Lydia Paget is a womenswear designer with a strong focus on silhouette and precision pattern cutting. Her design approach has been shaped by her BA Fashion studies at Ravensbourne University London and professional experience interning at Conner Ives. Her graduate collection, “Bag Scenario”, explores the relationship between women and their handbags—objects that function beyond utility and reflect identity, routine, and emotional connection. The project began with the observation that handbags are often more than accessories; they are an integral part of how women present themselves daily. A bag is not simply carried—it’s worn, inhabited, and relied upon. This sparked an exploration of the bag as a structural and conceptual extension of clothing. To investigate this idea, Lydia reinterpreted classic British garments such as tailored shirts and overcoats, integrating elements that imply the presence of a bag without adding a separate item. Using subtle trompe l’oeil effects and garment manipulation, she created pieces where the silhouette of a handbag appears embedded within the garment itself. This approach blurs the line between garment and accessory, reframing the bag as something internal rather than external to the outfit. Central to Lydia’s design process was an engagement with the language of leather craft — a discipline rooted in precision, patience, and touch. Traditional techniques such as hand-stitching, edge finishing, and structural reinforcement informed not only the aesthetic but also the methodology of my making. Lydia was drawn to the discipline of leatherwork for its sculptural qualities and its ability to convey strength, elegance, and history through form and materiality. “Bag Scenario” ultimately invites reflection on the roles accessories play in daily dress—how they support, shape, and express identity—and what happens when those roles are reconsidered within the context of the garment itself.