Economic woes hit the bag brigade -- is there a new hobo in town?

You know it's bad when the recession hits the front row at fashion week, ground zero for the bag- and frock-obsessed, most price-resistant people in the universe. By this time in the fashion cycle, editors are usually festooned with the newest, the latest, the craziest clothing and accessories from Prada, Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana and Marni.

But not this season. Instead, most are trying to avoid temptation, sometimes by avoiding Milan's Golden Triangle shopping area altogether.

"I went into Prada and usually I go crazy. But this time, nothing," a Vogue editor said. An editor at Flair in Toronto was forgoing her usual trip not only to Marni, but even the Marni outlet.

A Lucky magazine editor was sporting the one new carryall that's made multiple appearances, the sparkly YSL Besace bag. "It's not expensive as bags go these days," she said. (I don't know, $1,895 sounds pretty expensive to me.)

Meanhile, Tod's threw a party Wednesday night to celebrate a Dennis Hopper-directed short film starring Gwyneth Paltrow (you can see "Pashmy Dream" at www.tods.com) and the brand's proposal for It bag of the fall season -- the nylon Pashmy hobo, which at $925 seems more in the neighborhood of affordable luxury.

An Elle editor hobbling from show to show on sky-high Miu Miu shoes from fall confessed that they were actually borrowed runway samples. A Harper's Bazaar editor was still wearing summer's Christian Louboutin cage sandals, except with tights.

In fact, the only ones really wearing the newest, the latest and the craziest are celebs. And they don't have to spend a dime. It's a cruel  world and it's getting crueler by the minute ...

-- Booth Moore

Top photo: Gwyneth Paltrow in a still from "Pashmy Dream," a Dennis Hopper-directed short film that premiered in Milan on Wednesday. Bottom photo, Tod's Pashmy hobo bag, $925, both courtesy of Tod's.

Comments

[Judith Carrillo]

Well I think that this definitely proves that money has become more important to many of us, middle and high class. Things that people didn't find expensive then, is expensive now. Why? We all know that the reason is our economic problems, our Presidents and his advisors should find a quick solution!!! Like ASAP.