Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel collection was defined by a wave of instantly coveted accessories that sent shoppers into a frenzy when they hit stores last month. Yesterday, the creative director’s first Chanel Cruise show, staged in the French seaside town of Biarritz, proved that his hit-making accessory streak is far from over.
The beach-inspired runway introduced another lineup of destined-to-go-viral accessories. The buzziest among them were barely-there sandals with half-missing soles that have already divided the internet, and an enormous Chanel beach bag that took the oversized-bag trend to towering new heights.
While the polarizing lace-up sandals sparked immediate online debate and shock value, the real accessory to watch was the nearly model-height beach tote. The striped Chanel-branded carryall is the latest (and perhaps biggest yet) signal of a return to dramatically oversized bags. And if Blazy’s impact so far is any indication, handbags as a whole are about to get supersized to new scales.
Blazy has already flirted with expanding Chanel’s signature compact bags, sending out slightly larger takes on the house’s classic flap styles, as well as the large shopper tote that quickly became a standout. Other designers have been moving in the same direction: Loewe, The Row, and Altuzarra have all embraced bigger proportions through enlarged totes.
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The revival of supersized bags marks a sharp departure from the bag trends that have dominated recent seasons, when fashion largely favored Y2K-inspired compact shoulder bags, east-west silhouettes, and minis that could barely fit a phone and lipstick. The new mega-tote instead suggests a swing toward practicality and statement dressing, mirroring fashion’s broader move away from quiet luxury and toward bold, impossible-to-ignore maximalism, as seen in the return of oversized sunglasses and chunky statement necklaces.
It won’t just be the lucky shoppers who snag the massive Chanel beach bag: Expect an overall move to roomier totes, oversized shoppers, and massive statement carryalls to overtake the compact it-bags of recent years. If Blazy’s early accessories momentum is any indication, the supersized bag is poised to become fashion’s next must-have accessory.
