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At Pierpaolo Piccioli’s debut Haute Couture show for Balenciaga, bags were few and far between. Models walked the runway with their hands tucked into the pockets of feathery balloon jackets or olive-green sequin gowns, or showed off leather opera gloves in shades of violet, burgundy, and blue. In fact, only two carried a bag in hand. Yet still, those stole the show.
The Fall 2026 collection was all about material and texture—with hand-painted feathers, organza petals, and “blurred” floral embroidery—and the bags were no exception. Putting a couture spin on the house’s signature City bag, Piccioli presented two sparkling renditions of the classic, each crafted with shiny, sculptural metal skeletons and crystal mesh bodies.
The first to walk the runway offered a silver-on-silver look, worn with an ivory silk-and-wool maxi dress with boxy drop-shoulder sleeves and a high-low hem. The ensemble was paired with a singular gold-plated feather earring and grey suede pumps.
The second was green, matching the model’s silk turtleneck, which peeked out from under a long taupe coat. The look also included a pair of brown organza petal-embroidered trousers and black suede pumps.
Originally released in 2001 as the Motorcycle City Bag during Nicolas Ghesquière’s tenure as the house’s creative director, the style became an indie-sleaze It girl staple—seen on the arms of Kate Moss, the Olsen twins, and Nicole Richie alike. Though today it’s as instantly recognizable as a Balenciaga piece as a monogrammed alternative might be, its appeal originally came from its slouchy, logo-less, IYKYK touch.
Throughout the years, the Motorcycle City has welcomed some sister silhouettes—most notably Demna’s 2021 Le Cagole and the 2024 Le City. Now, it’s officially gotten the Piccioli couture treatment.