The Big Bloat—Puffy Accessories Are (Still) Trending

Puffy Handbags Shoes and Accessories Are Sticking Around for Another Season

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Welcome to the season of the big bloat; the car bumper era of accessories. Puffy handbags and shoes are even still expanding, as if a bicycle pump was jammed into their seams to give them a pillowy, about-to-burst appearance. At Prada, we saw the structured silhouettes of cute little lady bags and shoulder bags transform into handheld clouds, rendered in puffy nappa leather. The same goes for Bottega Veneta who has been on the tender inflation train since 2019 when the Italian leather house released the The Cassette bag which featured double-leather in a signature woven but swollen intrecciato style. 

Puffy accessories have long had a welcoming appeal, akin to a bosom or cotton candy. They are friendly and inviting, almost cartoonish, sans the jab of a right angle or brutal straightness. In a way, a puffy bag has a lightness that just doesn’t exist with a hardlined briefcase. The cumulus cloud effect gives an air of fun and has the power to turn any structured accessory into something more playful. Think: a large rectangular Saint Laurent Loulou bag that is crafted from inflated quilted leather, making it look soft enough to also function as a pillow. Another bag that will make you want to put your head down on it? A Loewe bag that is structured and square but is made from supple leather that appears as if it would explode. 

Even shoes are getting the joyful padded treatment. Once dainty Prada ballets flats become light to the touch thanks to padded nappa leather. And JW Anderson’s mega-chain link slides have gotten pillow-fied, too. Here, see the best bloated, puffy handbag, shoes, and accessories to sink into this season. 

Prada Napa leather top-handle bag

Saint Laurent Loulou Puffer quilted leather shoulder bag

Loewe Puffer Goya padded leather shoulder bag

Proenza Schouler braided chain leather shoulder bag

Jil Sander embellished leather tote

Coach pillow Tabby leather shoulder bag

Bottega Veneta Cassette padded intrecciato leather shoulder bag

Ferragamo Viva Bow puffy leather convertible shoulder bag

Stella McCartney padded vegan leather tote bag

Vince Camuto

Kisho quilted tote

Prada nappa leather ballerinas

Loewe Anagram 50 padded leather mules

Bottega Veneta quilted leather mules

Anine Bing Lizzie slides

Roam foldy puffy slide

JW Anderson twist flat sandals

Giaborghini Perni puffy high-heel sandals