8 designer buys that achieved cult status among fashion insiders this year

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The year of luxury fashion marked a new direction for the designer space. With the return of pillbox hats and the rise of top-handle bags, elegance has become the defining aesthetic that will shape 2024 style. There is also a growing interest in timeless pieces, including timeless investment pieces and a renewed interest in classic heritage brands. Small luxuries like silk scarves and charms became big things as everyone started accessorizing and personalizing their bags. Changes at the top of major fashion houses have dominated the conversation among style insiders and influenced where people shop.

These overarching themes in fashion were reflected in best-selling and popular items that have achieved cult status among style insiders. Many of this year’s hottest products include accessories ranging from century-old watches and classic silk scarves to the bags and hats every fashion person has added to their closet. Ahead, let’s take a closer look at the best designer shopping products that will dominate in 2024 and are still smart items to invest in now.

cartier tank watch

In recent years, more women than ever have entered the watch industry, both as professionals and as shoppers. As this market reaches new heights of growth, watches have become an important shopping category in the luxury sector. Although there are many watches that are in high demand, one particular style has become popular in 2024: the Cartier Tank watch. Specifically, the Louis style and must style, set along a leather band, are becoming increasingly popular.

chanel 22 mini bag

The Chanel 22 bag quickly became an IT item among luxury shoppers and the fashion set upon its release, becoming a modern Chanel classic. This idea was cemented when it returned to the runway in a mini version of the brand’s Spring/Summer ’23 collection. Shrink bags have become so popular that they are now Chanel’s core collector bags, with new models now hitting the market in new colors and textiles.

hermes scarf

Bags became “Birkin-ized” on and off the runway, ushering in an era of clutter as handbags became heavily embellished with scarves, charms, and other personalized elements. This is essentially an ode to Jane Birkin, who famously wore Hermès bags this way. This ushered in a new era of personalization in fashion in 2024, with Hermès silk scarves becoming an essential styling piece to make your bag completely unique.

Polo Ralph Lauren cable knit sweater

Ralph Lauren has always represented timeless style and the pinnacle of American fashion. In 2024, the iconic heritage brand captured the zeitgeist, ranking 14th on the Lyst Index this fourth quarter. The brand’s timeless classics, like the cable knit sweater that has become a collector’s item for fashion insiders, resonate in new ways.

Alaia le teckel bag

Alaia Le Teckel stands out as one of the most important new bags launched in 2024. The sleek bag is finished with long handles and smooth leather, and its elongated shape fits into the East-West handbag trend that has continued this year. This style continues to sell out at nearly every retailer, and new colors and finishes (including a new suede version) continue to be released. This shows that Le Teckel’s popularity is still in its infancy.

Gigi Barris Pillbox Hat

Accessory-rich bags may have started the year of the ultra-personalized look, but they’ve evolved beyond that with other outfit-finishing items. One of the most important things?Pillbox hat. We predicted from the start of the year that 2024 would be the year of the hat, given its growing popularity on the runways, and with pieces like Gigi Barris felt, hats are becoming more than we imagined. It exploded onto the fashion scene in an even bigger way than before. Pillbox hats have become a wardrobe mainstay of this style everywhere from fashion month to the streets of New York.

tory burch peace heel

Trissance lasted from 2023 until this year. The designer’s creations, especially the new core accessories that have recently hit the runway, are highly coveted by the fashion world. Standouts include coveted pierced shoes that come in new versions every season, such as the slingback kitten heel that pretty much dominated front-row looks during fashion month.

bottega veneta andiamo bag

The Bottega Veneta Andiamo was first launched in 2023 and is still one of the most popular bags in the luxury market. Bottega Veneta continues to release updated versions of its popular bags. 2024 sees the introduction of a smooth leather version of the tote and an intrecciato clutch style. The Spring 2024 runways saw continued investment in the Andiamo bag style, with a crocodile-embossed version expected to be in demand next year.