The Rise of All Things Puffy
If you follow the latest fashion trends, then you have seen the rise of the puffer. I'm not talking about the wildly popular North Face Puffer Jacket, but rather the rapid abundance of puffed handbags, shoes, accessories and clothes. Big brands like Prada and Jacquemus have re-created their entire product lines to focus on this wildly popular aesthetic. When large established brands make changes to their products this drastically, it typically reflects a shift in the consumer market. The reason we are witnessing the rise of all things puffy is due to the economic, political, and social turmoil that has enveloped life in these past few years. People are seeking an escape from the harsh realities that they face everyday. The puffer aesthetic by nature is playful and fun, almost juvenile, A stark difference from the current state of society. Below I highlight a few of my favorite puffy products.
Urban Sophistication
In my opinion, Urban Sophistication was the brand that started the puffer craze. The brand is well known for their merchandise that reflects society in a tongue in cheek manor. Their most popular products are their phone cases, which coincidentally was the product that started the puffer revolution. A couple years ago, around 2019 or 2020 the company released a phone case that was a spoof of The North Face Puffer Jacket. Named The Puffer Case, the phone case is a fun replica of the jacket, complete with the squishy sensation. From the moment of launch, the product was a huge success. It wasn't long before knock-off's flooded the market and at that point, it was obvious something huge was happening. I own a few of these phone cases and every-time I use one I get so many compliments.
Jacquemus
One of my favorite iterations of the puffer trend comes from Jacquemus. Known for their small handbags and leather goods, Jacquemus is currently one of the hottest luxury brands in the fashion market. The brand takes one of their classic handbag silhouettes, Le Bambimou, and adds a bit of puff to the bag. The result is a handbag that looks and feels like a marshmallow. I love these bags because of their effortless playful look. They are also excellent because they are able to be easily dressed up or down depending on the consumers needs. I highly recommend any product from this brand as their quality and attention to detail trumps many other luxury brands I have experienced. Shop the Puffed Bambimou in a variety of colors on their website.
Prada
The brand on my list with the richest heritage, founded in 1913, Prada is one of the most well known luxury brands in the world. The fact that a well established fashion house such as Prada changed their products to prominently feature the puffed aesthetic is a strong indication that the puffer trend is here to stay. My favorite product from their collection featuring the puffer aesthetic is the Black Soft Padded Nappa Leather Sabots. These slide on loafers offer a playful take on a classic staple. I predict that these loafers won't go out of style anytime soon due to their versatile silhouette, so these shoes make a great investment.
Typically, luxury brands like Prada avoid fashion trends as they can have tacky and cheap connotations. However, the puffer aesthetic is more than a trend. It is a reflection of what society needs. We need to feel safe, happy, cozy, etc. Instead of finding these elements in our daily lives, we now have to find these feelings when we interact on a daily basis with the products we own; a chilling reflection of the grim world we live in.
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