With fashion month coming to a close, we’re diving deep into all the arm candy and footwear guilty pleasures. This season, sculptural forms, funky colours, and oversized bags took over, leaving behind micro statements. It has also been the season of animal print, with snakeskin, zebra, and leopard appearing in most collections. To know which pieces to cop the moment they hit the stores next year, keep on reading.
Ralph Lauren
Bags at Ralph Lauren fluctuated from structured top handles to effortless everyday clutches. And tying the two together were textures—fringe details, statement hardware, croc emboss, and embroidered patterns. Our favourites from the range were the brown bucket bag that felt—not just looked—lived in, and the navy blue fringe clutch that provides a conversation starter wherever you go.
Coach
Coach’s 85th birthday party saw glittery motifs all across the runway, from the set to the models. So naturally the bags and shoes matched the fit, with glittery trompe-l’œil taking over oversized totes, sneakers, and the classic Tabby shoulder bag.
Mulberry
For Christopher Kane’s debut, the Rocker bag was introduced among the laser-cut collection. A structured form of a moon-bag, the bag was introduced in three colourways—black, grey, and pale blue and designed with enough room to carry the Mulberry woman from work to cafe dates to nights out.
Burberry
Going a bit on the nose with ‘florals in spring’, Burberry unapologetically puts their bags and shoes in bloom, with floral appliqués and subtle Burberry checks.
Gucci
Demna’s Gucci brought a series of sharp silhouettes on the runway. Ignoring the Spring-Summer essence, footwear for the collection mainly consists of knee-high boots, a nod to the house’s equestrian roots, and pumps for the party girl.
On the bag front, horsebit and bamboo, two iconic symbols of the house, were reimagined. Slouch hobos got a piece of structure with bamboo straps, while accordion purses were accented with the horsebit motif and made practical with elongated straps. Among the two signatures, the latter in a croc-embossed fuchsia is what stood out the most.
Fendi
Fendi’s Baguette collection needs no introduction, but it does need a good look with every new collection. This time, the bags came in a delicious array of textures, prints, and materials. The signature Zucca print was given a hard edge with studs, while others mixed beadwork with tassels, animal prints with sequins, and thick furs with smooth leather.
Footwear continued Churi’s exploration of sensuality, with fishnet heels, strappy sandals, and animal print pumps decorated with rock stud straps.
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce & Gabbana saw the bedazzled trend and decided to make it even better. However, their collection went beyond just being ‘bejewelled’, instead, they looked at bringing different eras, materials, and aesthetic languages together. Hence the bags took on a variety of forms, from playful picnic baskets to kisslock clutches, east-west embroidery shoulder bags complete with religious imagery, and heavy-duty bedazzled pieces. Footwear complemented the theme with metallic ballet flats and strappy sandals made even more fun with floral appliqués.
Prada
While skirts took centre stage, bags and shoes were not far behind. For footwear, the house brought back the iconic banana heel, along with new sleek leather pumps to plush pink satin heels. Another standout was a grey leather pair, complete with rectangle and oval holes and accented with metallic florals. When it came to bags, the East-West silhouette dominated. Paired with razor-thin straps and belt buckle hardware, the design neatly assesses itself in current bag trends while also settling into a space of its own.
Bottega Veneta
We all know that texture is the main focus of Bottega Veneta. What we didn’t know was that texture would be crochet and raffia. Across bags and shoes, Bottega Veneta’s craftsmanship left no stone unturned. Pumps got the signature intrecciato weave; sandals got fishnet crochet; while loafers got colourful appliqués. Across the bags, the intrecciato weave went from leather to raffia, creating straw clutches and totes that felt both light and hardwearing.
Dior
Dior’s concept of lightness and lived-in clothes meant the Lady Dior was scrunched up while the Cigale and the Dior Bow bag were softened. One piece that caught our eye was a series of totes completely camouflaged with fringe and Dior’s branding running along the front, similar to the Saddle bag.
Footwear at Dior came with the opposite effect to the bags. If the bags were big and larger than life, then shoes were delicate and pristine, with pearls and crystals embellished across thin straps providing a subtle sparkle. We also saw a series of two-toned shoes, with the secondary tone sporting the classic bow motif and an animal print. And with a pointed-toe silhouette, these pairs are sure to hit summer, peeking out of jeans and wide-legged pants.
Givenchy
Givenchy’s collection all came with the slightly unexpected. Boots shifted the zip to make it a prominent design detail, sandals bloomed like pom-poms at the toes, while some heels turned convex, adding an interesting sculptural feel to each pair. Bags came with a similar feel with The Cut hobo bag flopping outward revealing contrasting colours and patterns while smaller top handles curved inward like a fortune cookie. And within them all came a sharp palette of primary colours and acid washes, adding to the fun.
Miu Miu
Going extra large and extra low, Miu Miu’s SS27 takes two iconic visual languages across its bags and shoes and hones in on them. Across plum croc embosses, metallic alligator print, and its signature smooth caramel leather, the gigantic totes were tucked under the arm, zipped and neat this time. While shoes stuck to the beloved low top sneaker, continuing the brand’s partnership with New Balance.
Chanel
Continuing his dialogue with Coco Chanel, Blazy’s take on bags this season felt like a study on the classic flap. Featuring Gabrielle Chanel’s own 2.55, the rest of the bags took exaggerated flap shapes with piping and contrasting details to further hone in on the iconic design. Footwear came even more playful, with curved French heels, camellia floral motifs, and Alice in Wonderland-esque eccentric designs.
