Fashion icon Sarah Jessica Parker has ignited a new style debate, spotted at the Booker prize ceremony in London carrying a Fendi bag with a conspicuously open design. The actor, renowned for setting trends from name necklaces to statement coats, is now championing a look that has fashion editors talking and the public divided.
The Polarising New Trend
Vogue magazine recently posed the question on everyone's mind: "Can Sarah Jessica Parker make the wide-open bag trend happen?" The publication featured images of Parker's Fendi accessory, which boldly displayed its purple sequinned lining for all to see. This wasn't an accidental fashion faux pas but a deliberate design choice that walked the catwalk.
The trend appears to be gaining momentum across luxury fashion houses. Similar gaping leather goods have been spotted at Loewe, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, suggesting this might be more than a passing whim. Vogue describes the style as both "chic and insouciant" while acknowledging its "polarising" nature.
SJP's Proven Trendsetting Power
If anyone can normalise an unconventional fashion statement, it's Sarah Jessica Parker. Through her character Carrie Bradshaw and her personal style, she has successfully popularised numerous trends that initially raised eyebrows.
Her track record includes making name necklaces, oversized corsages, and duvet coats fashionable. Even the specific "satin Maison Margiela Tabi Monster bow pumps" received her endorsement for working from home. Most notably, the JW Anderson pigeon handbag she carried on And Just Like That quickly sold out following its appearance.
Why This Trend Might Not Take Flight
Despite Parker's influence, several practical considerations might prevent the open handbag trend from achieving widespread adoption. The most significant hurdle involves the typically private nature of what women carry in their bags.
As columnist Emma Beddington notes, most handbags contain items we'd rather keep private. Her own inventory includes everything from foam earplugs and wooden forks to nasal spray and open seed mix sachets. "Most handbags contain darker secrets than a confession booth," she observes, suggesting few women's bag contents are curated for public display.
The practical reality of navigating British streets with an open bag presents another challenge. In places like York, an open handbag would likely attract constant reminders from helpful passers-by rather than pickpockets. Beddington speaks from experience, noting that even with only seed mix visible from her bag's broken pocket, she receives frequent comments about her apparently open accessory.
While Sarah Jessica Parker's fashion influence remains undeniable, the wide-open handbag trend faces substantial practical obstacles that might prevent it from achieving the success of her previous style revolutions.
