By now, we know the fashion message for fall 2012 is all about strength. This polished, commanding feeling carried over into accessories as well and is best exemplified by the above-the-knee boots, rich jewel tones, and color-blocked fur bags seen on the runways from New York to Paris. It was an opulent season to say the least, but one with looks simultaneously appropriate for today’s businesswoman. Attaché bags, animal prints, and rich embellishments pulled double-duty as they’re well suited for both work and leisure. But don’t think for a second any of these look changers took a backseat to the clothes just because they’re versatile. Accessories made a power play for fall, standing on their own and owning it—and isn’t that what this season is all about anyway?
1/107By far, the key accessory for fall 2012 was the heavy, often-above-the-knee boot that could, miraculously, be worn with almost anything—at least if the fall/winter runway shows were to believed. From Tabitha Simmons to Givenchy to Proenza Schouler, the look was both down-to-earth and out of this world—and if you can only invest in one new idea, this is an absolute must-have for any girl’s closet.
Photo: Marko MacPherson2/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW3/107New York
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW4/107Milan
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW5/107New York
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW6/107New York
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW7/107Milan
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW8/107Milan
Photo: Courtesy of Aperlai9/107
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW10/107New York
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com11/107Paris
Photo: Marko MacPherson12/107
Photo: Marko MacPherson13/107
Photo: Courtesy of Bally14/107
15/107Fur accents and jewel-box ornamentation at the neck (and therefore drawing attention around the face) were everywhere this season in the form of brooches (like those at Bottega Veneta, so deliberately placed that it was hard to tell if they were a separate item or part of the dress), fabulous fur collars (at Marni), and knit snoods that offered the same idea, but for a more downtown clientele (at Ohne Titel).
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com16/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com17/107Milan
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com18/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW19/107New York
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW20/107New York
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW21/107Milan
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW22/107Milan
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW23/107New York
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW24/107New York
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW25/107New York
Photo: Courtesy of Celine26/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW27/107Milan
28/107There is a reason they call accessories “look changers”: adding the right one can transform the most classic, time-honored outfit into something entirely new. Women who love fashion know this, and designers have smartly followed suit this season by offering up even more richly embellished pieces that—from embroidery at Dolce & Gabbana to jewels at Prada to rhinestones at Nina Ricci to crystals at Valentino—were entirely original to each house.
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com29/107Paris
Photo: Courtesy of Jil Sander30/107Milan
Photo: Marko MacPherson31/107
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com32/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW33/107Milan
Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs34/107New York
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com35/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com36/107Milan
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com37/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW38/107Milan
39/107While exotic prints themselves are nothing new in the world of accessories, it was the inventive execution—think unexpected silhouettes—that made everyone sit up and take notice this season.
Photo: Courtesy of Pierre Hardy40/107
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW41/107New York
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com42/107Milan
Photo: Courtesy of Brian Atwood43/107
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW44/107New York
Photo: Courtesy of Charlotte Olympia45/107
Photo: Marko MacPherson46/107
Photo: Courtesy of Sergio Rossi47/107
Photo: Courtesy of Jimmy Choo48/107
Photo: Courtesy of Devi Kroell49/107
Photo: Courtesy of Marc Jacobs50/107New York
51/107The drama and exuberance of the Baroque period was beautifully translated to some of the most noteworthy pieces for fall, with sumptuous velvets and ornate metallic detailing transforming simple pieces like pumps and chain-strap bags into wearable works of art.
Photo: Courtesy of Manolo Blahnik52/107
Photo: Courtesy of Balmain53/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW54/107Milan
Photo: Courtesy of Lanvin55/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com56/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW57/107Milan
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW58/107Milan
Photo: Courtesy of Ralph Lauren59/107New York
Photo: Courtesy of Nicholas Kirkwood60/107
Photo: Courtesy of Tom Ford61/107
62/107Not the obvious choice for more modest women, of course, but allover-fur bags—in varied shapes and sizes—looked strong for fall, especially those in bright colors like the versions seen at Louis Vuitton. The trend looked especially fresh and new when the idea was taken a step further by color-blocking the fur or rendering it in stripes.
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com63/107Paris
Photo: Marko MacPherson64/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com65/107Paris
Photo: Courtesy of Celine66/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW67/107New York
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW68/107New York
Photo: Marko MacPherson69/107Milan
Photo: Courtesy of Tod’s70/107
Photo: Courtesy of Roger Vivier71/107
72/107Much like hats, gloves are firmly making their way back into fashion, and the idea of a ladylike glove was turned entirely on its head with the introduction of more sporty wrist-grazing styles.
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com73/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW74/107New York
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com75/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com76/107Paris
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW77/107Milan
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW78/107New York
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com79/107Paris
Photo: Marcio Madeira/firstVIEW80/107New York
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com81/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com82/107New York
83/107For those looking to get away from it all this fall, fashion offered up the perfect solution for a quick trip out of town in the form of the grown-up, perfectly polished weekend bags spotted everywhere from Reed Krakoff to Marc Jacobs to Alexander Wang. Not going anywhere special? With their elegant silhouettes, these carryalls still work for simply getting around town during the week.
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW84/107New York
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW85/107London
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW86/107New York
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW87/107Milan
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW88/107Milan
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com89/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW90/107New York
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW91/107New York
Photo: Courtesy of Valextra92/107
Photo: Filippo Fior/GoRunway.com93/107Paris
94/107Some of the season’s strongest and sleekest bags seem to have been made—thankfully—with the working woman in mind. Flat bags, almost attaché in shape and size, were presented at Céline, Balenciaga, Tod’s, Marni, and Stella McCartney, while the tech influence—after all, who goes anywhere today without their mobile phone and iPad?—was played out in elegant handbags, most notably at Fendi and Richard Nicoll.
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com95/107Paris
Photo: Marko MacPherson96/107Paris
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW97/107New York
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com98/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com99/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com100/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com101/107Paris
Photo: Courtesy of Givenchy102/107Paris
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com103/107Paris
Photo: Courtesy of Tom Ford104/107
Photo: Olivier Claisse/firstVIEW105/107New York
Photo: Gianni Pucci/GoRunway.com106/107Paris
Photo: Courtesy of Ralph Lauren107/107New York
