How to bag it in 2024
A lot of the trends in clothes for the new year carried over to bags, but then they also did not.
Quiet luxury and minimalism can be seen in streamlined designs, but designers also went over the top with accessories since the plainest clothes needed the punch of a statement bag. Maybe Jane Birkin, who died last year, was an inspiration for the schizophrenia. She prized utility, above all, a need which the Hermès bag named after her was able to meet with panache. But being who she is, Birkin personalized it with stickers and charms, and used it so often that it acquired a lovely patina that marked her style-icon status.
Individuality is definitely a running thread in the bags for this year, answering the needs of the working girl with capacious totes while providing pretty micro purses for the party girl who just wants to bring her credit card and lipstick. And who says the two are exclusive? The runways saw both sizes carried together—work by day and party by night.
With woven bags a big story for the season, Filipino artisans will be busier this year and fashion fiends have a lot to discover shopping at the malls and pop-ups.
The giant
Some of the season’s offerings are so huge, they are practically traveling bags. For those who go from morning to night, they’re ideal; just pack the evening purse together with all else that you need for the day. That’s exactly how they were shown on the runways at Miu Miu, where bags were overstuffed with everything spilling out.
The lilliputian
Pair your giant with a mini, which you can see at Gucci, Givenchy, Fendi, and Versace in sizes no bigger than an iPhone. Chanel has the smallest, which can probably fit only the barest essentials.
Go circular
The circle represents infinity, and it may be a good talisman to carry around for the year, if Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and Longchamp are all on the same page. Zacarias 1925 has many versions of its shield bag in local weaves, one even in a fun pakwan design.
Baskets and weaves
Basket bags and woven bags in various materials from rattan to leather hit the runways, with Bottega Veneta leading the way since the intrecciato weave has always been its signature, but they innovated with lighter versions and came out with basket shapes as well as the small Andiamo.
Our local ateliers, from Ikot to Yvettes, have many innovative designs that are both practical and pretty on the arm to jazz up those pared-down outfits.
The bucket
Nothing is more useful than a bucket, but they don’t have to look so quotidian, as Lesley Mobo demonstrated at Pamaskong Ternocon, where his tropical, terno-clad señoritas happily toted vibrant, multipatterned bags by Adante Leyesa. They need not be cylindrical either, like Tory Burch’s angular version that can be worn two ways.
The cargo
The utility of cargo pants has carried over to bags, with multiple outer pockets and compartments, something Fendi has been doing for some time, but more labels are joining the bandwagon. To help local communities, go for Vesti, who does it with Yakan weaves and leather.
Clutch it
Clutches need not be exclusively for evening, with bigger ones making it for day. Carrying them beneath the elbow leaves your hands free for other tasks. Some, like the soft, unstructured, and roomy pieces from Ferragamo and Tod’s, even have handles for versatility.
Envelopes
The small clutch becomes even more discreet with the envelope, sophisticated in croc at Tom Ford and tongue-in-cheek travel ready as a Balenciaga passport with boarding pass. Zacarias 1925’s Bee collection weaves them into long versions that hold a little more.
Beaded
The Zoomer predilection for vintage has zeroed in on beaded bags with their old-world aesthetics. Beading is something we do well here, as seen in ateliers like Valdes Designs creating exquisite pieces that have made it to boutiques in the world’s fashion capitals. Beatriz has a fun take in candy-colored plastic beads.
Charmed
From charms to bijoux, embellished bags add a punch to minimalist looks. Schiaparelli’s has the most extravagant, with a gold wristwatch, gold chains, and a charm bracelet.
Blooming
Florals always brighten up the OOTD and the day itself. Adante Leyesa puts our Philippine orchids front and center in his pieces, while Calli cultivates roses.
The unexpected
To break the monotony of streamlined outfits, go for unusual shapes like the Betty Crown clutch at Zacarias 1925 or the ergonomic clutches at Valdes Designs. You can even have a touch of the surreal with distorted shapes like those at Acne or the shoe bag of Balenciaga.