The New Shape of It Bags

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The fashion world’s seasonal obsession with It bags has its own historic romance dating back to the early and mid ‘20th century, when the houses of Chanel and Hermès created their easily recognizable status handbags that soon became famous in their own rights–Chanel 2.55 and Hermès Kelly. Before luxury lovers began brooding their shoe addiction, the lust for a handbag had already been embedded inside of them. During the designer bag craze of ‘1990s and early ‘2000s, the term “It bag” was coined to identify a high-priced, best-selling designer handbag. This definition held on for almost two decades amid a craze of designer handbags, as high-end labels competed to manufacture a singular, identifiable design which would become a season’s must-have, best-selling bag; but at the end of the season, one particular design would reign supreme.

However, the fashion dynamics nowadays are as mercurial as weather and the It bag phenomenon is no longer a chase for the stature. Buyers have renounced eyeing for a conformity of trendy accessories bounded by brand names and prices. With social media sparking the fragmentation of consumers and cultivating the personal savviness of style, a new era of consumer culture that is more inclusive has disrupted and transformed the industry. The market now is boasting a broad spectrum of styles and price range, and a plethora of trends to satisfy fashionistas who are eager to don a unique design that befits their individual tastes. And statement bags that are expressive and evocative of selves have thus spiraled to the cream of this seasonal cult attraction that is now freed of singularity and status symbol.

But that is not to say high-end status bags like Fendi Baguette or Dior Saddle are out of style, since there will always be a passionate market for designers revamping and reintroducing vintage, nostalgic luxury handbags of the ’90s and beyond. Today, the It bags are redefined in an array of chic styles that not only eclipse all others but also elicit a sense of individuality. And in 2020, this personal statement is contained in a crescent shape. While the mania of boxy totes from the past seasons persists, a new form of hobo bags is in again to disrupt the cyclical handbag trends, creeping onto the bookmarks and wishlists of avid fashionistas. The moniker of this latest incarnation of hobo looks is: the half-moon bag, owing to its crescent shape and circular armhole.

Crescent bags are, by no means, new nor revolutionary; betting on modernized design, Victoria Beckham and Michael Kors were among the first brands to introduce half-moon-shaped handbags on their Spring/Summer 2016 runways. Yet this year, they are championed as the cult accessories and the newest silhouette spearheading 2020’s fashion by a plenitude of young as well as upscale labels, as seen so evidently in fashion week street styles. Visually, moon bags are a structured, sculptural wonder that embodies the definition of a statement accessory with its oversized design and highly distinguishable geometric crescent outline. While a half-moon handbag’s erected physique eschews the slouchiness of its hobo predecessor, it simultaneously fuses the roomy interiority and all-encompassing versatility of a boxy tote, effortlessly ticking off all the right boxes as it is finished off with either a long shoulder strap or a circular handle for carrying. A moon bag’s versatility also reinforces itself as the perfect fit for all styles and aesthetics.

A high level of exclusivity defined the It bags fetish during its heydays; how ironic that now, it’s the accessibility and individualism that constitute a hit handbag of the season. But the two eras do share a commonality in marketing It bags: endorsed by the fashion press, and seen on the arms of celebrities, style influencers/models, and designer muses. The street style of 2020 demonstrates nakedly that crescent handbags are the It bags of the year. Once Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and countless other street-style stars were seen carrying New York-based label Staud’s signature Moon Bag, the adorn piece’s virality on social media and the handbag market was soon to be inevitable, directing fashion enthusiasts into a shopping frenzy of half-moon bags blooming in a variety of personal takes and reiterations by manifold designers.

Historic luxury brands like Celine are unapologetic in encapsulating the lune in their branded monogram and luxe leather, whereas younger labels such as Neous and Cult Gaia splash the lunar hobo with lusty, dreamy pleats for a metropolitan veneer. The Olsen twins of The Row, on the other hand, embrace irreverent simplicity and experiment with asymmetrical shapes on the demi moon, as with Carolina Santo Domingo and Aesther Ekme, both of which have brought an even more dramatic asymmetrical contour to the sculptural shape. Ending with a note on an organic, minimalistic facade, Marc Jacobs, Coperni, and Mowalola have all decided to retain the circular moony form in its symmetrical curves, but nonetheless embossing the diminutive arch with exquisite, visible logos prints.

With a mystical name enhancing its alluring aesthetics, and a spacious carry-all design accommodating daily essentials and more, half-moon bags make a signature statement on the pared-down luxury evolution of today’s It bag sensation: refined minimalism with clean lines and an approachable functionality. Reimagined with timelessness while simultaneously radiating an Instagram appeal, these architectural handbags are a reflection of fashion democratization as well as the self-expressive creativities thereof. Now, with designers of all price-points putting their own spin on the distinctive sculptural shape, immerse yourself in these new lunar It bags, with pleasure.

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createdAt:Mon, 19 Oct 2020 14:49:19 +0000
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