What do Prada’s 63 skirts, Chanel’s 83 pairs of shoes, and Celine’s bug-eyed sunglasses and oversized belts have in common? They are all hero items fresh from the spring 2027 runways, marking a definitive shift in the global fashion landscape. These are not the Gucci double G belts or Balenciaga logo T-shirts of a pre-pandemic logomania scene, nor are they purely part of a Man Repeller-era eccentric revival. These hero items possess a particular funk that is part of a new system of signaling in a more fashion-savvy digital age, one where a pair of pumps featuring a contrasting teal toe cap says everything that needs to be said.
Much has been said about the end of quiet luxury—with vibrant menswear collections over the summer finally squashed that conversation entirely. Meanwhile, in the background, favorable sentiments about statement pieces have been stewing across the industry. A strong argument could be made that the hero item’s return really kicked off with Dario Vitale’s lone, glorious collection for Versace where rumpled, sensual savants ran supreme. Bold, graphic, and colorful, Vitale’s pencil skirts and shoes were spotted on every industry insider during the September shows, according to Chloe King of Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.
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Industry leaders note that this shift is driven by a broader cultural fatigue with uniformity. Tory Burch points out that right now, there is a fatigue around perfection and predictability, alongside a growing desire for individuality. According to Burch, customers are gravitating toward pieces with personality, wit, distinctive color, and detail, such as embroidered cardigans, oversized sunglasses, trompe l’œil pierced hardware, and handwoven shoes and totes. The pierced shoes, which originally launched with the spring 2023 collection, remain one of the brand’s biggest and most recognizable hits.
Dries Van Noten’s Julian Klausner is embracing his customers’ enthusiasm for singularity as well. Speaking on an episode of The Run-Through With Vogue, taped two days after his retro glam show, Klausner expressed his appreciation for how people are really picking up on specific pieces. He noted that this time around, more than the overarching image, general looks, or the overall show, people are focusing intently on acquiring a specific bag, shoe, jacket, or T-shirt.
If a designer’s gut-check is not enough to confirm the trend, larger data points back it up as well. According to Google Trends, searches for statement belts, like the ones seen at Celine, Valentino, and Chopova Lowena this season—as well as at brands including Chloé and Polo Ralph Lauren a season earlier—were up 350%. At the same time, statement necklaces of the everything-and-the-kitchen-sink variety, as highlighted in the fall accessories trend report, saw a 250% increase in search interest.
Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons made a particularly convincing argument for the power of the statement skirt formula by casting off trousers entirely on the runway. Major secondhand platforms like The RealReal and eBay are already experiencing a noticeable uptick in vintage Prada skirt queries as consumers look for ways to recreate that runway magic.
At the same time, the specificity of a statement shoe, such as Prada’s perforated pumps or Jil Sander’s curved heels, is more difficult to come by on the secondhand market. That dynamic is pushing accessories to the forefront of the retail conversation. Luxury consultant Robert Burke noted that he cannot remember a season in many years where the focus of footwear has been so incredibly strong, describing it as a deliberate move to put an emphasis on creative footwear that can fundamentally change an outfit. For definitive proof, one need only look to Chanel, where Matthieu Blazy sent 83 unique pairs of shoes down the runway, creating a distinct pair for every single look.
Another major factor contributing to the hero item phenomenon is the cult of the celebrity designer. Customers went wild—both in Paris and in New York—for the very first retail drops of Blazy’s debut collection for Chanel. Style Substacker Jalil Johnson observed that even if an item is not terribly novel, if designers are capturing a fresh feeling, there is a strong rationale for consumers to invest because it captures the cultural moment, functioning almost like buying a piece of history.
Michael Rider has similarly struck lightning at Celine. A quick scroll on TikTok reveals fans eagerly recreating the cummerbunds from the recent men’s runway. Attempting to snag a pair of the fall drop’s ultra-low kitten heels or a specific color of the smiley luggage pouches before they sell out requires both speed and luck. Johnson recounted an anecdote where Parisian sales associates advised clients that a particular piece was a hot item that needed to be hidden from immediate view.
Beyond salesperson advice and clever merchandising, as demonstrated by street style trends during the international fashion weeks, people are truly wearing their Celine trophies out and about in daily life. Chloe King summarized the sentiment of the retail landscape by noting that what she loved most about the spring 2027 season was the empowering proposition that hero items need not be saved for a special occasion, nor worn sparingly, but integrated fully into everyday wardrobes.
