One of the recent bombshells in the fashion world was the news of Virginie Viard’s departure as Chanel’s creative director. As Karl Lagerfeld’s most trusted successor, Virginie has been at Chanel for five years in the blink of an eye. During her tenure, she was behind phenomenal creations like the 22 bag and the relaunch of the classic 31 bag.
Everyone is speculating about who will take the design helm at this luxury powerhouse, with Hedi from Celine being the frontrunner. Whoever steps into this role will need to keep up with Chanel’s rapid release schedule – they have about ten new collections annually, including the four seasons, pre-fall, resort, and dedicated beach and ski lines. Their most recent launch was the 23/24 Haute Couture collection.
Let’s take this opportunity to review some new bag releases from top brands and see if any catch your eye.
Bottega Veneta
Andiamo Parachute
Let’s start with my personal “top crush” – the fresh and charming Parachute bucket bag from BV’s pre-fall collection. Goddess Shu Qi was spotted carrying it at the launch event.
The small Parachute is a square box shape, but its asymmetrical top and bottom resemble an inverted parachute. The entire bag is crafted from a single piece of leather, showcasing the brand’s signature intrecciato weaving. The drawstring closure mimics parachute cords, while the iconic metal knot adorns just one shoulder strap.
As a bucket bag, it doesn’t use zippers, but the gathered corners should prevent items from falling out. My heart skips a beat for the “Oasis Blue” color – it’s so summery!
The Parachute comes in two sizes. The small version can be hand-carried or worn with a detachable shoulder strap. The larger size is more of a tote with an internal zippered pouch and is shoulder-carry only. Both are lightweight thanks to the all-lamb leather construction.
Let’s Go
“Andiamo” means “Let’s Go” in Italian, and this pre-fall collection features a bag aptly named “Let’s Go.”
It’s similar to the Loop pencil case shape, but unlike the Loop with its handles on both sides and crossbody option, or the mini Candy version, Let’s Go is a basic shoulder bag. As an underarm bag, it’s flattering on most body types. The shoulder strap and body are fully woven. Currently available in one size and three colors, with the Salt Yellow being particularly gentle and appealing.
Solstice
The pre-fall collection also introduces the unique Solstice bag. While it comes in a woven version, the line primarily features smooth saddle leather, with the standout detail being the metal twist locks on both sides.
The semi-circular bottom is reminiscent of a saddle bag, but the overall design boasts architectural linear beauty. BV consistently surprises with such distinctive bags. The triangular side panels allow for color-blocking designs, and there are various fun seasonal versions.
The Solstice comes in three sizes: mini, small, and medium.
Saint Laurent
Voltaire Box
My second favorite is Saint Laurent’s Voltaire – I’m a sucker for box leather.
While their bags tend to be more angular, the Voltaire adopts the popular half-moon shape, leaning more towards a saddle bag style. The clean design features the iconic LE CASSANDRE turn-lock closure. Actress Qin Lan was spotted with it at the airport.
This shoulder bag comes in small and mini sizes, both with adjustable and detachable swivel-hook straps. The small size has a practical flap compartment inside, while the mini in deep cork color is particularly attractive.
Calypso
The Calypso is Saint Laurent’s main new handbag this season, similar in shape to the Niki but overall more minimalist.
Its material is quite special – unlike typical smooth lambskin, this bag uses grained lambskin for a vintage, worn-in look. It also features the brand’s signature padded quilting, enhancing durability.
The strap design is clever, retaining the iconic leather-threaded chain but convertible between a double-handle shoulder carry and a single long crossbody strap.
Louis Vuitton
Pochette Metis
While LV didn’t introduce new bag shapes this season, their pre-fall collection’s animal-themed designs took center stage. In collaboration with Chinese artist Sun Yitian, whimsical stuffed animal elements were incorporated into many classic bag styles, featuring leopards, rabbits, dogs, penguins, and more, blending fashion with cuteness.
The traditional monogram can sometimes feel heavy, but these animal decorations add a playful touch. Actress Ouyang Nana was spotted with a messenger bag from this collaborative series.
Liu Yifei carried a mini Speedy adorned with a little dog, making it even more adorable!
Carryall
The Carryall, one of LV’s bestsellers, combines features of both hobo and tote bags. Spacious and stylish, it has become a must-have item. The new season’s version from the LV By The Pool collection features a light denim monogram print with denim tags, exuding both vintage charm and modern flair.
Made from washed light denim, the aged-effect Monogram denim cotton gives off a casual street vibe. The fresh light blue tone is perfect for the season, offering a classic, versatile look suitable for both commuting and travel.
The denim body is soft but not slouchy, aligning with the recent trend of large, soft bags and providing a relaxed feel.
The Carryall includes a detachable zippered pouch, useful for small items or as a coin purse, making it multi-functional. The adjustable, detachable strap allows for underarm, shoulder, or crossbody wear.
Fendi
Roll
Actress Jun Ji-hyun attended a Chaumet event in Venice carrying a Fendi tote bag, looking stunning paired with a simple white shirt!
This tote features the classic Pequin vertical stripe design on one side and Fendi’s iconic FF pattern on the other, creating an interesting contrast. It’s a practical bag that can fit a laptop.
The same Roll handbag in large size also comes in dark blue and light blue, both perfect for summer and ideal for vacation use.
Fendi also released matching fans that look refreshingly cool and pair perfectly with the bags, serving as a nice accent when attached.
A smaller version of the tote is available, which might be more practical for those who don’t need to carry laptops. It comes in three colors, including Fendi’s signature eye-catching yellow.
Another Roll raffia handbag is a collaboration between Fendi and Made for a Woman, a Madagascar-based charity focused on women’s empowerment. This bag is handcrafted by artisans in the organization’s Antananarivo workshop.
The entire bag is woven from natural raffia fibers, exuding a high-quality, textured look. It features Fendi’s classic FF pattern in crochet, with meticulous attention to detail.
It includes a detachable brown linen pouch inside with a drawstring design for added security and practicality.
The collection also includes large and mini sizes, each with slightly different configurations. The large size doesn’t have the linen pouch but offers ample capacity. The mini version uniquely features a zipper and a small strap for crossbody or shoulder wear.
A size comparison image shows that both the large and small sizes are quite practical.
Baguette ‘Hand in Hand’
The classic Baguette bag also has a collaborative edition with Made for a Woman. This version is particularly intricate, employing various stitching techniques with rope knot patterns running through the flap and shoulder strap.
It’s adorned with red agate beads, making it a truly unique piece. This bag is not yet available in stores and is likely to be part of a limited edition series.
Delvaux
Pin Pon
The Belgian luxury brand Delvaux is a staple in workplace dramas. Their most frequently featured Brillant bag appeared in “The Rose,” carried by actress Wan Qian.
The Pin series is another popular line from the brand, inspired by the licorice bags on horses’ necks when it was created in 1972. Its distinctive features are the swinging curve at the bottom and the perforated design.
A new addition to this series is the Pin Pon, which sounds similar to “ping pong” in English. It adopts the half-moon shape that many luxury brands are currently producing, designed as a shoulder bag with the Pin series’ signature small round holes at the bottom.
L’Airess
The small round holes also appear in this handheld series. The Airess’s perforated design is inspired by Avia travel suitcases, emphasizing lightness and breathability.
L’Airess is a unique tote bag design with two transformable styles. It’s reminiscent of a previous Loewe swing bag, which can be folded into a “perforated” handbag. When opened, it becomes a shoulder tote. Made from textured TC leather, it’s a durable and practical bag.
Chanel
Lastly, let’s discuss Chanel. Although they are the most prolific in releasing new bags among luxury brands, truly new designs are rare. They mostly focus on material variations of their classic series.
The latest release is the 23/24 Haute Couture Métiers d’Art collection. Chanel owns eight specialized haute couture workshops, each with unique characteristics. Every year, they release limited designs based on classic bag shapes. The following two pieces are from the Teatime series by the Montex embroidery workshop.
Métiers d’Art products are priced significantly differently. For instance, the beaded mini 22 is almost twice the price of the all-leather version. These are coveted by collectors, but in the secondhand market, classic colors and leather qualities still dominate. Buyers should consider their personal needs when making a purchase.
This concludes our sharing of new bags from luxury brands’ pre-fall collections. If you’ve already gotten your hands on any of these, remember to share your beautiful photos and user experiences.
We’re currently collecting submissions for new bags purchased in the first half of 2024, and we’ve already received many stunning entries. Feel free to comment as if you’re chatting with friends, sharing photos, purchase locations, and prices. We look forward to your contributions! 🎁
2024 Designer Bag Launches: Supersized is Still In!
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