Nine West

Q: What's up with shoes and handbags this fall?

A: What isn't? After a long accessory drought brought on by an excessive devotion to stark minimalism on the part of designers and the editors of fashion magazines, the world of accessories is bubbling with all sorts of energy.

The shoe scene underwent a tectonic shift this summer: After a decade of big clunky black shoes that everybody already had too many of to need more, the trend zigged to flimsy, frivolous, feminine sandals in a zillion bright colors and with all sorts of welcome-to-the-seraglio ornaments: flowers, beads, mirror embroidery. That feeling is continuing for fall.

As retailer Ann Gitter was telling me just the other day, even the suits that are back this fall are the kind of pretty, feminine 1940s-inspired suits that make you reach for a pretty, delicate shoe. Meanwhile, the Fendi short-strap, tuck-under-the-arm baguette and croissant bags that were last year's sensation have been knocked off all over the place -- Target has some -- and the Prada bowling bags and doctor bags are beginning to be copied. The point here is to have a bag in a color other than black that's more lady-who-lunches than bike messenger.

Patricia McLaughlin is a nationally syndicated fashion columnist.
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