WORDS BY APRIL HOLLAMBY
In a year where international travel has come to a halt and daily commutes look very different, accessorizing has become more fluid than functional, with traditional handbag styles and structured shapes making a move into menswear. ‘Gender lines are falling down,’ explains FARFETCH’s senior menswear editor, Luke Raymond. ‘We’re seeing what were womenswear bag styles being made unisex: iconic designs such as the Fendi Baguette, Bottega Veneta Cassette and the Burberry Olympia.’ Here, he shares 2021’s key designer bag trends and how he’ll be styling them this season.
Fendi Baguette shoulder bag | Bottega Veneta Cassette shoulder bag | Burberry Olympia bag | Jacquemus Le Bricolo tote bag
The Travel Bag
Nothing feels more exciting than the prospect of packing a suitcase, but for now, staycations or long weekends away are closer to reality. On the fall/winter 2021 runways, says Raymond, larger holdall shapes were everywhere, with classic styles primarily in black leather still paving the way. Signature details are also key for this season’s holdall designs. Look to Tom Ford and Fendi for embossed logos; Bottega Veneta for its Intrecciato weave; Ermenegildo Zegna for a new take on its Manager silhouette; while Dolce & Gabbana have experimented with denim and patchwork. ‘Logos, monogram prints and more standout details are definitely coming through, making travel accessories bold and exciting,’ says Raymond.
Fendi logo-embossed holdall bag | Bottega Veneta Intrecciato duffle bag | Ermenegildo Zegna Manager logo-lettering holdall | Dolce & Gabbana denim patchwork holdall
The Refreshed Backpack
The humble backpack is the ultimate all-rounder, fitting everything from a laptop to a weekend’s worth of necessities inside. So what can we expect from this season’s styles? ‘Technical details that speak to the hiking and outdoorsy aesthetic are particularly relevant to a streetwear customer,’ notes Raymond. ‘Japanese brands such as Visim and Porter-Yoshida & Co. are experts in the field’ and ‘more traditional brands such as Prada are starting to incorporate more technical details to their designs for ‘people using their backpacks not just to commute but to go on weekend hikes’ for example.
The Business Bag
You may not be returning to the office anytime soon, but business-as-usual styles aren’t going anywhere either. ‘Trends are now reflective of the new working world,’ explains Raymond. Whether you’re office-based, a freelancer or now a permalancer working from home, the need for ‘more flexible styles that are lighter and better to commute with, yet still hold a laptop, gym kit and all the essentials’ are in high demand. Off-White has introduced oversized shoulder bags this season, with a soft, relaxed exterior and internal compartments for all the necessities for a daily commute, while Porter-Yoshida & Co.’s fabric briefcase is going head-to-head with classic totes like the Sac de Jour from Saint Laurent — an all-purpose alternative to a traditional silhouette. ‘We’re seeing a balance of traditional briefcase shapes in softer, more technical styles,’ says Raymond.
Prada Re-Nylon and Saffiano briefcase | Porter-Yoshida & Co. Tanker briefcase | Off-White Arrow shoulder bag | Saint Laurent Sac De Jour tote bag
The Travel-Light Bag
For those who require little to no belongings on their person, miniature bags still have a strong foothold this season. ‘We have the natural extension of the belt-bag that has continued and been refreshed from previous seasons,’ says Raymond. The ‘slingback bag’ and ‘apron bag’ take elements of a belt bag and incorporate alternative straps and fastenings, executed this season by brands like Amiri, Jil Sander and Raf Simons. Bottega Veneta injects bold colors and experimental fastenings into (slightly) oversized belt-bag silhouettes, while Gucci and Valentino Garavani transform classic backpack and saddle-bag silhouettes into miniature sizes.
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