On today’s episode of Stores! They’re Yours, and You Can Just Go In and Try Everything On, a stadium-scale backpack display at Prada’s Soho flagship inspired a suite of looks.
The backpack is central to the bookish fall ahead of us, which I’ve been noticing everywhere since the collegiate big-sister vibes at Eckhaus Latta’s NYFW runway; see also: The Row messenger bags, Phoebe Philo folio clutches (or Mémoire notebooks, to be literal). There is only one backpack that could complete this triad of scholarly carriers, and it’s the one Prada has been making continuously since the ’80s.
I used to work across the street from the Rem Koolhaas-designed store, back when Dean & DeLuca was in the current Aritzia space, and I would nervously walk through on my lunch breaks without touching anything. Not so this time. Some other highlights from my visit include a return of the as-seen-on-CBK Dalmatian-dot pony hair accessories; the Devoré pieces, of course, stunningly (de)constructed; this 10-gallon beaded coat that’s REVERSIBLE (and $15,000) if you’re brave; and a floppy leather men’s belt I asked for specifically.
I had seen the belt knotted around trousers all over the runway and attempted it myself at home with other extra-long belts before realizing, no, this is the only belt that can achieve such a louche cinch. Yet another perfect execution of the glove-leather-ization wave that also brought us Martiniano pumps, Jamie Haller penny loafers, Porto pouches, and every floppy bag since the Margaux. A secret star, can be worn with everything, and for all these reasons, worth the $1,000 I spent on it when I left.
Antiqued Twill and Houndstooth Check Coat, $14,500 / Devoré Poplin Midi Skirt, $5,000 / Cotton Top, $1,720 / Leather Slingback Pumps, $1,650 / Antiqued Leather Belt, $1,070 / Small Re-Nylon Backpack, $2,500
Re-Cashmere Cardigan, $2,650 / Ribbed Knit Tank Top, $1,120 / Light Mohair Pants, $2,300 / Antiqued Leather Belt, $1,070 / Leather Slingback Pumps, $1,650 / Medium Corduroy and Leather Backpack, $2,850
Cupro Racerback Dress (similar, $3,150) / Printed Calf Hair Leather Pouch, $2,850 / Small Re-Nylon Backpack, $2,500 / Leather Slingback Pumps, $1,650
For its Holiday ‘27 collection, High Sport asks: Can we make a wrapping paper pattern chic? The brand’s new merlot-and-ivory striped jacquard does successfully merge festivity and fashion on the new Daria bustier, and on HS’s famously flattering Kick pants. Alongside the Skyler cable knit miniskirt and the slouchy Griffin turtleneck, this half of the collection is paging ‘90s apres ski. The other is an exercise in unexpected silhouettes for party dressing, from the cocooning Ray skirt in midnight crepe to the drapey Dylan top, which flashes a half-moon of mid-back. Spicy!
More holiday dressing news… for its Winter collection, Alex Mill is trying out vintage nostalgia with Fair Isle sweaters and Candy Striped cashmere. Sézane’s drop is less technicolor, but the brand’s experiments with ecru capes and cloud-like cable-knits get points on the fun and feminine front. Speaking of, the standout of Posse’s Holiday Collection is this printed silk dress, because who doesn’t want the tassels of a fringed scarf fluttering behind them like a shimmery ribbon? Plus, Tory Burch just dropped its holiday handbags: There’s the Small Pierced Embellished bag (more fringe!) for all the Expressionist enjoyers, and the Charlie shoulder bag now comes in gold snake and eel-embossed leather.
Last May, Demna let his models—and Tom Brady—run loose in Times Square for his first Gucci Cruise show. The collection, called GucciCore, puts a house spin on various modern American uniforms: finance bros with backpacks, UES ladies who lunch, club rats…but make it Gucci. It just arrived online, and standouts include the sickeningly sharp Donna pump—with the brand’s signature horsebit stretched taut across the vamp—and the slouchy new Starlet bag, which sort of shrugs at the line’s more structured totes. Honorable mention goes to the Demna-fied Canadian tuxedo…maybe high waisted jeans are circling back?
We’ve got two new craft-heavy brands on our radar: Ukraine-based Sac Décoratif has less than 20k followers on Instagram and deserves more. Its evening bags, some of which look like Fortuny lamps or passementerie ornaments, take inspiration from flappers, Man Ray photos, and more Deco touchstones. The brand only produces 3 to 20 editions of each, all of which come in candied shades like pistachio and pearl. Jone Atelier follows a similar slow-fashion, artisanal philosophy—its cowl-neck halters, wrap skirts, and scarfs are hand-printed and painted by artisans in Andhra Pradesh, India—and its new collection dropped yesterday.
Bottega Veneta just launched a few new leather goods to accompany its Alta collection of fragrances, including what can only be described as a perfume caddy. Maybe your perfume bottle just wants to be held at night? This sardine comb and these bag charms are also super cute, if you’re the sort of person who buys $400-and-up stocking stuffers. The average Bottega customer just might be!
When there are rumors your creative director may be leaving, make like Balenciaga: Ignore them and drop a skiwear collection instead. This new offering has some hypebeast-y tones—par for the course—and yes, the MSCHF-esque Alaska fur high boots from Fall ‘24 are back in snow-white. But overall, the clothes are functional, cool, and mainly gimmick-free, from khaki techwear to an almost-’80s violet tracksuit (though I do want to hear from someone trying out the snowboard…). Reimagining Balenciaga’s most popular bag silhouettes, like the Rodeo and the City, in shearling was also a smart move.
There’s also: With J. Hannah’s intricate new Terms of Endearment collection, you have the very Victorian option of putting a lock of hair into your ring; Frame trots towards the horse girls with its new Equestrian Collection of blazers, riding pants, and more; Jamie Haller whittles down its Kenickie jeans into a new, slim-fit Cig silhouette; the leather-and-suede Grand Plié bag from Repetto is less dance, more downtown; the SKIMS Holiday Shop has pretty much everything, even an accessories Advent calendar; and Gentle Monster teams up with Maison Margiela for its fourth eyewear collaboration, including these broken-on-purpose glasses.
Men’s releases
Colbo won’t stop collabing! This time it’s with Sperry—the third time Colbo is working with the nautical brand—to launch Sirah, a new loafer-slash-moccasin in both black and chocolate brown. Unlike the original top-sider, this shoe seems less meant for the docks but just as well made. The split-down-the-middle slipper silhouette seems to be having a moment (for the girls, too).
Tekla and Auralee’s second collaboration, now available at Mohawk General, is an ode to friluftsliv, the Norwegian philosophy of “open-air living.” Currently, this might seem hard to do in New York, or anywhere else where the temperatures are creeping towards freezing. But the new collection is made up of cold weather essentials like cashmere arm warmers, heavy blankets, and this cozy puffer. In other words, no excuses.
Home releases
Louis Poulsen’s new collaboration with fragrance brand Elsewhere has layers. Back in the 1930s, Danish architect Vilhelm Lauritzen was tasked with designing lighting for Radiohuset, his country’s broadcasting HQ. Louis Poulsen manufactured his design, a simple glass orb pendant, as VL45 Radiohus. Today, the Elsewhere collaboration takes VL45’s portable counterpart and reimagines it with aged brass and white opal glass. You can also pair this new edition with a candle inspired by the imagined smell of Radiohuset (crushed velvet, electric warmth, cedar… yum).
This past spring at Salone del Mobile, New York–based studio GACHOT designed a furniture collection for retail platform Artemest—think clean, squared-off sofas, lacquered drum tables, and a good amount of frosty Murano glassware. It’s currently on view at Artemest’s Galleria in Chelsea as part of “The New York Edit” showcase, complemented by a curation of vintage designs inspired by ‘90s Manhattan.
Maiden Home is channeling Brazilian Modernism with its new two-part Fio Collection. Both the bench and stool are crafted from solid wood joinery (oak or walnut, your choice), and the seat is woven from strips of saddle leather. Our version of high-low.
In Amsterdam, Carmen does it all—boutique, guesthouse, and café—but clothing-wise, it has a small fall sale going on right now where you can get 20% off with code FLASHSALE20 at check out. There’s a few cute things from Extreme Cashmere (cream sweats!) as well as this techy Baserange hooded shirt—the Dutch have a great eye.
Chairish has a vintage designer sale ending today—it says up to 40% off on site, but some of the more cringe-worthy price tags are marked down nearly 80%. Buying an insanely beautiful Chinoiserie secretary doesn’t hurt as much when you get it for nearly $40k (!) less. The platform also has some amazing Scalamandré furniture from Joanna Carson’s estate, which is currently over half off.
Like Tekla, Magniberg is a Swedish company making great bedlinens and pyjamas, among other things. Once is happenstance, twice is a coincidence… Anyway, the latter launched its Archive Sale yesterday, a.k.a your chance to get a few pairs of PJs while they’re over $100 off. The prices on these high-octane scarfs have been halved, too.
There’s also: Green beauty brand Credo has up to 50% off on body scrubs, Sakara skin supplements, and more; and Black Friday came early at Organic Basics, where you can enter your email for 20% off sitewide.
With News Editor Maya Ibbitson
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