IMO, Only the Chicest Individuals Will Be Wearing This New Designer Bag This Fall
Balenciaga just reinvented its iconic Hourglass Bag.
It took place the first weekend in March during Paris Fashion Week. The fashion set gathered inside a darkly lit venue on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées to see Pierpaolo Piccioli's sophomore collection for Balenciaga. Among the 81-look offering was a range of beaded and sequined dresses plus leggings and cigarette jeans paired with fur jackets and leather jackets. But accessories were arguably the most notable, with a handful of new bags on display. One of them was the Hourglass Avenue Bag—a modern take on the Spanish house's best-selling Hourglass.
The Hourglass Bag has become one of Balenciaga's most recognizable signatures. It was shown during the brand's F/W 19 collection under the former creative director Demna. Defined by its sculpted, curved shape and strong attitude, the style quickly became a staple among fashion people like Kim Kardashian, Miley Cyrus, Hailey Bieber, and the fictional character Carrie Bradshaw. While it has remained a beloved classic, Piccioli has brought a fresh perspective to the iconic silhouette with the Hourglass Avenue.
So what makes this version different? The bag features softer leather for a more relaxed shape, along with an additional hinged handle and a magnetic-lock closure engraved with the address of Cristóbal Balenciaga's Paris ateliers and the house's headquarters. While the design is new, it remains rooted in Balenciaga's history, nodding to the hourglass figure, a key part of the house's narrative.
To celebrate the bag in all its glory, Balenciaga has unveiled a new campaign spotlighting a dynamic cast of emerging talent, including Anna Van Patten, Blanca Soler, Cala Moragas, and Salem Mitchell.
"To be part of Pierpaolo Piccioli's vision for Balenciaga and the radical creativity of the House is something I'm really proud of," Anna Van Patten exclusively tells Who What Wear. "This campaign demonstrates Balenciaga's creative direction under Pierpaolo Piccioli: a perfect balance between legacy and modernity."
To help bring this vision to life, the house enlisted interdisciplinary artist duo Hart Lëshkina to capture the bag's fresh, versatile, and sophisticated appeal through a series of photographs featuring the young tastemakers.
Beyond the campaign, the bag has also caught the eye of a stylish roster of celebrities like Cynthia Erivo, Demi Moore, and Lily Collins. That said, if you're in the market for a new designer bag and want to invest in a style only the chicest dressers are wearing this fall and beyond, keep scrolling. Ahead, discover how the bag was styled on the runway and by the celebrity set, and then shop it for yourself.
The Hourglass Avenue Bag on More Celebrities
WHO: Cala Moragas
WHO: Blanca Soler
WHO: Salem Mitchell
WHO: Yang Chaoyue
WHO: Lily Collins
WHO: Demi Moore
WHO: Cynthia Erivo
WHO: Rachel Sennott
The Bag On the Runway
Shop Balenciaga's Hourglass Avenue Bag
