I absolutely adore the tiny croc Jacquemus bag above, alongside the requisite fall 2020 accessory: a face mask. It is defiantly impractical in the most delicious of ways: heavy on form and light on function, exists purely for aesthetic enjoyment. To which I say: cheers. We all need a little frivolity this year. (You can get a similar whimsical top-handled croc find here for less).
More of my top picks for the best bags for fall 2020 here:
LE SPLURGE // At the top of my personal bag lust list? A Bottega Veneta Cassette bag. I’ve seen a few in NYC and they are crazy chic. They’re downtown-elegant-cool in the way Alexander Wang bags were maybe a decade ago — remember all the studs and hardware, and we were all kind of scared and entranced by them? Ha. Anyhow, I think I’d be a whole new woman carrying that BV bag. Wowza.
LE EVERYDAY WORKHORSE (COULD BE DIAPER BAG!) // On the more reasonably-priced front, I love the new shape/shoulder strap of the updated Naghedi tote in inky navy blue. This is a fantastic everyday bag that could work as a diaper bag for those of you with small children. And it has a kind of Bottega Veneta-esque quality thanks to the woven styling. It’s the kind of bag that will make people wonder “what is that bag?!” And, just on the heels: “I need one, too.” I know because I saw a mom carrying one a year or two ago and I thought the same thing.
LE ALTERNATE EVERYDAY WORKHORSE // also still love my MZ Wallace medium metro tote for schlepping around with the children. It’s durable, incredibly lightweight, and chic. A lot of you mamas refer to this as your “winter diaper bag” and opt for something more summery in the warm months — now might be a good time to invest if you’ve been eyeing it for awhile. I wrote a full review here.
If you like the MZ Wallace bag but feel that they’re becoming too ubiquitous and therefore want something different (I, too, am an erstwhile philistine), consider this slightly sportier variation from Vee Collective.
LE CHICEST SHOULDER BAG // I am drooling over this polished knot-tie snakeskin-embossed bag. It is just the kind of understated elegance of a Carolyn Bassette Kennedy-type. The lady who wears this bag is sharp, practical, and understated chic.
LE ON-TREND STEAL // Absolutely adore this steal of a canvas tote with the on-trend croc straps. YES. Bought this for fall everyday wear to swap in for the Pam Munson straw tote I carry all summer long.
LE BOLD TOTE // Have eyed this timeless Clare Vivier forever. Love the punchy tangerine color and sporty handles.
LE DOUBLE TAKE TOTE // This roomy All Saints canvas bag is amazing. It looks like it could be something by Balenciaga, Loewe, or St. Laurent. LOVE the trapeze shape.
LE MUST-HAVE POUCH // This Mansur Gavriel lambskin “cloud” pouch clutch is a major yes for fall. It is fresh, modern, and has a “I watch the runway” kind of fashion-forwardness to it. You can get the look for a little less with Loeffler Randall’s similar style, or splurge with Bottega Veneta. And you can get the vibe for under $35 with this Amazon steal, a Magpie reader favorite!
LE CROSSBODY // I have seen a ton of moms wearing simple crossbody bags when picking up their children. It makes so much sense — hands-free, and the perfect shape for stowing sanitizer, mask, phone, and wallet. I see a lot of Gucci logo and Chanel crossbodies on the streets these days, but I also think this timeless Celine trio would be an amazingly chic pick, as would this green croc St. Laurent (wow wow wow). On the more reasonably priced end of the spectrum, I love this simple style from J. Crew with this snakeskin-embossed strap swapped in!
LE FLAT CLUTCH // These under-$80 monogrammable flat canvas clutches are so fun and splashy, and the monogram options are reminiscent of Goyard. Meanwhile, this strawberry-and-python print (yes, you read that combo correctly) statement gives me major Gucci vibes. LOVE.
P.S. Statement sweaters for this season, too. And lots more fall finds here.
P.P.S. Reminiscing about my time studying abroad.
P.P.P.S. Visits with my friend, who passed away a decade ago.