Editor’s Note
This article highlights a key trend from the recent fashion shows: the return of playful, tactile embellishment. As seen at houses like Chanel, colourful beads and pearls are bringing a joyful new dimension to luxury design.
Elevated yet tactile pieces signal the return of intentional playfulness. This was seen at Celine, Anna Sui, and most distinctively at Chanel, where Matthieu Blazy introduced a joyful new chapter for the maison. Paired with bold silhouettes, models wore an array of colourful beads and freshwater pearls.
It’s usually the case that runway trends debut on the runway before going viral on social media—not the other way around. However, for SS26, designers turned to TikTok for unlikely inspiration, borrowing from the app’s most famous catchphrases: “attenzione pickpocket!” What began as an Italian woman warning tourists of nearby thieves has since evolved into this season’s biggest handbag trend.
From Dior to Fendi, Ferragamo, and Loewe, to name a few, the trend champions maximum storage through oversized silhouettes. Sounds ideal? There’s just one catch. The styling trick is to leave the handbag wide open, just a hand’s distance away from all of your belongings. The good news is that for those brave enough to embrace the trend, there is an abundance of highly covetable options to choose from.
No matter where you look this season, you’re bound to spot a perfectly polished shoe finished with a bow accent. From silk-textured sandals at Zimmermann to primary-coloured ballet flats at Edrem—and lest we forget, vintage-inspired peep-toe kitten heels at Dior and Givenchy—this fresh trend offers plenty of inspiration for those looking to update their current shoe rotation.
From chic, minimalist brooches poised to adorn double-breasted blazers, as seen at Tory Burch, to elevated flip-flops at Balenciaga, this season strikes a perfect balance between style and functionality. For those torn between the two, pickpocket-friendly handbags make a statement: oversized silhouettes with unzipped panels and open closures add a thrilling edge to commuting through crowded city streets. For the less adventurous, practicality reigns supreme, with last season’s bag charms migrating to our necks as pouch necklaces, spotted at Michael Kors and Lacoste.
Maximalists and sentimentalists will rejoice at the full-force return of Y2K styling, from studded handbags at Acne Studios to butterfly-adorned stilettos and garments at Blumarine. Meanwhile, Burberry channels nostalgic British festival style with Kate Moss–approved mini dresses paired with boots and paisley-printed handbags.