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Why You Should Get On Board with the High-Fashion Fanny Pack Trend

Everyone’s doing it, not just your mom.


Louis Vuitton: Runway - Paris Fashion Week - Menswear F/W 2017-2018
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My first fanny pack had legs. Literal legs. It also had eyes, ears, and polka-dotted fur, as it was in the shape of a Dalmatian, presumably one of the 101. This was back when I was too young to care what people thought of me, and a few years later, I would not only discard my four-legged waist bag friend in a fit of self-consciousness, but also shun my own mother for wearing one.

Hers was black leather with a magnetic clasp. I can still remember the sound of it clicking with each open and close, which was frequent. Situated front and center on her hips, it symbolized motherhood to me: Money, house keys, and tissues. I swore I would never, ever grow up to look like that. But looking back, it was actually a very chic and sophisticated fanny pack, all things considered. And, of course, we all grow up to be our mothers. Whether we like it or not.

But this summer, I not only ordered a fanny pack; I had it shipped overnight. In 2017, fanny packs are hot again, thanks to luxury fashion brands like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Alexander Wang, as well as celebrity adopters like Kendall Jenner, who have been around town lately looking like young Carrie Bradshaws.

Gucci Resort 2018

Pietro D’aprano

Fanny packs started trickling into mainstream fashion during the Fall 2016 men’s shows, when we first spotted them as a street style trend. Supreme was the brand of choice, so when Louis Vuitton collaborated with the streetwear pioneer for its Fall 2017 men’s wear show, the accessory finally got the high-fashion treatment.

Gucci, in all its quirkiness, was bound to show a fanny pack at some point, and for the Alexander Wang party girl, a fanny pack is the perfect “hands free” purse. Both brands included the accessory in their most recent Resort and Pre-Fall collections, and they’ll no doubt fly off the shelves.

Kendall Jenner and Cara Delevingne Prove that Fanny Packs Are the Hottest Summer Accessory

Kendall Jenner steps out wearing a vintage Louis Vuitton fanny pack with a romper on June 1, 2017 in New York City.

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Sarah Jessica Parker wore a Chanel fanny pack over a little back dress to a gala at Gotham Hall in 2014.

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Sofia Richie wears a Louis Vuitton fanny pack over red sweatpants while at the 2017 Coachella Music Festival in California.

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Sofia Sanchez Barrenechea wears a yellow Chloe fanny pack while attending the brand’s Paris Fashion Week Fall 2017 show last year.

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Kendall Jenner wears her favorite vintage Chanel fanny pack with an Issey Miyake jumpsuit while out shopping in New York City.

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Cara Delevingne takes a more practical approach to the fanny pack, wearing one while attending Day 2 of the Glastonbury Music Festival in 2016.

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Kate Bosworth attends an event in New York City wearing a small leather waist bag over a blue dress with thigh-high boots.

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Rihanna wore an extra-large dollar sign fanny pack with a full denim outfit while out in New York City in 2012.

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Actress Anne Hathaway wears a leopard-print fanny pack while out for a spring stroll in New York City in 2015.

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Kendall Jenner goes shopping at a flea market in Paris, France while wearing her favorite vintage Chanel fanny pack with high-waisted jeans.

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Kendall Jenner agrees. “The best place [to wear a fanny pack] is the club, it keeps your hands free and you are not afraid of losing anything,” she told W last month.

“I don’t think there is a ‘worst’ place [to wear one],” echoed her sister, Kylie Jenner. Together, they designed fanny packs for the latest collection of their namesake brand. “We’re loving the fanny pack comeback!”

So, there you have it: Just as we wanted, these are not our mother’s fanny packs. But we might still owe them an apology.

20 Hands-Free Summer Bags That You Can Wear Anywhere

Prada trunk belt bag with removable shoulder strap, $1,660, bergdorfgoodman.com

Gucci GG Marmont black chevron leather belt bag, $1,050, Gucci.com

Vintage Chanel black lamb leather oval flap waist bag from the 1980s, $1,082, 1stdibs.com

Alexander Wang runway mini fanny pack in black calf leather with rhodium hardware and removable and adjustable belt, $297, alexanderwang.com

Miu Miu red goat leather and soft calf leather flap closure belt bag with removable shoulder strap, $1,230, miumiu.com

Newbark python embossed calf leather belt bag with nickel hardware, $495, newbark.com

Off-White single pouch hip belt bag in red, $381, needsupply.com

Theory black leather belt bag, $165, theory.com

Vintage Louis Vuitton belt bag, $798, whatgoesaroundnyc.com

Stella McCartney faux-leather trio belt bag, $1,210, bergdorfgoodman.com

Hayward belt bag with rounded flap and magnetic closure in smooth leather with adjustable strap, $850, haywardluxury.com

Maison Margiela black leather belt pouch with signature white stitching at face, $995, ssense.com

See by Chloé Polly mini leather cross-body bag, $295, matchesfashion.com

Building Block fanny pack in black leather with wraparound side-zip and adjustable belt, $395, shopbop.com

Supreme leather cowhide waist bag, price upon request, supreme.com

Clare V. black tile croco fanny pack in supple Italian nappa cowhide, $289, clarev.com

Vere Verto convertible shoulder bag and fanny pack, designed in Spain, $276, roztayger.com

Vintage YSL leopard ponyhair belt bag, $1,900, vestiairecollective.com

Y-3 black neoprene belt bag with concealed zip closure and adjustable waist strap, $220, barneys.com

Rebecca Minkoff leash clip-lock brown leather belt bag, $98, nordstrom.com

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