Handbags are not dead!!!

For many women, bags are a gateway drug: the first toe-dip into fashion, an early artifact one uses to begin to communicate a message. They carry a quality of social weight that represents status in more ways than one. They can make you feel “in” or deliberately pull you out.

I have generally prefered to use clothes (and/or shoes) to relay a message and tend to feel like with a bag, I have less control over what I am saying, but lately, I can’t stop thinking about, styling, wearing bags. Summer found me all over punchy colors with Liffner and Ref, flirting with beads, pursuing wild fringe. But traditional it-bags are not immune from this impulse — Chloe’s padlock has been open on my browser for weeks. I can’t stop thinking about Maria Grazia Chiuri’s baguettes. I spend a lot of time looking for the right City on Vestiaire. It almost seems ironic because of the nostalgia factor, but I assure you, it is not.

I think the inclination is in part due to Blazymania and the resurrection of an image that necessitates the right bag to complete an outfit. They’re not cumbersone, they’re not after thoughts. You look at his runway girls in their cascading fringe skirt suits and they really do feel more complete thanks to the bags that sit over the shoulders.

When a true visionary comes through the halls, almost every element of what influences how we dress really is impacted in some way.

There’s a specific silhouette that is really calling out to me — it’s like a hobo with a little more structure or pizzazz. I like it because the shape is casual, which gives me more flexibility with my clothes (and shoes). It also gives the bag more flexibility to be whimsical, silly, to feel a bit off.

It always features a shoulder strap that’s just the right length — not so long as to be confused for a cross body, or too short that you can’t access what’s in the bag while it’s over your shoulder.

Bag no.1 is Savette’s large tondo suede ($1,990). Perfect to ground an airy look, or put the public in public pajamas —

But looking to ahead to early Fall, I know she’ll be an anchor when I’m getting out of hand/reaching for the most whimsical details I can explode onto myself —

No.2 (in a similar shape, but very different), is The Veil’s large Bibi ($2,700).

VINTAGE VERSACE BRASS FRINGE!!!

She reminds me of a Fendi bag (was kind of like this, but a little bigger and more rounded; I think the current equiv is this) I borrowed for an event last Fall, which became an outfit maker every time I wore it. For the length of time I had her, she brought a lot of personality to simple clothes, made black look more dynamic (demonstrated above), modernized brown and could wrestle with a pair of shorts that naturally take center stage —

I love the paillettes against a cotton baby tee, or flannel/silk button down. Both easily hang on the shoulder which makes them very comfortable to wear. I also think it looks right for the moment.

Preferred pants shape for when it actually is pre-fall out there will be mid to low rise, subtle flare. The shoe has to be casual! Suede, or a wood sole is great for this.

So these are the main honchos — the definite preferred shape for fall.

But if you’re out of (or not planning to get into) the zone of needing to lug a lot of stuff, I maintain that the right clutch can do a lot for your look. I’ve been so hot on Liffner’s small bags of late and this one from the Fall collection is the right amount of sleek (thanks to the embossed croc), and unimpressionable (in a good way — thanks to the shape, like a vintage toiletry bag). So bag no.3 is Liffner’s zip pouch ($375)

Preferred use cases for this bad boy carry a quality of whimsy timelessness about them. The clothes are practical, but they don’t look it. There’s a magic that the bag kind of captures and translates. It makes the outfits feel carefree. And for what it’s worth, this clutch can in fact hold everything you need. Phone wallet keys sunglasses, plastic box full of unused beads.

The next one is a tried and true mom bag. The one you wear when you want to project how put together you are: the kids schedules? Sorted! Dinner? Made! Diaper? Have it!!! But my favorite thing about styling this bag is going as far as I can in the other direction of the mom aesthetic —

But if I’m going for put together — work or meeting or being around serious people appropriate, I almost always opt for a canvas tote. J. Crew Men’s medium seaport tote ($89.50) is 10/10 the best one out there.

Last lick for you brings us back to the lil guys Liffner is churning out. I have loved wearing a punchy color bag this summer, and it’s an impulse I plan to take into fall. One of my favorite ways to do it is with more color —

The more unexpected (eg clashing shades of blue), the better.

So in conclusion; welcome back to my wardrobe, handbags!!!! It’s good to be with you.