We Need To Be Thinking More About Belts
A Fashion Month recap ft. carry-all clutches, Erdem everything, and Miuccia Prada's love affair with grommets.
Hello, fashion folk! I feel like it’s been ages since we had a proper chat. In reality, it’s been ten long days of endless social media scrolling, trend-scoping and NYFW recovery. I’ve missed you!
Currently, I’m in the throes of tackling my wardrobe turnover, a.k.a. boxing up my summer things and determining whether or not the items I’ve stored since last fall are worth keeping for the chilly months ahead. I keep a lot of my essentials year after year, but I’m admittedly guilty of an “out with the old, in with the new” mindset the second the seasons change and I set my sights on a few new must-have closet additions. [It’s an exciting but stressful time, and anyone who liked my autumnal style last season should strongly consider a visit to Crossroads on W 26th St in the next few weeks, as that’s where everything my sisters haven’t already claimed will end up.]
Anyway, I wanted to share a few Fashion Month musings below. Nothing too high-brow — mostly accessory chat and a few handbag recs that may or may not double as workout equipment. Oh, plus grommets! Read on for the scoop.
Ballad Of The Belt
The number one lesson to take from Fashion Month? A simple but impactful styling note — add a belt! Even if it doesn’t make sense. In fact, definitely add one if it doesn’t make sense.
Unexpected belting moments reigned supreme this season, from skinny styles paired with lacy skirts at Simkhai and Michael Kors, to low-slung options amping up both office garb and eveningwear at Tibi and Wiederhoeft.
The belts on bare skin at Prada and AKNVAS reminded me of an iconic look-at-Carrie-Bradshaw’s-abs moment, while looks at Kors and Max Mara served as evidence that even the springiest of florals or most elegant white gowns can be improved by the stark contrast of a black belt to nip the waist.
Moral of the story? We need to be talking about (and wearing) belts more often.
Grommets On The Brain
Miuccia and Raf sent a clear message with their SS25 collection. The message, you ask? OK, we made our buck on influencers with a few commercial pieces and ghastly rhinestoned nylon re-editions, but let this be a reminder that uglycore utilitarian pieces will always exist at Prada’s core.
Talk about a return to the classics! This collection featured an abundance of self-referential styling moments. One of my favorites was the emphasis on hefty hardware — and in particular, the return of a Miuccia classic: the humble grommet gone wild.
Chunky silver grommets are as synonymous with the brand as its iconic triangular symbole, and while oversized piercings on a shiny skirt might not be the most appealing ready-to-wear purchase, you can shop older Prada pieces with grommets galore for less than $800 on sites like The Real Real. See my selects above, linked below!
TRR Finds: Prada Black Enameled Metal Triangle Bauletto Grommet ($750); White Vitello Daino Leather Clutch ($625); Red Vitello Daino Grommet Bauletto Bag ($537); Neutral Canvas Grommet Tote ($444); Blue Canvas Canapa Grommet Tote ($556).
Skip The Gym, Buy A Bag!
Handbag straps are officially a thing of the past. No matter the size or shape, any and all bags sent down the runway this season were carried lovingly in the crook of each model’s arm.
The clutch-ification of oversized bags and even luggage (see Jil Sander above) speaks to an ease and cool that’s not only impractical, but borderline impossible for everyday function — and I learned this the hard way after lugging my massive Brandon Maxwell clutch around this season. It looked amazing, but it felt like a full-blown workout. Yet I loved every second!
For those of you as enamored with this look as I am (despite the inconvenience), allow me to use the above sentiment to justify your purchase of a ludicrously capacious clutch or big-bag-worn-as-clutch. I pay $100 per session with my personal trainer, and an afternoon lugging around my massive bag gave me an equally effective (if not better!) arm workout.
For less than the price of two training sessions, I could pick up either the dreamy blue Banana Republic clutch below, or the classic black pouch from COS. And frankly, I’m far more likely to carry a cute purse than willingly go to the gym on a regular basis. Skip the Bala Bangles and over-pack your clutch instead.
Banana Republic Riviera Leather Clutch ($180)
COS Pillow Oversized Quilted Leather Clutch ($390)
Toteme T-Lock Small Leather Clutch ($960)
Staud Maude Satchel ($495)
Jacquemus The Rond Carré Clutch ($1100)
COS Cavatelli Leather Clutch ($190)
Green With Erdem-vy
To me, Erdem had this season’s most notable standout show. For a long time, I thought of the brand as nothing more than a royals-beloved favorite for simple floral frocks — but lately, their designs have been exceptionally premium.
‘Twas Look 17 from their FW24 collection that first put the brand back on my radar: a devastatingly dreamy black, white, and green draped scarf midi dress that boasted a beautiful pattern on textured silk. The brand describes their Amneris Painting print as “inspired by mid-century sets for opera performances”.
These textures and prints instantly appealed to me, and I was glad to see more of the same in this new collection, an ode to queer identity inspired by Radclyffe Hall’s The Well of Loneliness. The suiting spoke to the story, but the unexpected embellishments and exciting silhouettes were what really sold it to me. Also, I believe this to be the world’s most perfect shade of green. I have a major crush on it.
Beauty Standouts
Allow me to leave you with a few beauty products that made an impact on me during New York Fashion Week. Some from my makeup bag, others spotted backstage, and a few new launches for good measure.
I carried my Subtl Stak in my handbag all week for a partnership with Subtl Beauty, and said stak quickly became my go-to for touch-ups. It really does allow me to carry every product I need without overpacking my bag, and I haven’t left the house without it swince. You can create your own stak with the shades of your choosing, or opt for a pre-made pick like the Starter Stak ($60, was $70). This is not part of the ad. I’m really hooked!
The only breakfast I made time for amidst shows and presentations was an intimate gathering at Coco’s at Colette Private Members Club with Frederic Fekkai himself. We celebrated the return of the Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Styling Creme ($30), a ‘90s staple that’s just as good now as it was when I used to steal my mom’s tube in my teens and apply waaaay too much.
I kicked off my week with a visit to the Prada Beauty pop-up to celebrate Paradoxe Virtual Flower Eau de Parfum ($165), the newest iteration of their iconic fragrance, with a scent altered by AI. Pat never, ever comments on my scent, but he absolutely loves how this smells on me. Which means I love it, too.
We recapped my time backstage at the Prabal show in this B Roll newsletter, but this mani really served as proof that simple but chic nails are sometimes more impactful than OTT nail art. At the show, every model wore the same pair of the KISS Products Bare but Better Nails in Nude Drama, with the coffin shape filed into a stiletto. Then, the artists used blooming gel to create bursts at the tips for a subtle statement that gave a smoky quartz effect to the nails.
And that’s all she wrote! Tell me: what is your favorite part of fashion month? Were there any collections or activations that really turned your head? Let’s discuss.
x BG