Chiropractors were the first to sound the alarm. Now, some women have answered by tossing aside their gargantuan handbags in favor of miniature versions. Clutches seem to be the most popular of these pint-sized purses; after all, they represent the natural progression from big to small, as their shapeless, hobo-esque forms echo that of the steadfastly popular duffel. Itsy-bitsy alpaca bags and billfolds with hand-stitched embroidery and beadwork are also popular around these parts, as are molded leather “box” bags and pocketbooks attached to shoulder straps.
Continued advertisement

While this new smattering of small bags will do much to appease the spinal specialists, a further development in fashion forecasting takes this load-lightening trend in a whole new direction. Not so long ago, any self-respecting woman would have recoiled from the thought of wearing something outré as the posture-friendly fanny pack. This summer, however, the area’s forward-looking boutiques are stocking up on the belted pouches in anticipation of a fall comeback. Rest assured: These will not be fanny packs of the Velcro, nylon, and neon varieties. Rather, the season’s most fetching models sport muted tones and come replete with heavy-metal adornments like oversized buckles and coin-purse clasps, just like their monster-bag counterparts.

Read Christy DeSmith’s fashion blog, Hook & Eye.