What Do These Teeny, Tiny Handbags From Paris Fashion Week Mean?

In terms of pressing issues that are weighing on my – and surely everyone’s – mind this week, the list is fairly exhaustive. It may go a little something like this: what will actually happen re: Brexit? Is it sunny in February because the world is ending? Will I ever understand who unfollowed whom in the Kardashian social circle? And why on earth are Jacquemus’ new bags so unfathomably small?

The latter started to preoccupy my thoughts as the 29-year old French wunderkind kicked off Paris Fashion Week with his latest collection for AW19. While Jacquemus launched back in 2009, the brand has experienced incredible success since the introduction of the surreal; enormous sun hats, for example, that while laughable in theory have become an Insta-sensation. Huge handbags almost enveloped the models, the clothes themselves evoked Riviera glamour and legions of fans began to profess their loyalty to Simon Porte Jacquemus.

Now, it seems that this surreal element has been ramped up a notch, with the major talking point of Jacquemus’ recent show being, once again, the handbags. This time, they’re even smaller than ever before. I’m not talking about the sort of small that only allows for a phone and a credit card, nor am I even talking about a small that permits just a lipstick. Unless your lipstick is travel-sized, it’s not going to fit in the new Jacquemus bag.

What in the name of an oversized tote is going on? Are handbags the new hemlines, indicative of a fluctuating economy? Are they merely Instagram fodder, a marketing tool designed to garner the most likes? Or, are they a symbol of women’s reluctance to cart their entire life around with them as they go about their daily business, ultimately risking serious injury? I’m not sure. Perhaps Marie Kondo has gotten to Jacquemus, too. Maybe we’ll never know. What we do know, however, is that we’re all going to have to learn how to travel lightly, pronto. Vive la révolution!