It started this summer—a tasseled Dries pouch here, a feathered Scanlan Theodore bucket bag there. All of a sudden, they were all over my feed, dangling from the arms of all the coolest celebrities (Olivia Rodrigo, Gracie Abrams, Zoe Kravitz—the list goes on). The kooky, unsubtle choice seemed to do the work of shouting “I’m having fun!” without the wearer having to actually go and do that. As I watched these twirly little things bounce around on my screen, it made me a little sad that I didn’t have something equally fun to reach for.
I suppose this is what designers mean when they talk about predicting how women will want to feel, then creating the things that help them experience that feeling. I didn’t even know I was sick of wearing calfskin and suede bags in various shades of burgundy and espresso, but Mathieu Blazy and Jonathan Anderson certainly did. I’m sick of my bag telling people “I’m sensible.” Aren’t we all? Wouldn’t we all rather seem fun and cool—whether to our partner’s ex or to the other moms at school pickup?
I see everyone from stylish Nantucket ladies in their forties to cool Gen-Z secondhand store owners reaching for styles with ostrich feathers, zebra print, beaded fringe—styles bound to elicit a jubilant “Where is that from?” The easier to swing around like a weightless kettlebell, the better. Even the staunch minimalism that had a years-long stronghold in Copenhagen has loosened its grip. A lot of the styles that made the rounds during CPHFW in August felt a little Carrie Bradshaw, but in a cool, not-overly-feminized way.
As far as what you can actually get from the runways for the coming season, Etro’s coterie of fringe pouches from the Fall/Winter 2026 collection are on track to become the new Tory Burch Pierced Embellished Small bag that went viral this summer, giving the beaded-fringe look a slightly more louche feel. Dior’s Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2026/2027 show also featured a trove of slouchy hobos that lean ladylike, if prim and proper is more your speed. As for styling, the trick is not to let the rest of the outfit compete: a cool blazer and wide-leg jeans will allow the bag to supply the personality.
For those who prefer a statement bag that can still, you know, hold things, Balenciaga’s updated Rodeo is screen-printed with a neon sign that’s sure to invite a few Bada-Bing!s. Equally fun to the bag that fits stuff? The object on a string. Chanel, Dior, and more sent out orb-like minaudières that were kitschy and cool all at once. (A word for JW Anderson pigeon holders: cacti and pomegranates are fabulous things to graduate to this season.) Wear one through the evening with an easy shift dress and almond-toe heels for a bit of a nod to the ‘20s.
Consider this permission to let your bag be the least sensible thing you wear.