This week’s Fashion on Fifth is all about bags. Everyone knows the iconic shoe girl who has more shoes in her closet than clothes. And while we know about the Carrie Bradshaws of the world, we rarely see the love shown to the people who (similar to Carrie) love their bags more than their rent-stabilized apartment.
Bags are much more than sewn-together pieces of fabric made out of convenience. Bags hold our lives, memories, aspirations, and dreams. No wonder there are so many iconic examples of bags in popular culture — from Lizzo’s tiny purse at the American Music Awards to Samantha Jones’ fake Fendi Baguette that she loved so much it got her kicked out of Hugh Hefner’s house. Just like how Carrie Bradshaw cherished her Manolo Blahniks, many purse enthusiasts (myself included) hold their handbags in the highest of regards.
Jane Lewis she/her — @janethefarmer
Second-year Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts Journalism + Design student
First up is Fashion on Fifth’s very own Jane Lewis stepping into the spotlight for the first time, with her vintage red patent leather John Fluevog purse. Jane recounted that she first stumbled across the bag last summer, while her mother was going through old clothes. When Jane saw the purse she knew she had to have it, even if it meant starting a good old-fashioned sisterly feud. Luckily for her, she won the coveted bag which looks perfect against her yellow Ganni checkered coat. “I really love it. I love the contrast blue zipper, and I just feel like it matches everything. I always try to match my shoes to my bag,” Jane said.
Dakota Mack he/him — @5taaar
Second-year College of Performing Arts voice student
The story of this bag dates back years, when Dakota’s mother went into a shop one day and bought this Chrome Hearts-esque brown leather crossbody for his father. When Dakota was a senior in high school, he needed a bag and resorted to digging through his father’s old things. Finally, Dakota discovered the one, and he couldn’t pass it up. “It’s been my everything bag. I take this bitch to the club. I go everywhere with this bag,” Dakota gushed. It’s wonderful to see acts of love manifest into fashion, from his mother picking out this bag for his father to it being passed down to him — this bag has love written all over it. Even his dad’s old business cards Dakota finds hidden in the bag’s pockets are little pieces of his family he brings with him everywhere he goes.
Rachel Chou she/her
Second-year Parsons School of Design interior design student
In the summer of 2020, while rummaging through her mother’s closet, Rachel found this giant brown leather bag. When asked where her mom got the purse, Rachel said, “I don’t know because I wasn’t even born.” Yup, folks you heard that right — this bag could be a millennial. Luckily for us, after a quick noninvasive look at the bag, I was able to figure out that it was indeed a vintage Dolce & Gabbana, which according to Rachel should be around 25-26 years old. This means this bag was around for some of the best and most controversial trends of the last quarter century, from velour tracksuits to the boho craze of 2016 to the lowest of the low-rise jeans.
Sean Yun he/him — @seanryan
First-year Parsons product design student.
Compared to our previous bag, which was old enough to witness Clinton’s impeachment, this denim bag is just a baby — only around a month old. Sean said he made the bag himself for his Soft Structures class. “Our first assignment was a tote bag, and I really liked patchwork,” he said. Sean ended up getting a B+, which he says is due to the extra time he took to make the bag and the lack of pockets on the inside. “I obviously feel like I deserved a little bit of a better mark,” he said jokingly. Fortunately for Sean, Fashion on Fifth gives him an A.
Ally Kessler she/her — @ilovemomo2003
Third-year Parsons integrative design student
Ally made her bag by hand, in need of a good school bag. She described it as an ode to teenage angst. “I feel like it’s kind of angst. I’m still secretly an angsty teenager,” she said. Ally explained that the inspiration for this bag is saying “fuck you” and making her feel more secure on her commute as a woman. She enjoys challenging herself when designing her bags, and for this one she wanted to mix feminine and masculine energy. You can see the masculine touch with the darker colors, spikes, and embroidered barbed wire, while keeping the feminine touch with embroidered bows and hearts throughout the bag.
Walking away from this article, my hope is that we can all make a little more room in our hearts for the bag enthusiasts of the world. It is important to note the significance these accessories hold in our lives. Beyond the fabric and design, bags serve as vessels of memories, aspirations, and dreams, mirroring one’s identity and style. From Dakota’s bag with his father’s business card still inside to Ally’s bag dedicated to her self-expression, we can all gain a deeper connection with our purses.
Love this. Finally a good Fashion on Fifth.