on this bag are the perfect accent this outfit needed to take it from “cute” to “Fashion Week.”
Leandra Medine
Valentino Finger Clutch
$1,745 via MATCHESFASHION.COM
This ensemble is a perfect example of the idea that a good fashion ensemble doesn’t need a lot of crazy parts; it just needs the right ones.
Leila Bekhti
Chanel Boy Brick Clutch
This look is great “everyday” style inspiration, although I’d caution you to make sure you find exactly the right hat.
Li Bingbing
Christian Dior Diorissimo Bag
If this look doesn’t come with some mint oil to dab behind your ears, it’s not yet complete.
Linda Fargo
Loewe Leopard Amazona Bag
$3,850 via Net-a-Porter
Linda Fargo always provides a nice reminder to stay true to your personal style; a little leather dress with a leopard bag doesn’t have to be out of the question just because you’re not 25.
Marjorie Harvey
Hermès Himalayan Crocodile Birkin
Marjorie has some of the most impressive exotic bags we’ve ever seen, including this one, which is undoubtedly her collection’s crown jewel.
Miranda Kerr
Louis Vuitton Capucines Bag
$5,600 via Louis Vuitton
Miranda is one of those people who looks like she stepped out of an ad campaign even when she’s stepping out for a coffee first thing in the morning, so of course her Fashion Week looks are all superb. We picked this one because she was among the very first celebs to carry this particular bag.
Miroslava Duma
Hermès Kelly Bag
Mira looks so angelic in this brocade coat and ivory bag.
Miroslava Duma
Hermès Crocodile Kelly Bag
This look is Peak Mira–prim but also somehow young-feeling, topped off with one of her signature little Kellys.
Naomi Watts
Louis Vuitton Alma Bag
$3,100 via Louis Vuitton
The color of this bag could not be more beautiful, and Naomi’s white outfit helps amplify it.
Natalie Joos
Paula Cademartori Faye Bag
$2,430 via Moda Operandi
Mostly, I’m just in awe of how well all of the elements of this look manage to work together.
Olivia Palermo
Christian Dior Mini Leopard Lady Dior Tote
Olivia pretty much always looks fantastic, even when she’s wearing two different types of leopard print.
Rihanna
Stella McCartney Cavendish Bag
$1,435 via Saks
Rihanna spent all of last fashion week hopping between shows and parties, looking like she was having the time of her life doing it.
Rita Ora
Chloé Clare Mini Bags
$1,585 via Net-a-Porter
These bags had just appeared on the runway earlier in the day, and Rita managed to snag not one, but two of them. And wear them at the same time.
Sofia Coppola
Louis Vuitton SC Bag
$5,000 via Louis Vuitton
There are few things more badass than attending a Paris Fashion Week show while carrying a bag that you designed for the most powerful handbag brand in the world.
Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea
M2Malletier Amor Fati Bag
$1,685 via Net-a-Porter
Somehow, all of this outfit’s angles manage to work.
