If September’s New York Fashion Week 2021 had a slogan, it would be “On with the show!” After several seasons skipped, editors, buyers, and influencers are back, sitting front row, with their face masks firmly in place. For those who must attend many events, the week is a juggling contest of shows, presentations, dinners, cocktail parties. There is not always a chance to switch up your outfits between day and evening commitments, and there is rarely enough time to grab a snack, touch up your makeup, etc. It all means that everything you might possibly need for the coming day gets thrown into a handbag, and off you go!
No one knows this better than our editors. A group of people who, for the next sevenish days, will be hiking from show to show with a bag (or two) swing, slung, or accessorizing their bodies. Do our editors prefer carryall totes? Hands-free crossbodies? Or micro-bags that sit nicely on their laps while seated next to the catwalk?
Below, 14 editors reveal which handbags they plan on carrying this New York Fashion Week. Unsurprisingly, each pick has been made strategically—fashion meets function in this list of handy handbags.
Virginia Smith, Global Head of Fashion Network
I tend to go for a two-bag approach for fashion week: one larger tote to carry everything and a small envelope for running in and out of shows.
Rickie De Sole, Executive Fashion Director, Vogue.com
During fashion month, I tend to alternate between one go-to classic bag and one fun, patterned bag. It’s always a balance between how much I need to carry around with me that day and what I’m wearing.
Emily Farra, Senior Fashion News Writer
I carry my By Far mini bag almost every day, but it’s ideal for Fashion Week. It has just enough room for the essentials (including my iPhone 12 Mini; I don’t think a larger phone would fit!) and doesn’t weigh me down when I’m inevitably running to my next show. As a bonus, people always ask me about it on the street—the shape is just so cute!
Elise Taylor, Senior Living Writer
An annual reminder that the “no white after Labor Day” is a nonsensical rule—especially when it comes to this Mark Cross hobo bag. Functional enough to fit all my essentials (phone! keys! wallet! lipstick! pen!) yet not clunky enough to be a nuisance, it pairs perfectly with, well, everything in my wardrobe—like the plain white tee of purses. Which, considering I’ll be doing a lot of day-to-night changes this week, is an essential quality.
Arden Fanning, Contributor
When I’m covering backstage beauty and the behind-the-scene of Fashion Week, I need free hands and laptop access while I’m hard at work (or lurk, as I like to say!). Clé de Peau Beauté monogrammed this foldable nylon Paravel backpack (made in a way that isn’t environmentally embarrassing) as a gift that I’ve been carrying from New York to Paris for fashion month. It’s feather-light and slippery as satin, so I can move like the wind. When another bag broke while I was waiting for an Uber, I had this one inside and swapped every single item without missing my ride.
Julie Tong, Senior Commerce Editor
I love a hands-free bag or at the very least a bag that is not cumbersome to carry. There’s nothing worse than trying to juggle your phone, invites, notebook, sunglasses, and more all at once. I love my Advene Edge bag in caramel. It’s lightweight and easy to throw on my shoulders or on my arm while keeping everything compact with a zippered top but still easily accessible with one hand.
My other go-to Fashion Week bag this season is Khaite’s small Jeanne crossbody. I love that I can wear it across my body while keeping all my essentials easily stowed and especially so when I’m running to catch a show. Although the Jeanne is sadly out of stock at the moment, the Adeline is a similar version, and next on my list to acquire.
Eliseé Browchuk, Marketing and Production Manager, Experiences
This season, I’ll be sporting By Far’s suede shoulder bag around the city. Not only does the burnt-orange color pair perfectly with all my staple fall pieces, but the practicality of the baguette-style bag is beyond helpful for stashing my mask, phone, and keys on the go!
Madeline Fass, Market Editor
I love something roomy enough for the essentials but small enough that it’s not a tire to lug around all day. This week I’ll most likely be keeping it minimalist and monochromatic with either my Paco crossbody or Wandler’s mini-ish underarm tote. They each strike a perfect balance between semi-practical and making my outfits a little more fun. That’s what Fashion Week is all about, right?
Alexis Bennett, Commerce Writer
You’ll definitely see me schlepping my laptop around this season, but it won’t be in a tattered canvas tote. I will be carrying my spacious Strathberry bag. It’s big enough to hold everything I need (including an extra pair of shoes). Plus, it looks just as polished as my Fashion Week outfits.
Lilah Ramzi, Features and Commerce Editor
I’ve often waxed poetic about Mark Cross bags on this website. My go-to is the Grace Box bag (named after Grace Kelly, my ultimate muse); however, Fashion Week requires a bigger bag to store phone chargers, notebooks, and more things I don’t usually tote around. Enter the Madeline bag, an equally elegant satchel that has all the grace of the Grace bag but comes with a bit more real estate.
Rachel Besser, Market Editor
Traditionally, I forwent bags altogether. I like to be hands-free and also remove the fear of forgetting my bag at a show or in a car while I mentally juggle all my to-dos for the day. Now, smaller bags have become my jam. I like Prada’s small shoulder bags—its Nylon bag has been a tried-and-true go-to for years now—and I have a vintage floral-embroidered Dior saddle bag that I can also sling over my shoulder. I don’t forget these bags, they don’t weigh me down while I’m on the go, and they’re big enough to fit all my essentials, including a granola bar should I get hungry.
Clarissa Schmidt, Commerce Producer
As an editorial producer, I’m very much working behind the scenes during NYFW to ensure all of our brilliant stories are published without any hiccups while writers and editors trek to and from the shows. I take the phrase “everything but the kitchen sink” quite literally when it comes to my commuter work totes. This one is the perfect size to accommodate my laptop, notepads, and all of my chargers—and I still have tons of room for my many day-to-day essentials!
Steff Yotka, Fashion News Editor
The most important things for NYFW are a bag that can fit all your possessions—notebook, charger, laptop, snacks!—and a water bottle to stay hydrated.
Laird Borrelli-Persson, Archive Editor
Loving ribbons and bows as I do, I can’t imagine ever tiring of the obi-inspired knots on Acne’s top-handled leather bag. I have my eye on a mini version in pistachio, but I doubt my phone would fit in it, and I need that for all sorts of things during Fashion Week, like taping interviews and booking Ubers. Stashed in my bag is a note from my son; a solid Diptyque perfume, L’Ombre dans l’Eau, to touch behind my ears for a quick olfactory pick-me-up; and, for a bit of sparkle, The Goldie Highlighter by Veronique Gabai. I like to dab a bit on my hands so I can see and enjoy the glitter. Speaking of which, on days when I have to carry my laptop around, it will be stowed in an ABBA glitter tote from Stockholm.
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