Bag Trends for Autumn/Winter 2007/08

The new fashion bags for Autumn/Winter 2007/08 exude reserved calm in terms of their colour, shape and decoration. Large, voluminous bags are still setting the tone though new trend colours, surface finishes and details add interesting creative touches here. Bags are still the most important accessory.

GLS has pinpointed three trend themes for the Autumn / Winter 2007/08 season:
‘Shaped Neutrality’, ‘Dark Attitude’ and ‘Bronze Reflection’.

Shaped Neutrality
•Voluminous, short-handled bags and big XXL bags with a clear message and sleek styling, plus fashionable crossover/messenger bags
•Slim envelope-shaped clutches
•Sensual, very tactile materials like leather, suede and velvet
•Pale, neutral tones, greys and clear black

Dark Attitude
•Soft east/west styles, frame handbags
•Black and near-black darks dominate but look interesting thanks to materials like patent leather, fine nappa or mock croc

Bronze Reflection
•Pouch-style shapes with short handles, game bags and equestrian styles plus sporty pouch bags. Natural leather, slightly textured or faded, animal skins and furs as well as nylon
•Natural brown tones, olive tones, warm but discreet metallics, especially bronze

Colours
Reserved, dark colours dominate the bag collections. A harmonious statement is all important here. Anything loud and garish is avoided. Emerging as a new trend colour is grey, to be found in the most varied, even slightly shimmering clay tones. Dark, almost black hues are important here. And against this backdrop pure black is also seeing a great comeback. For the first time in a long while it is back ahead of brown. Though browns have by no means disappeared from the collections – in Autumn//Winter they are merely favoured in other nuances. Natural matt brown tones are as much in evidence here as cognac and dark brown (testa di moro) plus a little beige. Providing coloured accents are dark red and petrol plus warm green tones like olive. Now and again the new violet shade in clothing is also picked up on in bags. Alongside the dark colour schemes we see pale tones like sand, putty, off-white and silver grey as contrasts tones. Metallisées remain trendy but in Autumn/Winter they come in darker, more subdued tones. New and very important are the many lovely shades of bronze.

Materials
With fashion handbags still textured, supple and voluminous the trend is towards soft, gentle materials. As ever, the styles are highly effective thanks to their tactile feel and high quality leather. Which is why fine calfskin and nappa leather is used. This features fine, natural textures and graining or slight embossing. Now and again we find faded leather, though now less creased. The trend towards matt/shine contrasts means both suede and patent leather are in great demand though patent leather has to be wet look. Satin and high quality nylon is used to create a slight shine and velvet is used for a shimmery matt look. The eternal mock croc theme has made a strong comeback in bag fashions but boasts new croc looks and, more specifically, coloured texturing. In tune with the Autumn/Winter season many designers are again looking to animal skins and furs – in the high-end segment always using the genuine article.

Formats
The trend towards XXL size bags is continuing. Here many new styles are to be found and with their unisex styling they should also appeal to men. Volume and softness also remain key criteria. Which is why not only pouch styles are preferred but also additional pleats and gathers. Shoulder bags are worn across the chest and come in all sizes. Once again, designers pick up on the frame handbag theme, though now no longer using rigid handbag bodies but softer ones instead. East/west styles remain dominant though some are now moving towards square shapes due to the trend towards large bags. North/south bags are found with shoppers. Fashion rucksacks may see a revival. The tendency towards reserved decoration means interesting front and side pocket ideas are adding an individual touch to the styles here.
We see great attention to detail in the design of evening bags, for instance with flat envelope-shaped clutch styles and narrow little pochettes.

Findings
As with decoration, findings are also used sparingly in the coming Autumn/Winter season. All we now find is discreet stitching and studs/rivets. Instead the fastener theme is dealt with more playfully: here creative individual ideas, adaptations from belt buckles and again the most varied array of padlock fasteners are proposed. The preference towards gold, silver and bronze makes for a mixed array.

Accessories
Belts are among the most important accessories for the Autumn/Winter season. They highlight the waist, even over jackets and coats, and give voluminous silhouettes visual shape and support. Belts are very wide and come in soft leather, in stiffer grades/materials (like riding leather, for instance) or as very narrow, sleek variations. As ever, the denim segment demands belts. Alongside this, long knitted scarves become a key styling element. Gloves are often a little longer due to the cropped sleeve styles. Gathers and pleats plus fine details and fur make for an individual statement.
Grey in all its different shades is important in the accessories department.

Facts and Figures on GDS/GLS:

The GDS/GLS – International Event for Shoes, Leather Goods & More will be held together with global shoes & accessories at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre from 9 to 11 March 2007. Presented here will be the latest trends for the Autumn/Winter 2007/2008 season plus immediate ranges for the coming Summer.