Handbags to Die for this Season
Photo Courtesy of the Zoe Report
Written by Peyton Haahr
Outfits aren’t complete without a handbag, at least for most women. Variety may be the spice of life, but a good bag does the same trick for those of us who pound the fashion pavement. Just like with clothing, handbags get their own set of trends that have everything to do with fresh colors, shapes, and detailing. Most recently, belt bags - fanny packs, bum bags, or whatever you want to call them - stormed back as a trending product that no longer held those cringey, tourist vibes that it has historically been known for. Classic styles like Louis Vuitton’s Speedy and Chanel’s Boy Bag still remain strong as pieces that will not go out of style and can always be something you can reach for in your closet. But for that fun, unique, totally different bag from your go-to piece, where to start? We recommend with us.
Check out our choices for the top trending handbags to add to your wardrobe.
First up: if you thought the neon trend was over, think again. The bright colors have permeated all levels of the industry, and have obviously made their way into the handbags we tote around day to day. On the runways, some brands took neon full-force in all their bright glory, while others toned it down a little and mixed it in with other textures and patterns. Emporio Armani’s show was one hundred and seventy-four looks long, the first portion of the outfits reading in luxurious neutral tones and monochrome color schemes. But the match was lit when pieces started being injected with deep blues, flirty pinks and eventually neon yellows. The colors were mixed skillfully with contrasting tones, sparkling fabrics and sheer material. Many of those neon looks featured neon bags and accessories to go with it, making the look that much more stunning. At Dries Van Noten, slouchy bags were drenched in neon sequins that were almost too bright to look directly at. It was paired skillfully with a black and white striped coat, providing a bold contrast. If you go for this bag, be prepared for the attention. At Calvin Klein the neon was toned down a notch, but offered a unique twist with its crocodile texturing and sideways structure.
Wearing neon is always a trip. It always comes with a risk of looking tacky and cheap, which can be hard to avoid. So when working with a neon bag, balance it with the rest of the outfit - try for a tailored blazer or a streetwear-inspired jean jacket to offset any unwanted flavor from the bag. A pair of sleek patterned yoga pants and cropped tee can be finished with a neon belt bag or crossbody for a playful weekend look.
Written by Peyton Haahr
Calvin Klein, Emporio Armani, Dries Van Noten Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear
Photos Courtesy of: Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv & Luca Tombolini / Indigital.tv
For the fans of structured bags, check into the trunk bag trend. Perfectly inspired by the lovers of traveling and jet-setting, the trunk bag is a unique style for anyone hoping to up their handbag game. Many on the runway were not-surprisingly, inspired by vintage traveling trunks, including their metal clasps, grommets, and studs. Most notably, Louis Vuitton’s bags stole the show, considering the brand’s history and background with the piece. At their current show, trunk bags were shown in several sizes - some were wider and more flat, others resembled more of a cube, with their boxy nature taking center stage. They were shown off in a variety of color-ways as well, starting, of course, with their classic Monogram print in brown. Black embossed crocodile texturing was added to other bags as well. At Dolce & Gabbana, perfectly Italian bags were coupled alongside heavily decorated and floral printed dresses and headdresses. Gowns were drenched in complex patterns, many featuring flowers, crosses, checkers, and lace. Their trunk bags stood out amongst the bold backdrop, especially the one of woven wicker materials, looking equally set for a stylist picnic as well as a casual weekend trip out with family and friends.
Truck bags are sophisticated and elegant. Their structure adds presence and notable volume, offering a piece that somehow combines all your desires to travel with the necessity to have a place to carry your wallet.
Louis Vuitton, Dolce & Gabbana Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear
Photos Courtesy of Marcus Tondo / Indigital.tv
Our final yet perhaps least useful handbag trend is the microbag. It’s one of those trends for most of us that is largely impractical and not worthy of our hard-earned cash. Models like Gigi Hadid have popularized the trend, but it clearly begs the question, “Can I even get my phone in the bag? How about my wallet?”. We regret to say that in this case, usually not. But the style points are not proportional to the size of the bag. You can go from mini to totally-micro in a heartbeat. Check out one of the strongest contenders and a pioneer in this trend: Jacquemus. The brand's “Le Chiquito” bag made a storm in the fashion community, many loving it small stature and oversized handles. At the runway show, models wore the bags around their waist with a lengthened strap, over their shoulders, and simply sporting them in their hands. Valentino’s show was inundated with a new logo ‘V’, which dominated many of their handbags and outerwear pieces. Yet there were a few smaller pieces, of soft leather minibags that featured a contrasting color inside the bag and on one side of the lengthy tassels extending from their edges. This sophisticated bag is a little more practical than the last, with enough space to likely fit a card case and your phone (as long as you don’t have the plus size!). None are as impractical as our next bag - the show stopping ultra-micro bag from Brandon Maxwell. We’re not necessarily presenting this to you as something you would buy, but perhaps something to make you smile as you read this. Maxwell’s tiny metal bag is barely as wide as your hand, and will fit in the palm of your hand. But all in the name of fashion, right?
Jaquemus, Valentino & Brandon Maxwell Spring 2019 Ready-to-Wear
Photos Courtesy of Luca Tombolini / Indigital.tv & Marcus Tondo / Indigital.tv
Many people approach shopping for a handbag as finding something that will last them a long time, and that they won’t have to go through the process of finding a new one anytime soon. We’re not against that. Staples and classics are an absolute must-have in your closet - you can’t rely on finding trendy pieces that you’ll wish you wouldn’t have paid for when the season changes. So when it comes to handbags, it’s a great idea to have one or two classic, traditional pieces you can bring with you to any event, trip, or holiday. But for when you’re feeling in need of something to bump up your party outfit or give a drop of color to a monochrome look, what are you going to do? We’ve highlighted only a few of the trends that were pervasive among the runways this Summer season. Belt bags still remained a top trend, as well as straw bags, slouchy totes, and clear, see-through handbags. Oversized purses and bucket bags were seen around as well. It’s possible to find a bag that isn’t so trendy that you can’t use it after a few seasons - you can find a piece with just a hint of personality and pizazz that will add that pep in your step whenever you use it - just make sure you can fit some money in it.