(11/2018) The start of every season begins with fashion. During New York Fashion Week in September city dwellers elevate their style of dress by fashioning clothing with a brassiness and audacity. For the week, both the local and visiting bring their best forward, and in result fashion becomes the air we breath on the subway train while commuting to work, the news we consume on social media and the ultimate focus of our expression. As the season develops, the vibration lingers into conversations about blanket scarves and wool coats, a response to retailers flipping their racks with cozy designs for a new season on the daytimer. The cashmere sweaters and pea coats carry the weight of a new wardrobe as the infamous leather tote bag replaces the rattan purse.

Seasons in the year become synonymous with the fashion calendar. T-shirts to turtlenecks, sandals to combat boots: the wardrobe for the season becomes increasingly conservative and stylistically laden. New York has the disheveled bohemian look to perfection. Oversized coats, baggy jeans and clunky footwear paired with a tote bag or backpack are complements to the style. The accessories are also more practical pieces of fashion, than stylistic statements. The New Age references the handbags as the "man bag" for they are acceptable styles for men to fashion. Safe conclusions can be made that New York City loves the man bag.

As seen on the European runway and in stores in Manhattan City, the man bag materializes into the current Coach tote bag, Michael Bastian travel duffle and Kenneth Cole backpack — all styles of common language to New York City’s favored accessory. Paired in hand with a tailored blazer, the tote bag as seen in presentation becomes a item of practical item when used in a not so glamorous fashion – in transit, on the subway, or by tagging along a pedestrian’s commute. In New York, such man bags shed their masculinity and become products of gender-neutral function. For the tote bag and backpack signify a truth about New Yorkers: we carry a lot of baggage.

High strung, hearts racing from coffee and work addiction is a reality for those who abide in New York. Constantly running around, bags are packed for the mobile day. We leave our apartments before the sun rises, and return home too late to feed the cats well after the sun sets, an accomplished day in due part to preparation of how you packed your bag for the day. A MacBook computer, water bottle, meal for lunch and vegan snacks, raw celery sticks and mason jars filled with matcha, planned to curb any craving hypothesized in the event of waiting an immeasurably ungodly hour for a train home to Brooklyn in premature nighttime is a weight analogous to the paralyzing stress felt by those aspiring to actualize their artistic dreams. This heaviness, although internalized, can and most definitely will manifest in the same physical stress. Tingles and strains, the pursuit for the New York Dream causes many hurdles. We are indeed all bag ladies, carrying our needs and desires for our passionate dreams to come true, while the pursuit causes a pain, heavy on our hearts – dreams and aspirations create disappointment and heartache for at least a season in the city filled with fashion and an encyclopedia of success stories. It isn’t called baggage for any reason, the tote bag and backpack are loyal pieces that accompany our lives in New York, irrespective of how heavy they weigh.

The impression of fashion week on New York in September, is leaving the city with a fresh new approach to accessories. No longer is it trendy or in-season to fashion travel along city lifestyle with a large handbag. But rather, female fashion is resisting the norm, and retreating to an evidently smaller sidekick, styles including the Drawstring Bag, Fanny Pack or Top handle Bucket Bag.

Drawstring handbag

This is the ultimate socialite accessory. The drawstring handbag lightens the load for a night out for diner party, art show or night out around town. This handbag design is the season’s statement piece. The small companion was not only vibrant on the runway, as seen in Phillip Lim 3.1 or Marc Jacobs, the handbag model blossomed when companioned on the streets by styles are adorned with beading and fringe. Perfecting looks involve a girly dress and feminine blouses and skirts. Such pieces create a delicate look, to marry the dainty handbag.

Fanny pack

Hailing European influence from the petite Gucci pack, an embossed black leather pouch embellished with gold rings and a think elastic waist strap, the fanny pack soon became an instant favorite among the cities’ culture, irrespective of it’s counter culture offering. Alethetic brands such as North Face and underground, skater label Supreme simultaneously released the design and light an overnight trend the accessory was popularized off –the-runway. Worn casually with a graphic t-shirt and denim, the fanny pack is a signature piece of cool fashion.

Top handle bucket bags

This is the most innovative handbag design of the season, A metamorphous of the classic top handle bag and the trendy bucket bag creates the most relevant everyday bag. Online, Los Angeles brand STAUD presents staple designs made in patent leather, solid colored croc patterns and fearless styles with feathers: all styles made simply approachable enough to transition your lifestyle to a lighter load. Or, pair the ultra feminine style with a masculine pantsuit or painters jumpsuit to engage with the latest New York fashion state of mind.

Amid a culture inherently concentrated on hustle, the sacrifice of weight internalized for materialization of passion projects, or the physical heaviness of the bags and luggage that bring us down on the daily, a new perspective on grounding oneself is transpiring in New York City; its source comes from the female fashion scene, revolting for the favored man bag, in favor for a release of the weight that bogs us down. This season minimal is better. A refreshing break from the backpack and tote bag, for small bag designs that hold enough space for that which you are made to carry. As we nuzzle into the fall season we find the most interesting fashion at New York fashion week was hardly the novel designs presented at the shows, but rather a new fashion philosophy found on the streets. Going back to the basics, the city needs to fully understand why it is indeed a predominate bag culture and in finding meaning, refresh it’s perspective in new season.

In perfect timing New York City replaces the tote bag and sporty backpack with not just a safe option – a businesses briefcase or messenger bag, classic styles often showcased among the men’s collections in Europe. Fall fashion took a different route – and began to carry the smallest handbags on the market, a little reminder not to carry the weight of the city on your shoulders. Time to embrace all passions and artistic pursuits while enjoying the all fashion this city has to offer.