Runway Porn: The Best Accessory of the Day - Slides

Louis Vuitton Nicolas Ghesquière’s XXL answer to last season’s Petit Malle is great-looking but hardly practical for day use. Instead, we’d go for a classic Louis Vuitton monogram in the deconstructed lunch-bag shape with modern gold hardware. Miu Miu Amid all the black ankle boots on the runways this season, Miuccia Prada’s funky, chunky Miu Miu slingbacks sparkled with quirk and retro charm. Chanel At Chanel’s Brasserie Gabrielle-themed fashion show, handbags were shaped like plates or menus or accessorized with miniature forks and spoons. The most charming of the lot was the coin-purse bag. You’d better start saving your pennies. Saint Laurent Punk was in the air at Hedi Slimane’s Saint Laurent show, straight down to the witchy boots loaded with jeweled hardware. Céline It’s not just Kanye West who’s endorsing the fashion sneaker for Fall. At Céline, Phoebe Philo sent out an optic white version of her coveted thick-sole pull-on that guarantees we’ll be seeing trainers in the front row for another season. Loewe Loewe's Puzzle bag earned instant "It" status when Jonathan Anderson introduced it last season. For Fall, it's been reincarnated in equally irresistible glossy navy crocodile. Lanvin Alber Elbaz's rendition of the Lanvin riding boot sent many hearts aflutter last night. Slightly slouchy and with a stacked heel, the best version comes in a glossy burgundy snake, trimmed in matte black and finished with a swinging leather tassel. Dries Van Noten At Dries Van Noten, a parade of strappy sandals in mix-and-match brocade and jacquard made way for a lone pair of mid-ankle boots in bold purple velvet. They call to mind the ’60s mods of Carnaby Street in a way that makes them perfectly covetable. Marni Jewelry is always an important component of the Marni look, and this season was no exception. The earrings Consuelo Castiglioni showed were assembled from rhinestones, onyx orbs, and metal wire to create beautiful, face-framing Alexander Calder-like mobiles. Bottega Veneta Tomas Maier whipped up a bit of whimsy and humor for Bottega Veneta, giving simple loafers the disco treatment. Metallic gold, covered in sparkling gems, and worn with lacy black tights of the sort that popped up at Proenza Schouler, these shoes actually have a sensibly low heel to keep all that excess grounded. Tod's Wes Anderson’s hit The Royal Tenenbaums has been in the air this season, and penny loafers, which were critical to Margot Tenenbaum’s granny-prep look, feel relevant again. Here, Alessandra Facchinetti’s interpretation of the classic shoe at Tod’s. Fendi Amid the flurry of fur accessories at Fendi, this chevron-stripe handbag was a palate cleanser. It feels simultaneously retro and modern in a way that pairs well with fashion’s current obsession with nostalgia. Gucci Now that Gucci’s longtime head accessories designer, Alessandro Michele, is at the helm of the brand, all eyes were on his vision for the handbags. They were notably angular and reimagined with long chain straps and statement silver closures. I liked the novelty of the heritage GG canvas bag worn around the waist. Though normally I’m not much for a fanny pack, there’s something intriguing about a girl wearing this great Mongolian lamb coat, cinched just so, and as she walks away you realize that the belt is actually the suede strap that attaches her bag to her back. Burberry Prorsum Burberry made a great case for suede fringe handbags yesterday, but what caught my eye were the simple fold-over pouches in leopard. Discreet as animal print can be and sophisticated, this is the kind of bag a woman will go digging in her closet for over and over again. Mary Katrantzou At Mary Katrantzou, the models floated by on chunky platforms wrapped in jewel-tone velvet, a girlish look complete with opaque ribbed tights and a Pepto-Bismol pink runway made of foam. Ralph Lauren A wide-brim felt fedora isn’t necessarily breaking news, but there’s something to be said for a really good hat. Ralph Lauren’s oversize teddy brown version is an instant classic and added the perfect bit of rugged panache to a very glamorous collection. Michael Kors Michael Kors nailed it with this top-handle handbag that reads like a mint-condition treasure you might find at an antique market. It's equal parts luggage and doctor bag with enough hardware to make it special, the right warm caramel leather to make it versatile, and the perfect chubby size to make it practical for everyday. Narciso Rodriguez The chokers that accessorized Narciso Rodriguez’s collection last night called to mind both abstract metal sculpture and the sexually charged accoutrements of S&M to simple and dramatic effect. 3.1 Phillip Lim Phillip Lim has forsaken the chunky alt-girl shoes for which he has become known for an ultra-sexy boot this season. Extra points for the hunter green version in raw suede. Derek Lam Derek Lam gave the mule a mod update complete with square toe, contrast piping, and a shiny patent finish. Altuzarra Who could resist a red hot pair of thigh-grazing boots on Valentine’s Day? Jason Wu It’s still early days, but I predict that Fall 2015 is going to be a big season for fur. Jason Wu’s belted stole added just the right covetable punctuation to an otherwise simple head-to-toe olive look.