There is something magical about autumn — the aroma of pumpkin spice lattes, the crunch of leaves on the ground, the taste of chocolate candies after a night of tricks and treats — but, sadly, each of those joys are just as fleeting as the next.

Those looking to take hold of the beauty of the season for its three-month entirety can turn to the latest fall fashions, specifically handbags (which can easily double as the grown-up version of a trick-or-treat pail if need be).

The Unexpected

Fanny packs are not just for the days of yesteryear. In fact, they have made a comeback, with many people deciding to put a twist on the style by accessorizing it as a cross-body look for both women and men.

Andrea Appelbaum, who recently became the owner of Queen Street Gifts & Treats, 3 Queen Street, says the style is also known as the “hip bag” and the “belt bag.”

“I can personally attest to my devotion to the hip bag since my son was born,” she said. “I always needed a quick, easy way to access my phone and money without having to fish around in a bottomless bag while holding my baby.”

Not only did the functionality of the bag help spur new interest, but it has been seen recently on celebrities like Karlie Kloss and A$AP Rocky.

Make A Statement

This season, it is typical for people to lean toward bags in traditional dark, warm shades, but Ms Appelbaum says she is seeing a spike in people wanting something that pops.

She says a great feminine look can be achieved with a light, beige colored bag, paired with scarves and gloves to match, or a bold red-hot colored bag to stand out.

Ms Appelbaum says she currently has these looks in stock with tweed totes, as she focuses on always supporting vegan materials for bags.

Material Girl

Vegan handbags are not only the preference of a select few anymore, but the style has become a mainstream phenomenon. An alternative to leather, a vegan bag is cruelty-free and made from no animal products.

While visiting the New York Gift Show this year, Martine Shanchuk, owner of The Gift Box at 14 Church Hill Road, saw a wide variety of companies supporting this trend. She chose to stock her store with the brand Espe after being impressed with the high quality of the product.

“It was hard to pick out which vegan line to go with, but I felt this one had a nice feel,” Ms Shanchuk said.

According to the Espe website, the handbags are ethically sourced and made of “a durable, synthetic leather called poly-urethane (PU-leather) that’s more environmentally-friendly and resilient than PVC or vinyl.”

Delightful Designs

Ms Shanchuk says for this year’s fall fashion, there plenty of designs to suit anyone’s style, from “mature looks” to “fun looks.”

In the Espe line, the bags that showcase leaves and birds are proving to be very popular for autumn, and the brand’s wristlets even have a bright, cheery inside fabric that makes it easier to find items.

Though some shoppers choose to get a matching wallet and purse, Ms Shanchuk is seeing others are more drawn to mixing and matching the designs.

Whether the look is subtle or a bold pattern, like herringbone, the season is all about pockets and back zippers for wallets and wristlets, as with the popular Spartina 449 line of bags.

So clean out last season’s sun-soaked summer beach bags and make room for autumn’s crisp, cool selection of bags to be on hand at all times.