Balenciaga is putting its latest handbag in the spotlight, with Lily Collins and other high-profile actresses seen carrying the new Hourglass Avenue in a series of relaxed looks.
The design reworks one of the French fashion house's most recognisable handbag silhouettes, bringing the distinctive curves of the Hourglass into a more relaxed, everyday shape. Featured in the Winter 26 collection, the Hourglass Avenue combines Balenciaga's established design language with practical details designed for different ways of carrying.
The new style debuted as part of the Winter 26 ClairObscur collection under creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli. With several well-known actresses now seen carrying the design, the launch raises an obvious fashion question: could the Hourglass Avenue become Balenciaga's next It-bag?
Lily Collins And Jodie Comer Put The New Bag In The Spotlight
Collins brings considerable international recognition to the latest Hourglass design, while Chinese actresses Ma Sichun and Zhou Yutong have also been photographed with the new style.
The approach presents the silhouette in more relaxed styling, highlighting its versatility beyond formal fashion-week appearances.
For Balenciaga, the focus also places a familiar house signature in a new setting. The Hourglass has become one of the brand's recognisable handbag families, defined by its curved, architectural shape. The Avenue retains that distinctive outline while changing the construction to create a different interpretation of the design.
Balenciaga describes the Hourglass Avenue as a reinterpretation of its signature curvilinear Hourglass silhouette, with a more relaxed construction inspired by the archetypal doctor's bag. The design therefore keeps a visual connection to the established Hourglass family while introducing a softer, more practical interpretation.
That balance between recognisable design and a new construction is central to the bag's identity, allowing the Avenue to look familiar without simply reproducing an earlier version of the Hourglass.
A Sculptural Silhouette With Practical Details
The small black version featured in the Winter 26 collection uses reworked box leather and is finished with aged-gold hardware. Its structured body retains the curved proportions associated with the Hourglass, while the design incorporates details intended to make the bag suitable for both hand and crossbody wear.
A top handle, hidden second handle and detachable crossbody strap offer different carrying options. The folding top flap is secured with a minimalist magnetic lock engraved with 'Balenciaga 10 Avenue George V'.
The engraving references the house's Paris address, adding a discreet piece of Balenciaga detail without relying on a large visible logo.
The Hourglass Avenue became available from 10 September 2026 through selected Balenciaga stores and online. The small style is offered in black and several other colourways, while Balenciaga's current listings also include medium versions of the design.
Its arrival comes as celebrity visibility continues to play an important role in how luxury handbags enter the fashion conversation. Having recognisable actresses photographed with the same new silhouette gives the Avenue exposure across different markets while reinforcing its connection to Balenciaga's established handbag codes.
Whether that visibility will turn the Hourglass Avenue into a genuine It-bag remains to be seen. For now, Balenciaga has given its newest handbag a recognisable silhouette, a new-season launch and growing celebrity visibility — elements that have placed the Hourglass Avenue firmly in the fashion conversation as Winter 26 unfolds.
