SSomething curious is happening on the Autumn-Winter 2026/2027 catwalks: among the most interesting innovations appear not only futuristic silhouettes or technical experiments, but also designs that seem to come straight from another era. Some accessories and items spotted among Paris, Milan, London And New York in fact, they evoke a familiar, almost domestic aesthetic, reminiscent of that of grandmothers’ wardrobes or photographs from the 1950s.
This is where it was born one of the most surprising micro-trends of the season: “grandma’s” bags. Models that boast a certain retro taste, clean lines and precious materials, but come in very different shapes. More than a single trend, they seem an invitation to dust off what is hidden in the family closetsand bring it back to the present with a new styling.
How the trend of granny bag
It all started with some models at New York Fashion Week. Then came the confirmations of London, followed by the even more evident ones of Milan, until the definitive seal: the catwalks of Paris, where the trend has now clearly established itself. When we ask ourselves how a trend really arises, the escalation we are witnessing in recent weeks is almost a textbook case.
The Prada granny bag.
The birth of the trend of 50s bagsthose with a slightly retro allure that someone has already renamed granny bagsoccurred not thanks to a single brand, but thanks to a convergence of different fashion houses, which proposed variations of the same imagery on the catwalks. Those in question are bags with a decidedly vintage look: rigid structures, often in leathersometimes with crocodile print and geometric shapes, between rectangle and trapezoid. THE handles are short, designed to be carried by hand or on the forearm, just like the ladies of the past did.
The 50s bags seen on the Autumn-Winter 2026 2027 catwalks
The variations spotted on the Autumn-Winter 2026 2027 catwalks tell a good story of how this vintage imagery can be reinterpreted in different ways. From Bottega Veneta the ’50s bag comes in the form of a trapeze clutch bag with short handle, made in the maison’s iconic leather weave. The version proposed by Margaret Howell for is different but equally retro Costelloe, where the bag takes the shape of a clutch with metal closure snap, a detail that refers directly to the evening bags of the mid-twentieth century. From Prada the vintage reference becomes even more explicit: a small top handle bag in reptile print leather, with a compact and slightly rounded silhouette. On the catwalk of Gucci, instead, the theme takes the form of the classic structured bag in crocodile print, with short handle and geometric volumes, perfect to wear on the forearm as the skies who inspired her.
Costelloe top left, Bottega Veneta bottom. On the right Co.
In the end Co proposes a more minimal but equally nostalgic version: clean lines, smooth leather and rigid structure, which convey the idea of “good” bag.
How to anticipate the trend now
Despite emerging on next winter’s catwalks, the trend of granny bags it’s surprisingly easy to anticipate even now. The easiest way to find one? Look in family wardrobes, vintage shops or flea markets, where authentic 50s models are often hidden.
Gucci Autumn-Winter 2026 2027.
But it is not uncommon to already find reinterpretations of them even in contemporary shops: a sign that the trend is already in the air. As for the styling, the secret is play on contrast. A retro, structured bag works great with modern, relaxed pieces: straight jeans and a masculine shirt, a soft suit, or a minimal dress.
Carried by hand or on the forearm, just as the ladies of the past taught, it immediately adds that note of elegance to the look timeless that today is more relevant than ever.
