Fashion People – Episode Summary

Podcast: Fashion People
Episode: Handbags Are So Over
Date: March 3, 2026
Host: Lauren Sherman
Guest: Becky Malinsky (Editor & Stylist)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Lauren Sherman and Becky Malinsky dissect Milan Fashion Week, examine the shifting trends in accessories—especially the waning cultural importance of handbags—as well as explore runway themes, personal style evolutions, and recent fashion media news. With candid anecdotes and industry intel, the pair capture both the allure and the uncertainty permeating the luxury fashion landscape today.

Milan Fashion Week: Hits, Misses, and Themes

[05:23–13:45]

• Lauren and Becky’s Overall Impressions:

  • Becky felt it was “a great season,” highlighting that shows she was excited about mostly delivered, with special praise for Prada, Gucci, Jil Sander, Marni, and Diesel.
  • Lauren was more reserved: “I disagree with that,” but did agree those five shows stood out.

• Key Observed Trend: The Human Touch

  • Becky: “All we really have is our human element and our humanness, and all of these clothes look like they were worn and they had the patience of something that you really cared for over time.” ([06:32])
  • Noted a tension between high-tech and authenticity, with brands like Prada, Jill Sander, and even Demna exploring different aspects.
  • Lauren noted a theme of value and versatility in designs—reversible garments, personal styling, and “enjoying fashion again.”

• Gucci’s High Stakes

  • Lauren: “Demna cannot save Kering. People are insane… one collection is not going to save it.” ([12:29])

• The “Floating” State of Big Houses

  • Becky: “The industry is floating and we don’t know what’s next… it was the same with Armani.” ([17:19])
  • Discussion of legacy brands (Fendi, Armani, Missoni, Ferragamo) and their struggles to find modern footing.

Handbags Are So Over

[24:32–33:44]

• A Sea Change in Bag Culture

  • Lauren: “Bags are over, nobody wants a bag… I just don’t want to carry a clutch anymore, it just makes me stressed out.” ([30:21])
  • She describes the rise of pockets as a replacement for handbags and notes widespread agreement among friends and followers.

• Industry Winners and Losers

  • Lauren: “LVMH is really winning in the bag space… Kering’s challenge right now is that they are not winning on any level. And then on top of it, this bag crisis generally.” ([26:53])
  • The appeal of “ease and softness” in bags from Loewe, Celine, and Dior, contrasted with the “too straightforward” bags at Gucci and Bottega Veneta.

• Practicality vs. It-Bag Mentality

  • Becky: “Our bag is our phone now… something that is super stiff and structured and it’s sort of in the middle doesn’t really have a place in the modern woman’s lifestyle.” ([27:31])
  • Small pouches and functional, versatile bags favored over medium-sized, structured handbags.

Accessory & Style Trends: Stirrup Pants, White Tights, and More

[33:45–39:42]

• Stirrup Pants

  • Lauren: “These pants have truly not come back in fashion since 1993… I feel like they’re gonna hit this time.” ([34:29])
  • Becky highlights practicality for boots and “a way to wear a really straight leg pant that stays put… it feels, like, a little sexy.” ([35:10])
  • Discussion of sourcing, tailoring, and how to style the look.

• Tights: White, Taupe, Red

  • Lauren’s take: “They [white tights] are going to become a thing. Not with maybe not with 43-year-old women, but… I like it.” ([38:38])
  • Becky: “It’s been very hard to source good colored tights, woolly tights, white tights in the United States… just to bring more options stateside.” ([38:56])
  • Both share personal nostalgia for wearing colored tights and discuss their styling versatility.

Brand Deep Dives & Critiques

Bottega Veneta

[39:42–45:01]

• Lauren admires creative director Louise Trotter’s openness to feedback and evolution but expresses skepticism about the collection’s ability to “move anything forward.”
• Becky’s concern: “I struggle to see how these clothes fit real people… the clothes are just really big. And I agree, I want her to succeed.” ([43:49])

Fendi & The State of Fashion Houses

[16:08–19:33]

• Fendi praised for “just pretty clothes, the way people want to dress.”
• Becky on negative online feedback: “I was just like, I don't understand.” ([17:04])
• Discussion segues to the existential questions facing heritage brands (Armani, Chanel) about maintaining relevance and evolving leadership.

Versace Rugby & Personal Style

[45:01–47:51]

• Lauren and Becky discuss a playful collaboration/cross-post styling a Dario Versace sleeveless rugby, reflecting on how individual interpretation gives classic pieces new life.

Fashion Media & Publishing News

[47:51–53:03]

• Conde Nast’s Brand Sell-Offs

  • Lauren recaps Conde Nast’s plan to sell LGBTQ platform Them and hints at possible moves involving Glamour.
  • She questions Glamour’s contemporary relevance, given how niche and platformed audiences have become.

• Becky on the Legacy of Glamour

  • “It was the time when we all got all our information from the same places. And Glamour was important then… but the problem is they were developed as a brand as, like, for the every woman. And so that’s a really hard thing to do [now].” ([49:28])

• Both agree that legacy print brands struggle to find new lanes in a digital, influencer-driven world.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Human Touch in Fashion

  • Becky: “All we really have is our human element and our humanness, and all of these clothes look like they were worn and they had the patience of something that you really cared for over time.” ([06:32])

• Lauren on Bags

  • “Bags are over, nobody wants a bag… I just don’t want to carry a clutch anymore, it just makes me stressed out.” ([30:21])

• Becky on Bag Redundancy

  • “Our bag is our phone now. So, like, I thought those pouches from Prada that were in store now were so good… this idea of, like, everything relying on this, like, daytime bag, it feels so outdated.” ([27:31])

• Glamour’s Historic Challenge

  • Becky: “The problem is they were developed as a brand as, like, for the every woman. And so that’s a really hard thing to do [now].” ([49:28])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:44] – Becky joins; Milan Fashion Week best & worst
• [06:25] – Discussion of the “human touch” trend
• [12:29] – Analysis of Gucci/Kering’s predicament
• [16:08] – Fendi, Armani, and heritage brand uncertainty
• [24:32] – Deep dive: why handbags are “over”
• [33:45] – Stirrup pants & tights trend breakdown
• [39:42] – Bottega Veneta critique
• [45:01] – Versace rugby cross-post & personal style
• [47:51] – Media news: Them and Glamour’s future

Closing Thoughts

Lauren and Becky’s discussion weaves together tastemaker perspective and business insight, capturing a moment where fashion is both deeply nostalgic and tentatively forward-looking. The big conclusion? The old accessory hierarchies are dissolving, personal style is ever more important, and the landscape of fashion media, like handbags, may soon look very different than before.