These days, bags are about character and statement rather than the ‘one size fits all’ It bag of the early 2000s, so it’s hardly surprising that fur bags in all the colours of the rainbow are everywhere on the catwalks right now: eye-catching, truly precious and anything but an everyday, run-of-the-mill accessory.
This season, Alexander McQueen upgraded the oversize clutch with rosy mink, Blumarine had hearts racing with their B-emblazoned mink envelope bag and newcomer Mimi Wade worked with Saga Furs on pale pink mink powder puff bags – a full-blown girly fantasy.
We chart five of the most covetable fur bag looks from the runways right now – perfect as evening bags for ringing in the New Year and great as luxe daytime accents with jeans and trainers in the coming months.
INTARSIA FANTASIA
Fashion has a full-blown obsession with intarsia mink coats, which has of course now manifested itself in handbags, too. Go for Salvatore Ferragamo’s runway look that’s like a piece of hard candy in mink or Tod’s multi-coloured mink crossbody work of art. Like a soft jewellery box, Bally’s mink clutch is lined with red leather while Versace’s opulent Sultan handbag in soft, striped mink contrasted with a hardcore chain also doubles as a clutch.
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Salvatore Ferragamo
Tod’s
Bally
Versace
WILD THINGS
Nothing spells evening glamour with a wild streak quite like fox. Applied to handbags, each piece is transformed into a fabulous furry creature – just look at Moncler’s silver fox clutch for proof or MCM’s dyed silver fox Milla Special on-trend mini tote in electric blue. Tod’s mink shoulder bag with fox tails – an AW16 runway piece – is a classic in the making. Just add a sparkly party dress.
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Moncler
MCM
Tod’s
LADYLIKE COOL
There’s something quite sexy about sleek bags done in the softest, most sumptuous fur, just waiting to be teamed with a glossy manicure. Many designers have reinterpreted classic and minimalist ladylike shapes in mink this season, from The Row to J Mendel Envelope shapes are also endlessly chic in mink, like Valentino’s rock ‘n’ roll studded version and Jimmy Choo’s bright pink dream.
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The Row
J Mendel
Valentino
Jimmy Choo
FUN FUR (BUT THE REAL DEAL)
Playful Muppets-inspired fur coats and witty fur appliqué trophy sweatshirts now have brilliant bag counterparts: young at heart and a great way to inject a fun accent into otherwise subdued evening looks. Natasha Zinko hits all the right notes with her pineapple intarsia shoulder bag and Fendi are of course a major player in the light-hearted fur game, with an on-trend micro mink Peekaboo and a bushy-browed micro Baguette – one of the original It bag shapes that caused endless waiting lists when Silvia Venturini Fendi debuted it in 1997.
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Natasha Zinko
Fendi micro peekaboo
Fendi micro baguette
HANDS-FREE CHIC
Cross-body bags are a party godsend: you have both hands free and you don’t have to worry about accidentally leaving your bag somewhere. Work the look with Christopher Kane’s plush Saga Furs Sapphire Mink box bag, Jason Wu’s intarsia mink mini bag or Dolce & Gabbana’s dreamy block colour mink and python bag.
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Christopher Kane
Jason Wu
Dolce & Gabbana