Top Handle to Box bags, ladylike bags steal the shows
More than any other fashion accessory, a handbag defines the times. The aftermath of the pandemic has given up a plethora of creativity, with designers seizing the moment. Just as hemlines go up or down according to the economic environment, so too do handbags provide an entrance into the zeitgeist, encapsulating the mood of the moment. S/S 23 proves that reflecting optimism, freedom and creativity are essential criteria for design. This season there is no shortage. From Top handle bags, box bags, utility, hobo, the baguette etc., all are reworked and reimagined, each one as covetable as the next. Retro inspiration has been a key inspiration with models of The iconic Kelly bag, the Prada Galleria, Dior’s Lady Dior and the Fendi Baguette, and Chanel’s classic flap handbag.
For these bags, maximalist and minimalist styling with functional overtones offers contemporary silhouettes, some larger in scale than others. The mixing of coloured leather creates a striking harmony at Thom Browne, who filled his repertoire with various takes on the classic top handle. Coperni and Rokh offered streamlined classics in white with that substantial-top clasp, a play on heritage appeal. Minimalist flap closures at Vuitton featured utility details, and exterior patch pockets feature handles, while one of the most covetable looks appeared at Fendi by doubling down on double bags. Rejina Pyo took the classic box bag and gave it an uplift with an irregular gold chain handle, and Prada, delving into their archives, gave us more than we could ever wish for in modern, streamlined elegance.
