Forget the Wrong Shoe Theory—I’m Backing the Wrong *Bag* Theory All Summer Long

In 2023, stylist Allison Bornstein introduced the now-viral concept of the “wrong shoe theory,” which quickly took the fashion world by storm. The idea is simple yet impactful: Choose shoes that intentionally clash with the rest of your outfit. Bornstein states this unexpected contrast gives fashion insiders an effortlessly cool, eye-catching look.

While the wrong shoe theory is still going strong among the style set, there’s a new idea gaining traction—what I’m calling the “wrong bag theory.”