As a kid, I was hell-bent on dressing older. When my mom wasn’t looking, I’d often sneak into her wardrobe and slip on her heels, click-clacking around the house; and I loved trying on ties from my dad’s epic collection. I simply wanted nothing to do with age-appropriate clothes—something that continued well into my teens, when I was all about wearing sleek suits (as if I, a 16-year-old, were a corporate banker getting ready to clock into my 9-to-5). From a young age, I realized that fashion could transform you; all it only takes the right combination of pieces to look more mature and put-together.
This season, however, fashion seems to be leading in the totally opposite direction. For spring 2025, designers have created all manner of childlike accessories—zeroing in on bags, shoes, and jewelry that are kitschy, cutesy, or just downright adorable. Of course, these luxe accessories require a very adult salary to wear them, but fashion appears to be all-in on toddler style, urging shoppers to add a playful bit of pep to more grounded attire.
At Coach, models carried big leather handbags in the shapes of hearts or teddy bears, some with stickers slapped all over them. At Simone Rocha, bejeweled hair clips sparkled under the catwalk lights, while rhinestone-covered sneakers at Chopova Lowena—paired with graphic neon socks—begged for schoolyard playtime. Louis Vuitton added big, colorful gemstones onto its monogrammed leather handbags (perfect for teatime); while Valentino offered up the sort of cat-shaped minaudière bags that would delight a tiny tot.
It’s undeniable that fashion has become obsessed with recapturing childlike innocence. But why right now?
High fashion has always served as a form of escapism, making us dream, giving us joy, even bewitching us—and we could all use a little distracting right now. Perhaps designers are urging us to use their childlike pieces as a kind of defense against the darkness? After all, with a looming election, a climate crisis, and so many other complex global issues at hand, it’s easy to feel… well, anxious. In a way, there’s never been a better time for a toy-like bag or blindingly colorful shoe—anything to break the tension and invite a little fun.
Or…maybe it’s not that deep! Could this sweet new assortment of accessories simply be here to remind us not to take fashion so seriously? Whichever way you slice it, we’re leaning into whimsy this spring. And, bonus for parents: For once, you can try dipping into your kid’s wardrobe.
