I’ve got both good news and bad news. The good news is that the famous people photographed at New York Fashion Week no longer automatically carry a bag from whichever designer’s show they’re attending; instead, they’ve become far more likely to choose both indie contemporary brands and fancier European designers. That means the bags we spy at NYFW are less repetitive, as well as being a lot more fun to look at, on average.
The bad news is that an ever-increasing percentage of the people photographed outside the shows are bloggers or Instagram influencers instead of traditional stars, which I know many of you don’t care for. In my mind, it’s got both advantages and disadvantages, but in this instance, it seems to mean a better range of bags, so I’m fall for it. Check out our favorites from the scene outside this season’s shows, below.
(Oh, and not to brag, but we spotted two celeb attendees carrying bags from my list of picks that would be perfect for just this purpose.)
Aimee Song
As you know if you live anywhere in the area, NYFW saw a few days of very bad weather. Aimee Song‘s fur coat may not have been the ideal umbrella, but her Chanel Flap Bag was a perfect rainy day choice. Shop Chanel via Vestiaire Collective
Aimee Song
Oscar de la Renta outfitted an army of models and influencers with its TRO Bag for the occasion of the brand’s show, Aimee among them. Shop the Oscar de la Renta TRO Bag via farfetch.com ($2,390)
Blake Lively
Blake Lively rolled up to the Michael Kors show with a bag from one of her other favorite designers: Christian Louboutin. This is the Louis Vuitton x Christian Louboutin Shopper Tote, from a collab several years ago.
Camila Coelho
Speaking of Louis Vuitton bags at non-Louis Vuitton shows: Camila Coelho, queen of the Brazilian bloggers, brought this Petite Malle to NYFW. Shop the Louis Vuitton Petite Malle Bag via Louis Vuitton ($9,300)
Camila Coelho
At the Michael Kors show, though, Camila carried a bag from her host. Shop the Michael Kors Mia Shoulder Bag via Saks ($903)
Camila Coelho
Camila can do contemporary, too—she carried the Danse Lente Johnny Bucket Bag to the Tibi show. Shop the Danse Lente Johnny Bucket Bag via Moda Operandi ($380)
Caro Daur
I don’t mean to brag or anything, but I predicted Caro Daur‘s Balenciaga Bazar Tote would be easy street style bait this season. Shop the Balenciaga Bazar Bag via Bergdorf Goodman ($1,750)
Chriselle Lim
Chriselle Lim was all over New York Fashion Week; first we caught her with a Chanel Top Handle Flap Bag. Shop Chanel Bags via Vestiaire Collective
Chriselle Lim
Next, she’s the first person we’ve spotted out in the wild with on of Clare Waight Keller’s first bags for Givenchy. Shop Givenchy Bags via Neiman Marcus
Chriselle Lim
She also went stripes on stripes with the Roger Vivier Viv Cabas Top Handle. Shop the Roger Vivier Viv Cabas Top Handle Bag via Neiman Marcus ($2,650)
Chriselle Lim
Finally, we caught Chriselle with The Row’s newest look. Shop The Row Double Circle Bag via Barneys ($1,850)
Danielle Bernstein
Like Camila before her, WeWoreWhat’s Danielle Berstein carried this little Danse Lente bag, which packs a lot of forward-thinking style for an accessible price. Shop the Danse Lente Mini Johnny Bucket Bag via Moda Operandi ($380)
Darcy Penick
Occasionally, the paparazzi catches a well-dressed woman at fashion week who isn’t a Insta star or traditional celeb. Here, Shopbop CEO Darcy Penick was snapped on the way to a show with a Céline Mini Clasp Bag.
Francesca Kray
This is singer Francesca Kray, headed into Alice + Olivia with a colorful Hermès Evelyne Bag. Shop the Hermès Evelyne via Hermès ($3,300)
Glenda Bailey
The Céline Clasp Bag seems to be a favorite of executives; Harper’s Bazaar Editor-in-Chief Glenda Bailey carried the medium version.
Hailey Baldwin
Hailey Baldwin walked the runway several times this week; here she was exiting a show with an Alexander Wang Rogue Bag. Shop the Alexander Wang Rogue Bag via farfetch.com ($1,276)
Irene Kim
Certified It Girl Irene Kim chose one of Coach’s newest bags. Shop Coach Bags via Coach
Isabeli Fontana
Isabeli Fontana has largely retired from the runway, but the Brazilian beauty was always a favorite of Oscar de la Renta, and this season she came back to attend the show with the Oscar de la Renta TRO Bag. Shop the Oscar de la Renta TRO Bag via farfetch.com ($3,190)
Isla Fischer
It looks like Isla Fischer was a little overwhelmed leaving the Kate Spade show, but her Kate tote still looks great. Shop Kate Spade Bags via Shopbop.
Jamie Chung
Jamie Chung chose one of the bags from Sacai’s first-ever accessories line. Shop the Sacai Top Handle Bag via farfetch.com ($612)
Jourdan Dunn
Jourdan Dunn is among the models who now attend shows as frequently as they walk them. At Michael Kors, she sat front row with a Bancroft Bag. Shop the Michael Kors Bancroft Bag via Saks ($990)
Kiku Mizuhara
I wouldn’t blame you if you got distracted by Kiku’s incredible coat and didn’t realize she was carrying a Coach Dinky Bag, but I’d suggest that both are notable. Shop the Coach Dinky Bag via Coach ($495)
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox went full Lady in Red to see Prabal Gurung with an Elena Ghisellini Angel Bag in tow. Shop the Elena Ghisellini Angel Bag via Bloomingdale’s ($777)
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyong’o took a moment out from her super-busy Black Panther promotional schedule to drop into the Calvin Klein show with one of the brand’s new bags.
Nicky Hilton
Nicky Hilton is terrifyingly good at the Upper East Side Socialite look. She, too, carried an Oscar de la Renta TRO Bag to the brand’s show. Shop the Oscar de la Renta TRO Bag via farfetch.com ($2,390)
Nina Agdal
It’s hard to wear a belt bag over a coat, so model Nina Agdal carried her vintage Chanel one in her hand. Shop Chanel Bags via Vestiaire Collective
Rocky Barnes
It might be cold out, but Insta star Rocky Barnes still managed to somehow look like spring in a hot pink sweater and Charlotte Simone Lil Pop Bag. Shop the Charlotte Simone Lil Pop Bag via Moda Operandi ($300)
Romee Strijd
Belt bags are happening, guys. I know you’re not having it, but it’s happening. Here, model Romee Strijd donned a Miu Miu Belt Bag on her way out of a show. Shop the Miu Miu Belt Bag via farfetch.com ($1,530)
Shiona Turini
Stylist and editor extraordinaire embraced the inclement weather with a trench dress and a Kate Spade Watson Lane Sam Tote. Shop the Kate Spade Watson Lane Sam Tote via Kate Spade ($198)
Sofie Valkiers
Please ignore the weird translucent corset to help me answer a different question: who makes the bag Sofie Valkiers is carrying?
Tess Holliday
Plus size model Tess Holiday carried our most ridiculous celeb bag of the week: the Kate Spade Swamped Wicker Alligator Bag. (It was also one of my street style predictions!) Shop the Kate Spade Swamped Wicker Alligator Bag via Shopbop ($398)