Be Gone, Big Bags—Anne Hathaway Just Started NYFW With a Tiny Purse

New York Fashion Week is just getting started, and yet it has already become a Big Bag Convention. While editors, industry insiders, and influencers zoom from one runway show to the next, the street style circuit shows no shortage of bottomless shoulder styles. That's why it was so surprising to see Anne Hathaway with a tiny purple purse in tow on September 9, the eve of NYFW.

For Hathaway, Fashion Month began at the unveiling of "auruBOROS—Urban Memory and Collective Dream," Bulgari's first public art installation in the country. The pregnant star's longtime stylist, Erin Walsh, dressed her in an airy gown from McQueen's Fall 2026 fashion show.

The sweetheart neckline became its only structured design detail, and even that was buried beneath layers of floating chiffon. Better yet, the goddess-like strapless style (which could've been leftover from The Odyssey press tour) complemented the color trend that her novelty purse tapped into.

Anne Hathaway brought a little purple purse from Bulgari to a New York Fashion Week event — Before adding her Bulgari diamonds, Anne Hathaway arrived at NYFW with a tiny purple purse. (Image credit: Getty Images)

McQueen

Bustier Evening Dress

The jewelry brand ambassador didn't just frost herself in Bulgari bling. Her top-handle bag, the "Serpenti Cuore 1968," was on loan from the Italian label's catalog, too. Just big enough to carry her phone and lipstick, it prioritized fashion over function.

Once inside the celebrity-beloved Boom Boom Room, Hathaway finished her first NYFW 'fit of the season with a Bulgari Serpenti Pendant Necklace, diamond bangles and earring studs, metallic gold sandals by Aquazzura, and a red-hot lip and manicure (a subtle take on the red-and-purple color combination trend).

Bulgari

Serpenti Cuore 1968 Top Handle

Is the Bulgari bag an unusual choice for NYFW? Perhaps, but not for Hathaway. During The Odyssey press tour, she stepped outside her black-bag comfort zone with a moss green Valentino DeVain, a linen-and-leather Prada Bonnie, and more.

Maybe Fall 2026 fashion shows from Celine, Area, Balenciaga, and CFCL inspired Hathaway to add a purple purse to her roster. Violet, lavender, raspberry, periwinkle, and amethyst clutches painted the runways purple.

Purple bag trend on the CFCL Fall 2026 runway — CFCL darkened the purple purse trend for Fall 2026. (Image credit: Launchmetrics)

Purple bag trend on the Celine Fall 2026 runway — Celine's clutch was shade-matched to a statement trench coat. (Image credit: Launchmetrics)

Purple bag trend on the Area Fall 2026 runway — Area turned the bag trend suede. (Image credit: Launchmetrics)

Purple bag trend on the Balenciaga Fall 2026 runway — Balenciaga's purple purse was one of the season's brightest. (Image credit: Launchmetrics)

So, while you look to Coach, Tory Burch, Kallmeyer, and more NYFW favorites to determine the It color for Spring 2027 slings, upgrade your autumn accessories collection with the Hathaway-approved pieces below.