The Fall/Winter 2024 runways in New York, London, Milan and Paris highlighted a multitude of standout accessories that captured attention amidst even striking ready-to-wear designs. This season, expertly crafted and ultra-chic bags, shoes, scarves, hats, et al., emerged with unique narratives.
One of the most surprising trends was the return of the fur look— predominantly faux fur. While reminiscent of the maximalist boho-chic of the 2000s, this season fur was utilised more for warmth rather than status, as seen in fluffy scarves and snoods wrapped like cozy blankets as well as in soft-textured shoes. Vibrant plaid and tartan fabrics dominated oversized scarves from Etro and Burberry, while extra-large faux fur scarves provided both warmth and style, rounding out a diverse and fashionable array of accessories for the season.
Bracelet bags, dangling from wrists like jewellery, reflected a desire for closeness, while fringe embellishments adorned aprons, necklaces and hats.
Practicality also emerged as a key, with sturdy gloves, marching boots and close-fitting hats similar to swimming caps, highlighting focus on functionality and humanity. Oversized bags from Loewe, Balmain and Ferragamo combined both bold style with practicality, aligning with the Quiet Luxury trend, while hats made a strong comeback with Chanel’s floppy styles and Christian Dior’s leopard print riding hats. Baseball caps, updated with inspiration from hit TV show Succession featured prominently at Dior and Dion Lee.
The season also saw micro heels replacing platforms on Gucci and Givenchy runways.
Read on to discover!
OVERSIZED BAGS
Oversized bags have been gaining significant popularity in recent years, becoming a wardrobe staple in both high fashion and street style. This trend is characterised by bags that are considerably larger than standard sizes, emphasising practicality and functionality.
Making a bold fashion statement, this silhouette offers consumers a stylish yet practical approach to design. It caters to the needs of modern lifestyles while standing out in the crowd, reflecting current trends towards versatility, sustainability and individuality in fashion.
Moreover, oversized bags offer abundant space, making them ideal for carrying everyday essentials and more, combining style with practicality. The Loewe XL Puzzle tote in tan or black lambskin is a perfect example of the oversized bag trend. Similarly, for F/W ’23, Olivier Rousteing at Balmain presented a large tan tote with a textured finish. In the same season, Maximilian Davis at Ferragamo showcased a classic tote in grey crocodile-patterned leather. These designs align with the Quiet Luxury trend. Designers like Matthieu Blazy at Bottega Veneta and Glenn Martens at Y Project have shown leather printed bags resembling denim. Meanwhile, Cos featured a quilted crossbody made from recycled polyester. This season, expect to see more quilted designs in various shapes and sizes, crafted from leather and denim.
HAT-TRICK
Hats emerged as a major focal point for designers and brands this season, with an abundance of styles showcased for Fall 2024. In particular, what stood out were the diverse proportions, shapes and materials of these hats.
Chanel featured both floppy hats and newsboy caps, paying homage to Deauville, France, while Christian Dior presented riding hats featuring a bold leopard print, adding a sassy twist to the trend. Owing to the craze surrounding the popular TV show Succession, the humble baseball cap has received a stylish makeover. This unisex style, easy-to-wear and versatile cap can be accessorised with a wide variety of outfits to create countless looks.
At Dior last season, Maria Grazia Chiuri reinvented the classic baseball cap, presenting a quilted version with a high crown lined with the brand’s logo fabric. Dion Lee showcased a classic shape in pale blue distressed denim, while Victoria/Tomas offered a sherpa version featuring a blue logo patch. The Italian hatmaker Borsalino included various designs for F/W ’23, such as grey denim with a green camo pattern.
FUR FORWARD
Faux fur bags in vibrant colours continue to trend strongly. The resurgence of the fur look — predominantly faux fur — has been one of the more surprising accessory trends to emerge.
While fur has been a hallmark of the maximalist boho-chic style of the 2000s, this season, it has primarily been utilised for warmth rather than status, though one can spot elements of both.
The recently concluded runways featured furry bags, fluffy scarves and snoods resembling cozy blankets wrapped around torsos and similarly soft, nubby textures were also spotted in the domain of footwear. Textured bags were a standout at Dries Van Noten, featuring clutches that resembled shag carpet in a myriad of colours, while Chloé’s fringed bag, with its intricate design, could easily be mistaken for a Shih Tzu.
The trend extended beyond handbags this season with brands such as Simone Rocha, Marni and Alexander McQueen— where new Creative Director Seán McGirr made his debut— featuring furry textures in their footwear collections. Additionally, Ferragamo introduced feathery designs, adding a distinctly festive touch.
STATEMENT BELTS
Statement belts are poised to become a key accessory for F/W ’24, building on the inspiration seen during F/W ’23 season. At Blumarine, Anna Molinari presented an extra-wide belt adorned with varied studs, styled as a focal point worn low slung over a plain jersey dress.
Vaquera presented a similar style with a cowhide belt that featured a distressed finish and a three-prong buckle. Michael Kors showed a latte look for F/W ’23 featuring a brown leather double belt with a silver buckle, while Tod’s showed a brown leather utility belt that had a micro bag attached. For inspiration, look at David Koma’s F/W ’23 show, where a purple faux fur bag stole the spotlight with its striking chain handle. Jil Sander also presented a faux fur clutch in bright blue, both aligning perfectly with the Mob Wife aesthetic.
WRISTLETS
The latest trend in handbags offers bracelet bags, which dangle from wrists like jewellery, reflecting a desire to keep belongings close at hand.
These It-bags feature decorative straps, often adorned with chains or embellishments that double up and serve as elegant bracelets when hung from the wrist.
Designers showcased creative reinterpretations of the bracelet bag silhouette for Fall 2024, turning it into a phone case at Balenciaga and swapping out the typical metal ring for a purple leather cuff at Prada.
MICRO HEELS
Similar to how 2017 introduced the micro purse trend, 2024 has brought with it, the micro heel trend. Signs indicating a shift away from the ubiquitous platform shoe were evident on major runways, including Gucci, Givenchy and Brunello Cucinelli, where mini heels took centre stage.
This ultra-low look is sneaking its way onto various footwear styles including slingbacks, mules, boots and more, meaning the barely-there pump will be here to stay until next December.
SHAWLS AND SCARVES
Colourful plaid and tartan fabrics have enjoyed widespread popularity in recent seasons, appearing not only in suits and kilts but also over shawls and scarves.
The blanket scarf, in particular, has emerged as a perfect winter accessory capable of bringing together an outfit together seamlessly. Additionally, an extra-large (faux) fur scarf casually draped around the shoulders serves a dual purpose: providing warmth while also exuding a don’t-mess-with-me energy.
For inspiration, one can look at the oversized versions as seen at Saint Laurent F/W ’23, where Anthony Vaccarello designed a mohair shawl in a classic Stewart tartan fastened with a large gold pin.
Marco de Vincenzo at Etro unveiled a collection featuring a range of oversized plaid wool shawl scarves, with punchy colours such as orange, blue and green. Meanwhile, at Burberry, Daniel Lee curated coordinated looks for F/W ’23, incorporating plaid scarves in vibrant hues to complement the ensembles.
