Let’s be honest. Fashion weeks have become as much about the street style of chic attendees as the designs appearing on the runway. While new collection displays increasingly feature extravagant stunts (case in point – Coperni’s runways robots and Sunnei’s crowd-surfing models), the garb worn by fashion insiders watching the show has become just as indicative of where certain brands and trends are heading.
Handbags are some of the most talked-about street-style designs. With a wave of cult-favorite styles popping up and eagle-eyed onlookers always on watch for the next ‘It’ bag, beloved hand-held accessories have been getting a lot of attention this season. But which fashion week had the best selection of street-style handbags for Fall/Winter 2023?
It’s time to take a look at the so-called Big Four – New York, London, Milan, and Paris. Let’s go!
NYFW
New York Fashion Week is a star-studded style extravaganza favorite of celebrity trend-setters and creative visionaries. For Fall/Winter 2023, showgoers favored bags boasting bold hues and monogrammed patterns. Flaunting a mix of vintage-inspired Coach designs and vegan leather Fréja styles, attendees honored the Big Apple’s love for home-grown brands. Mid-range labels proved a trusted choice, with supple leather bags from Strathberry and Self-Portrait appearing on the arms of fashion’s A-list. One of our favorites which showcased the city’s penchant for understated chic was Ganni’s Knot Baguette in recycled nylon.
Also big on the handbag agenda were larger-than-life heart-shaped cross-body designs from Alaïa and Saint Laurent and trending retro designs like the YSL Mombasa and exotic leather Hermès styles. The key takeaway – New York’s bags were just as loud as the outfits.
LFW
It’s long been the city where innovative creators and emerging designers thrive, so it’s no surprise that London was full of bags boasting striking silhouettes and fun textures this season. Guests paid homage to brands based in Britain’s capital, carrying styles like the JW Anderson Bumper Baguette and Mulberry’s soft and slouchy M Zipped Pouch.
Retro fervor was in the air with standout vintage styles like Louis Vuitton’s Denim Monogram and 1990s-era Chanel top-handle bags stealing the street style show. Slouchy leather designs in scarlet red, Egyptian blue, and parakeet green were paired with statement outerwear, and color blocking was in full swing.
MFW
What says Milan Fashion Week better than a cohort of classic Gucci bags? Not much, as was evident in Italy’s most stylish city during this season’s shows. From the Gucci Bamboo to multiple size options of the famous Jackie, Milan showed some love for one of Italy’s most well-known heritage labels. Also on the list of home-grown handbags carried by the city’s fashion elite were the Ferragamo Wanda and Prada’s Supernova, newly released for Fall/Winter 2022 and touted as a potential ‘It’ bag.
On the back of Diesel’s successful rebrand, the Italian label’s cult-worthy bags have become firm favorites at MFW. This season, in particular, saw the masters of street style don the 1DR bag in full-size and micro variations and a series of brightly colored and metallic hues.
PFW
The currency at Paris Fashion Week for Fall/Winter 2023 was bold looks boasting plenty of color, prints, and interesting textures. It’s hard to pick just a small selection of styles that caught our eye, but a few designs proved hard to ignore. Hermès reigned supreme in its hometown. Think classics like the Birkin and Kelly, along with vintage bags that looked as if passed down from one stylish generation to another. Parisian fashionistas also showed their love of rare and limited-edition Hermès finds, with fan favorites like the Picnic Kelly making a notable appearance.
Other icons from famed Parisian labels were spotted being shuttled between shows, with the Lady Dior, Chanel Classic Flap, and Jacquemus Le Bambino among the most sought-after.
It was impossible to miss the cohort of ironically large Louis Vuitton bags modeled after luggage tags, Mirco Hermès Kelly bags worn as hair accessories, and limited-edition Chanel 2.55 Flap styles. This wonderful mix of fun luxury designs helped make the style on Paris’ streets just as thrilling as the City of Light’s runway looks.
In addition to coveted classics and specialty releases, Y2K mania came out in full force. Prada’s 2000s-inspired Moon bag sporting plenty of padding and buckle detailing was proudly on the arm of editors and influencers alike. At the same time, the Balenciaga Le Cagole returned to the street-style hot list.
The Verdict
The top spot this season goes to Paris. Boasting a cult-worthy cohort of weird and wonderful designs while prioritizing novelty favorites and rare luxury finds, Paris’ street-style bags shone as bright as the Eiffel Tower for Fall/Winter 2023. We’ll be busy eyeing up the enviable selection until next season. Au revoir!
