With the fall/winter Fashion Weeks come to an end, we finally have time to sift through all the different
trends that have appeared on that runway. We loved seeing all our favorite designers come back once again, while we applaud the newer artists with a penchant for the fashion world and the business aspect of it all. It is always good to see new talent enter an old arena, bringing with him or her fresh ideas and a whole different manner of viewing the world. We watched the
Fashion Week take place in New York, then in London, followed by Milan and ended up in Paris. We saw many newer faces in New York, while Paris was quintessentially Parisian, from the designers portraying their latest collections to the chic street styles. We fell in love with the clothes and the colors, the shoes and the accessories, the last of which included some incredibly gorgeous and positively wacky designed handbags. Sometimes we even forgot about the clothing shown off on those catwalks and focused solely on those pieces the models clutched in their hands or had thrown over their shoulders. We smiled and stared and coveted time and again. We are quite glad we now have the chance to get our hands on some. As a woman’s most trusted accessory, we are beyond excited about seeing some of these incredible pieces begin to appear in stores or available online. How can one not fall in love with these awesome
fall/ winter 2015-2016 handbag trends?
#1: Furry Bags
While we may not be able to wear those furry gorgeous garments until the temperatures begin to drop again, a Proenza Schouler bag can certainly be carried about at any time. We cannot help but bet the flap of the Jason Wu messenger bags, as it appears to be a pretty wolf cuddling up against you when you hold onto these pieces. Usually the fur is literally all over the bags themselves, some of them infinitely fluffier than the others, though it has been the texture that is important over the volume of the pieces. There are wispy poufs and shaggy prints, long hairy layers and full out shaggy dogs in our arms for the cooler seasons, though we’ll be happy enough to carry them about this spring and summer as well if they are available in stores. A bright blue puffball is all we see when we look at some of the bags presented on the Matthew Williamson show, held up by a chain, though the Misha Nonoo messenger bags in full fur are probably a better choice unless you plan on being whimsical.
Marc Jacobs has it looking like flattened dogs are being carried under models’ arms, while the furry straps of the
Salvatore Ferragamo pieces wrap around the arms for added safety. Fendi’s bright orange furry messenger bag makes the line-up, while we also see chic shoulder strapped Topshop looks grace the runway. One of our favorite fur handbags for fall 2015 is actually the leopard print Louis Vuitton oversized bags with the thin shoulder strap and the thick handle, the sexiness combined with the glamorous chic. It is certainly one look we find it altogether too hard to resist. Of course, there are many more designers who took the furry route, such as Elie Saab with his hairy blue designs that seemed to be a perfect match with his jumpsuits, Balmain’s tiny little clutches, Rimone Rocha’s rounded grip handled hairy loves, Marni’s pretty pieces, and Rochas’ double handles with the grip and shoulder strap.
#2: Easy to Grip
It is a major It bag for the fall and winter seasons it seems, as the very easy to grip handbags have made it onto the runway in loads. We loved the top handled trunk seen on the Louis Vuitton show, those ladies walking out with these pieces like they were carrying about their makeup cases; the front flab bags on Giambattista Valli looked quite pretty and easy to access as well, while having a handle to grip along with the strap to go on the shoulder; Miu Miu threw in thick handled handbags with snakeskin and leopard print detailing, which actually looked really great with the brown houndstooth patterning of the clothing; the Alexander McQueen alligator skin pieces with the gorgeous contrasting colors and a whole lot of pink had us salivating in a rather unfeminine manner, a look that was also prominent on the
Dolce & Gabbana show, the Prada models bearing more alligator colored grip style handbags on the catwalk and the skin appearing in the hands of the Michael Kors ladies as well; the snakeskin, however, seems to have been inspiration for the softer designs of Marc Jacobs, while the softer looks are found on the Valentino and
Christian Dior runway shows. We are certainly not complaining, especially if the grip bags also have straps that make them versatile enough to wear as we wish to do so. Fendi’s structured bags were also quite easy to grip, the extra straps nowhere in sight. Between the Moschino boom boxes and the pretty little structured Prada designs, we understood well that we need those thicker grip handles, for they look so much better than any of the other straps… though the chains sure come close. We see the grip handles on Proenza Schouler furry bags, as well as Simone Rocha’s rounded hairy designs. There are even bags with matching clothing pieces that we have a grip on, from Tommy Hilfiger to Alexander Wang.
#3: Going Hands Free: Cross-Body Bags and Belt Bags
Not all the bags showcased on the runway shows were ones to grip. Some, more often than not actually, were all hands-free, from the striped animal prints matched with leather on the Celine women to the slouchy
Chanel purses that look kind of like totes themselves, made with suede and black leather, the whole idea of buttons and pockets etched into their very creation. Huge chain links mark the Calvin Klein satchel that shines as the light hits the bag’s surface, while the crocodile skin of the Proenza Schouler looks are quite captivating themselves. We see many of the pieces held in hand or under arms, even though they have handles to slip the arms through, leaving the hands free to do what they wish, including the larger Dries Van Noten pieces, the plump and friendly tote by The Row,
Lanvin’s black leather simplicity, or the crazy woman with a paper bag look on Maison Martin Margiela. No matter who sported these hands free designs, we know that we get to thank them for allowing us to keep using some of our favorites from years before, though we might want to upgrade to something a tad larger than what we have at the moment. The tote bags are also found on the Anya Hindmarch fall 2015 collection, with tags shown off and cute little printed figures appearing on its body.
#4: Reptile Skin Handbags
It wasn’t just within the
fall/ winter 2015-2016 print trends or even the shoes that we get to mention the use of animal skins, from snakes to alligators and crocodiles, the colors varying greatly but often close enough to more natural hues. We are talking Proenza Schouler’s rather large satchel in its black and white version, looking quite perfect for the travelling woman, as well as the reptile texture of the Lanvin bags with the slip through straps for added support, the pieces folded so to save space. Miu Miu has large bags with funky chained handles and snakeskin sidings, while Marni’s little bags caught our eyes plenty. We see these skins on Bottega Veneta, Elie Saab, Nina Ricci,
Prada, Christopher Kane, Giambattista Valli, and Hermes, among many others.
#5: Squared Boxy Handbags
It appears that this season it is totally hip to be square, at least when it comes to awesome handbags. We are still smiling with love for the Louis Vuitton versions of a makeup suitcase turned handbag. While every season a specific silhouette takes center stage, it appears that this particular look was vying for top spot. While some of the boxy bags were actually harder cases, others were soft, featuring four distinct points on each corner. There is much structure to these pieces and we know that they will last us much longer in the long run, especially the hard cases, though they probably will not be in style come next season. Lanvin’s grip and satchel bags fall into the softer category, while the snakeskin sophistication of Christian Siriano adds the perfect amount of dimension to the look. We have the Marc by Marc Jacobs pieces, which will be folding into the main line soon enough if the rumours are to be believed, and the cute little Olympia Le Tan fairy tale style pieces that seem to be from out of this world. The gorgeous alligator skin pink traveller’s bags by
Alexander McQueen bring a bright smile to our faces, while the textured Roland Mouret clutches are perfectly classic in design. The square pieces come in smaller sizes as well, as attested to by the Anya Hindmarch label. We also see lovely beige looks by Karen Walker and the bright colors of the memory box from Dolce & Gabbana.
#6: There Be Fringed Handbags!
Fringes are a common part of the whole 1970s feel that we’ve been immersed in since the spring and summer season runway shows, so we knew for a fact that we would be seeing everything from dresses and skirts to shoes and handbags sporting the typical decade’s signature styles, including the tassels and the fringes. When looking through the Altuzarra collection, we found saddle backs with fringes hanging out on the shoulders of the models, braided rope straps and all. We have the camel suede
Chloesaddle bags that we enjoyed seeing once again, reminiscent of our childhoods with the touch of fringe and all, while Moschino drives us wild with its boom box handbag design that is huge, graphic and full of graffiti wording. It even has a mock antenna to lend it more credibility. Ralph Lauren’s and Emilio Pucci’s thick chained handbags fall quite low when you consider those fringes framing the body of the tote design. Laced up Rebecca Minkoff bags get the full fringe treatment and look really good in those green colors, while tasselled looks line up the Tory Burch collection, while we feel in love with those suede colors on the
Burberry Prorsum bucket bags. Herve Leger has some intriguing classy chic fringed clutch looks, though we must say that Ralph Lauren’s fun fringes are simply to die for. Of course, if you want to go multi-colored and quite unique, opt for the red, blue, yellow, white and black combination pieces found on the MSGM catwalk. Then again, you can always go fully Western and scream out a YEE HAA as you add a long fringed messenger bag to any outfit and ride across the plains. We see fringes all over, including on Sass & Bide handbags.
#7: Classic in the Trimmings and Retro Bags
Classic bags are all over the place, taking into account some of the retro pieces while also including the shapes and styles that have always been around, one way or another. This includes the leather and chain entwined straps on the Chanel bags, as well as the
Gucci versions with the double-chained straps and the classic prints across the front of the body, appearing like an accordion from the side. The Roland Mouret clutches are classic looks in black with textured leather bodies, offering a touch of elegance to any look. Wealso love the classic handbags by Dolce & Gabbana and the retro styles offered by Michael Kors.
#8: Glittery Handbags
We love seeing glitter all over the place, twinkling in the sunlight, different colors making up a rainbow or kaleidoscope, depending on the patterning. We loved seeing the sparkles and gold glitter on the garments and we most especially appreciated seeing them on the handbags that were walked down the runway. During the recent fashion shows, it was the tiny clutches and bags of Lanvin that caught our attention, while we love the gilded Chanel clutches and the bejewelled Dolce & Gabbana bags.
#9: Handbags with Added Prints and Graphics
While many of the handbags seen on the Fashion Week runway shows were all about the colors and the materials or types of patterning skin used, others really just brought the focus on funky prints and graphics that speak a thousand words or nothing at all, depending on who is looking. The woman’s portrait peeking through velvet and crocodile skin in neon orange certainly caught our attention as the Diane von Furstenberg ladies took to the stage with their awesome apparel, this particular one paired with an electric blue outfit. Graphic prints can also include very simple designs, as is the case with the tote bags found on the Anya Hindmarch fall 2015 collection. Graphics come in the form of fairy tales and childhood dreams where Olympia Le Tan’s small lunchbox-like handbags are concerned, while we’ve gone pretty funky with the Moschino boom box style handbags complete with graffiti and a grip handle.
#10: Funky Geometric Shapes of Bags
We know that while the year has been full of olden trends and styles in every fashion category, particularly delving into the decade of the 1970s, we also saw quite a few more futuristic looks that appeared to be resonating with the human need to constantly move forward. While it’s nice to use scrap and remodel into modern pieces, it is also just as important, if not more, to envision the decades ahead of you, creating pieces that would later become the basics that are used in future collections when referring to past decades. That might be why we fell in love with the bright red colored bags from J.W. Anderson that had funky geometric shapes and an altogether futuristic feel to them. Those funky shapes come into play with the 3D look of the color-blocked Mary Katrantzou pieces, the inverted gold bar of the tiny Anya Hindmarch chain strapped pieces, and the Hermes clutch.
#11: Adding Chains
Chains are a bit more classic in terms of straps that are used to keep the handbags hanging off the shoulders, the metal looking really good against the skin. There is a touch of sophistication in there, as the accessory offers the same feeling of vogue that golden or silver jewellery would. The Balenciaga bag with its boxy look and silver chain, in a gorgeous lighter blue hue that reminds us of mermaids and oceans is one of the best chain strapped handbags for fall/ winter 2015-2016. Chanel has always loved using chain links with leather entwined to give it an even more durable setup while essentially adding to its basic aesthetics. Dior’s stripy printed bags with the contrasting colors and the messenger flaps also offer us a glimpse of the gorgeous way silver chains can look on a single piece, while the double strapping of it makes for an interesting look overall. We cannot help but fall in love with some of the classier looks that are seen by designers such as the Gucci brand, the double silver chained links in hand as the models saunter down the runway with poise and grace befitting the fashion house’s ideals. Chains were added to pieces of all sizes, small and large, including the Anya Hindmarch teeny tiny versions of what appear to be handbags themselves but are a little too small for our tastes. The chains can be added to the straps in part as well, as we see on the slip though designed satchel handbags with the extra shoulder straps to help keep them in place. Chains are added to furry and fluffy handbags as well, such as those by Matthew Williamson and Misha Nonoo, Salvatore Ferragamo and Topshop, the latter having a rather intriguing combination of chain designs to really add a touch of chic to the mix. If we are going to talk funky, then the sexy outfits of Elie Saab paired with the thin chained furry blue little handbags are the best pieces that come right to mind. Dazzling Alberta Ferretti bags also make the line-up, breezing through with their gilded copper definitions and pretty chains for shoulder straps.
Not all the chains are delicate either, as we find quite a few chunkier looks that are made of plastic or Lucite and add a cool edge to a more standard carryall. Coming in bold colors and prints, these definitely leave a loud statement wherever seen, even more than the bags themselves. There are the gorgeous interwoven chains on the Miu Miu runway with the snakeskin sidings and intriguing bodies, the almost scary
Calvin Kleinsaddle bags and the awesome fringed alternatives offered by
Ralph Lauren. Hands slip through chains on a Calvin Klein bag that might have otherwise been a clutch, all black and gothic to match the brand’s signature style.
#12: Tiled Bags
We have always loved the pretty little tiles in our bathrooms that are used to create some pretty sweet designs with different colors and ideas springing up all over. The best part of these has always been the fact that the cloned square shapes are in the exact same sizes all over the walls, offering a respite for our eyes that yearns for symmetry. Chanel played up on this appeal this year and offered us some pretty colorful square tiled versions of its classic chain linked purses with the logo emblazoned in front. Some cool tiled bags for fall 2015 are also offered by
Valentino and Louis Vuitton.
#13: Brightly Colored Handbags
There are color-blocked bags and then there are those like the Dolce & Gabbana pieces wherein bursts of color are found in different designs. We cannot help but be drawn to such pieces as the contrasting primaries combine with the accentuating secondary hues to inspire such beautiful dreams within us all. Color blocks are seen on the Valentino bags as well, with the slip through bands helping keep the clutch style in place. Bright oranges seem to really have a place on the runway, which means that we might just grab a furry
Fendi messenger bag in that color.
#14: Messenger Bags
We saw messenger bags as one of the bigger trends on the spring and summer 2015-2016 collection Fashion Week runway shows as well, meaning that now that they appear on the fall/winter seasons, they are officially a 2015 trend overall. From the gorgeous orange textured looks on the Dior catwalk to the furry flapped Jason Wu bags that may be small in size but are big in spirit, we have seen a plethora of stylish messenger bags on the runways lately. Date nights would look so much better with a color blocked Valentino messenger bag on the arm. We kind of like the furry messenger bags seen on the Misha Nonoo show actually, along with the extraordinary Chanel designs. Or you can ride into the sunset on a black steed with your long fringed Emilio Pucci bag thrown cross-body, enjoying the briskness of the air whipping against skin, your belongings safe in a stylish piece. Fringed messenger bags are very much in anyhow, as we see them on Sass & Bide as well.
#15: Saddle Bags
Saddle bags are a common enough sight from the 1970s, just like the suede and the fringed options. When it comes to the Chloe look, we see the very typical saddlebag, smaller in size, worn as a cross-body or over the shoulder. There are the large and thick chained cross-body Calvin Klein pieces with the tan leather bodies to find as well, though they might not be as popular as some of the other trending looks. Altuzarra and
Michael Kors also have stylish saddle bags for fall 2015.
#16: Envelope and Folded Bags
Making their way to the fall and winter as well are those envelope and folded bags that were quite big on the spring and summer runway shows presented last September. They are slightly bigger in size, and make for the perfect everyday handbag alternatives, especially the Victoria Beckham slip through ring styles, being also perfect for a night out on the town, partying it up or attending a classy gathering. The 3.1 Philip Lim label also offers envelope handbags that seem perfect to carry about to work, while the reptile skinned Lanvin slip through handled bags offer a folded design.
#17: Over the Shoulder Bags
While some of the fall 2015 trendy bags carried are grip or even clutches, a majority of those have straps in leather or metal links that can be thrown over the shoulders to carry the pieces hands free. Of course, that is also more than possible with the tote bags that are carried on the forearms, but we still see shoulder straps, even if we are looking at a grip styled purse. Examples of this are found on the Coach runway along with Dior, where we see messenger bags in bright colors and the double handle options, the logo found somewhere on the front flap. Even truly classic looks like some of the Gucci pieces are great with the chained straps over the shoulders, carried either in hand or keeping those parts free of distractions. Some of the bags with the slip through straps also have shoulder ones to help one out, just like the dual version of the grip with shoulders. The slip through versions that fall into this category include the darker blue suede Tod’s satchel as well, while tinier furrier bags such as the Salvatore Ferragamo designs have straps that are soft enough to wind around the arms as well.
#18: Bags with Words
While most of the handbags brought onto the runway stages have been more focused on color and texture, some designers have opted to focus on prints and sometimes even wording that differentiates a piece from all the rest around it. For example, the word Lucky is handwritten on a Coach bag in black letters, against a white background. Seeing the word alone brightens up our day. If you want some really crazy styles, opt for the huge
Moschino bags with the graffiti writings all over the suitcase design or take the Vivienne Westwood route and really feel the effects of adding an exclamation mark to Get a Life! The little heart placed after this phrase does help diffuse things just a bit, but we have to say it is one of the most interesting batch of words placed on a bag this year yet.
#19: Structured Bags
While not quite boxy shapes, some of the bags held by the models sashaying down the runways were quite structured in look, down to the stitching and overall designs. This was certainly the case with Fendi’s fall 2015 collection, where square patches made up the color blocked look of the piece, complete with fantastical fur and floral additions. Structured pieces also include smaller bags such as the fur flapped Jason Wu bags found on the runway. We have Prada with its fun colors and fun zip ends, though we love just about all of these, from the Rebecca Minkoff shoulder strapped pieces to the Hermes octagonal clutches.
#20: Keeping the Clutches
Another huge trend from the spring and summer 2015 runway shows, the clutch handbags have continued to appear on the catwalk in the hands of gorgeous women wearing incredible pieces. We see them everywhere as well from the textured leather designs of Ferragamo to the more classic designs of the Roland Mouret versions, boxy pieces with a strong appeal. Furry Marc Jacobs clutches have us thinking of lapdogs under our arms, while
Balmain offers us fur covered clutches in bright red coloring. Those wolf fur hued Marni clutches are quite the hoot as well, perfect for any woman who likes to combine fur with clutch designs. We certainly cannot keep our eyes off the Mary Katrantzou clutches, nor those Herve Leger pieces that are so chic.
Trend #21: Teeny Tiny Handbags
While many of the bags we saw on the runway shows, from the Moschino boom boxes to those lovely totes, were huge in size, we also found many tiny little bags that made it onto our list because of their cute designs and funky attitudes. One of such pieces was found on the Anya Hindmarch catwalk, appearing to be an inverted gold bar in a boxy little case. We have no idea what on earth would fit inside but definitely nothing bigger than a cell phone, if that. Soft bodied tiny handbags are found on the Salvatore Ferragamo runway show as well. Balmain’s tiny little clutches also fall into this category, since they are better fit to be a wristlet, while some tiny bags get huge accessories it appears when we look at the tasselled Rebecca Minkoff numbers.
#22: Bags With Slip Through Straps
While we see many clutches without any straps whatsoever, we were also pleasantly surprised to come face to face with the more handy designs of the slip through straps that allow for a better grip on the purses we carry out on the streets. Designers seem to have definitely taken note of the need for some type of handle on the bags, giving rise to a whole array of choice to pick our favorites from, whether it’s the interesting notebook cover style knit bags with the gold bling by Thakoon, the blue suede satchel bags by Tod’s, while the gorgeous bling lined slip through ring of those Victoria Beckham bags are simply out of this world. Even Valentino offers a side strap to slip through other than its grip handle on top, though Vivienne Westwood is not so nice when she screams out for all to just get a life. There is the perfect professional style 3.1 Philip Lam designs as well, along with the color-blocked Valentino messenger bags.
#23: Suede Bags
Suede handbags are all over the place! The fabric may not appear as much on the clothing worn by the models, though it still appears quite a bit, but those handbags are more often than not utilizing suede to some extent on their bodies. This includes the satchels in blue by Tod’s. Envelope handbags also appear in suede, such as on the 3.1 Philip Lam runway, while we are salivating over the perfection of those fringed Burberry Prorsum bucket bags. Of course, how can we not mention the gorgeous Ralph Lauren pieces with the large marble style link chain straps and the heavy fringed embellishments?
#24: Matching Perfectly
We know not to match our handbags to our shoes anymore, though some of us still prefer to keep to that tradition. However, it appears that we are in for a new upgrade on the trend, going matchy-matchy with our clothing and bags now. We are not talking about matching a red dress with a red clutch either or silver sequins with a shiny grey; we are talking exact matching colors, textures and designs between the dress we wear and the bags we hold in our hands. Alexander Wang gave us the rivets and quilting look that we so admire, while Tommy Hilfiger knows just how to match that plaid. Valentino matched up in flower petals or fish scales, while Chanel had 3D flowers gracing bags and dress. The Victoria Beckham soft wool cashmere pieces had us thinking this fall season would definitely be a warm one, while Vionnet’s black and white dotted furry combinations were quite pleasing to look at. Carven’s bright floral designs had us thinking spring much more than the fall season, while the H&M ladies carried around huge duffle bags that looked to be half their size. Versace signature stitching had all eyes turning that way, while Chanel’s tiled patterning was simply mesmerising.
#25: Bucket Bags
Bucket bag has been the It bag style of the entire 2015 year and it makes its way into the cold months as well. Available in different sizes, forms and featuring various colors and materials, bucket bags for fall 2015 come to meet the style demands of even the most capricious fashioniser! We have the structured black bucket bags from Salvatore Ferragamo, the modern designs by Balenciaga, the cross-body tiny options from Anya Hindmarch and the ‘70s inspired bucket bags from Lanvin. The futuristic looks by Kenzo and the funny cartoonish designs by Moschino are also quite lovely!
#26: Carrying Multiple Bags At a Time
It was back in the spring and summer 2015 seasons when we first witnessed this quite a weird, yet totally lovely handbag trend, when Fendi and Anya Hindmarch showed us ways of carrying multiple bags in different styles and sizes at a time. Now, the trend is exercised by our favorite Dolce & Gabbana, where we see fun bags with portrays of the traditional DG family carried together, as well as those more glamorous options embellished with rhinestones and gems. In case of J.W. Anderson three different sizes of circular handbags come attached to a single strap, looking quite funky and futuristic.
#27: Backpacks and Travel Chic Handbags
The modern fashioniser is a globetrotter, who tries to look chic when travelling wherever she goes. A lot depends on finding the most comfortable and stylish suitcase, as well as a backpack to carry when exploring the city she visits. Our favorite fashion designers have included stylish travel chic handbags and backpacks in their fall collections to ensure your jaw-dropping looks come the cold months. We love the color-blocked suitcase of Vionnet, the Moschino one with cartoon characters imprinted all over and the retro-style options from Michael Kors. When it comes to stylish backpacks for fall 2015, look to the collections of Anya Hindmarch and Philipp Plein.
#28: Quirky Bag Designs
Trying to stand out in the crowd and making heads turn as you pass by is still something much appreciated in the fashion world, especially when you know how to do this without looking like a clown. Small details matter a lot here, so instead of wearing something unconventional from head to toe, you can pick an interesting pair of shoes or a fun bag to take your outfits to a whole new level. There are gorgeous fall 2015 handbags that will instantly land you in the spotlight, like Chanel’s makeup inspired bag, the plates resembling one,
Olympia Le Tan’s book resembling clutch or Moschino’s absolutely sick designs, including the Teddy Bear look and the spray paint bottle.
These were the coolest and the most important fall/ winter 2015-2016 handbag trends you need to take into account to build a fashionable wardrobe and style your outfits with personality-stating details. Don’t forget to pick the ideal bag for you depending on your body shape, personal style and the outfits you are going to wear that with!
