Harriet Davey

by Harriet Davey.

 

Top Handbag Trends This Year

Navigating the latest fashion trends can be a challenging task to say the least. Is the reign of Adidas Samba trainers over? (Even though I own a pair, I would say yes). Should we all be embracing Capri pants and disc belts like we’re back in 2001? Although my 10-year-old self would say yes to both of these, I won’t be trying either the second time round. And when it comes to bags, are small pencil case styles or supersize versions best? The answer is, for 2024, both are key.

And with so many other bag trends taking to the catwalks for spring/summer this year, I thought I would take it upon myself to help everyone decipher the trends actually worth trying out. Because let’s face it, like the return of Destiny’s Child’s favourite Y2K belt, not all trends need to be worn!

 

The most important factors to consider when investing in a new bag (be it designer, mid-price or high street) is that they’ll suit your style, will work with your existing wardrobe and will last for years to come. With this in mind, I want to introduce you to the colours, shapes and textures that are trending right now, and the exact fashion editor-approved styles I believe are worth adding to your much-loved handbag collection.

 

 

Handbag Colours

Last year it was all about #Barbiecore pink for bags, shoes, dresses, coats and well, everything, then red took over for autumn/winter 2023. Now, we’re seeing some new shades take the limelight – and I’m a big fan of three in particular: butter yellow, burgundy and Kermit green.

The soft shade of yellow (seen on the runways at Bottega Veneta and Jacquemus)can act as a neutral, working in your wardrobe with tonal creams or even clashing red. When it comes to burgundy, this also works well with butter yellow, so you can tick off two trends in one if you wear these colours together – a butter yellow shirt with a burgundy bag, or a burgundy dress with a yellow bag, for example. And while bold Bottega green had a moment a few years back, the punchy shade has made a return, and it’s about to be one of the key accessories trends – so get ahead now.

 

Butter Yellow Bags

 

Nanushka

The Square Bag

 

 

This fun origami style can also be unfolded to transform into a shoulder bag – it’s basically a two-for-one buy if you ask me! Love, love, love.

 

Anthropologie

The Brea Faux Butter Yellow Leather Shoulder Bag

 

 

I like how this one has an adjustable strap so you can wear as a grab style or a shoulder bag. The gold hardware also makes it look way more expensive than the under-£100 price tag.

 

Burgundy Leather Bags

 

A.P.C.

Grace Small Leather Shoulder Bag

 

 

Instead of your usual everyday classic black, tan or cream crossbody bag, why not switch it up to burgundy? It’s still a timeless shade but will also feel fresh for new season.

 

Loewe

Pebble Medium Leather Bucket Bag Burgundy

 

 

As a Loewe bag mega fan, of course I had to include this glossy Pebble bucket. It’ll instantly upgrade any outfit – from a trench coat look to a cool linen co-ord.

 

Green Raffia Shoulder Bags

 

Khaite

Olivia Medium Raffia Shoulder Bag

 

 

Bold look-at-me green is back in business, and to tick off two trends in one, go for this crescent raffia bag by fashion editor-loved brand, Khaite.

 

Staud

Shirley Mini Striped Tote

 

 

If this shade of green feels slightly intimidating, an easy way to incorporate it into your wardrobe is by opting for a print. When teamed with soft white, navy and tan, the green doesn’t feel as bright.

 

 

Handbag Shapes

While I will always appreciate a classic tote or a carefully crafted fuss-free crossbody, I love when a new handbag silhouette is ripe for the picking. As a small bag person, I was thrilled that Alaïa’s Le Teckel skinny pencil case shaped bag created a love for this fit-barely-anything barrel shape. But if small styles aren’t you’re thing, 2024 is all about polar opposites, with the supersize carry-absolutely-everything capacious tote bag being spotted all over the catwalks at the likes of Ferragamo and Loewe. Looking for something in-between? The latest Jacquemus shape ‘Le Petit Calino’, is the rounded top-handle bag that’s about to be one of the most distinctive shapes 2024 has to offer.

No matter your chosen team, I’ve rounded up the styles that fit all three shapes, sizes and silhouettes this season.

 

 

Supersize Bags

 

Loewe

Puzzle Fold XL Leather Tote

 

 

The giant bag to beat? Loewe’s XL Puzzle tote. The style is so big, you’ll be able to fit an extra bag inside it, plus a laptop, spare pair of shoes and anything else you may need for the office.

Ganni

Leopard Oversized Canvas Tote

 

 

Animal print is having a moment this year, and if you’re eager to try it out, then a bag is an easy way to make it work with your existing wares. I love this logo Ganni version with jeans, an oversized shirt and trainers.

 

 

Barrel Bags

 

Mango

Braided Cylindrical Bag

 

 

I have this in burgundy, and while it’s of course not the most practical of bags, I get so many compliments on how good it looks with an evening outfit. So yes of course I now want it in this futuristic silver hue.

 

Coachtopia

Barrel Bag

 

 

Bag charms are a mini trend this year (as first seen worn by Jane Birkin), and Coach have created this cute keyring cylinder bag to subtly try out the look. It also comes in pink, green or black, FYI!

 

Round Handle Bags

 

Jacquemus

Le Petit Calino

 

 

The Jacquemus style in question – enter: Le Petit Calino. I love the sleek gold rounded handle against the body red textured bag. And yes, red is still a trending colour for 2024, so I would style this beauty with a pastel pink dress on holiday.

 

Staud

Goodnight Moon Leather Tote Bag Pink

 

 

This crescent moon bag is a Scandi cool-girl favourite thanks to its structured shape and glossy finish. Wear for day with linen separates or for after-dark with a maxi dress – it’ll be your go-to no matter the occasion.

 

 

Handbag Textures

If you want to add interest to your bag collection without having to invest in bright look-at-me colours or supersize shapes, a fail-safe way to do this is by embracing texture. One classic feel that’s coming through this year is suede – heavily influenced by the boho trend coming back from Chloé, of course. And who better to show off this trend that London style icon, Sienna Miller, who has been recently spotted wearing the newly launched Jimmy Choo Cinch suede bag. And if you want to wear one of summer’s all-time favourite textures, then of course it’s all about the raffia basket.

With styles being spotted at the likes of Loewe, Chanel and Fendi, they’re continuing as a SS24 hero bag.

If you’re not into the natural basket look, then you could also try the new woven leather or material versions as seen at Bottega Veneta and Valentino. Either way, summer is going to be all about attention-to-detail handbags.

 

Woven Leather Totes

 

Dragon Diffusion

Nantucket Large Woven Leather Tote

 

 

These Dragon Diffusion leather woven bags have become so popular, they’ve sold out in most colours on most sites. Luckily, this creamy tote is still available – but you’ll have to be quick to bag it!

 

Bottega Veneta

Andiamo Small Intrecciato Leather Tote

 

 

This braided beauty is a firm favourite in any colour, but I particularly love this soft sage green to go with luxe shades of cream, tan with lashings of gold jewellery.

 

Suede Shoulder Bags

 

Jimmy Choo

Cinch-M Tan Suede Bag

 

 

Destined to be the ‘It’ bag of the year, this fresh new Jimmy Choo shape looks effort with the ruched detail, retro fastening and timeless tobacco suede colourway – obsessed!

Arket

Curved Suede Shoulder Bag Beige

 

 

Arket is coming through with so many chic suede bags this season, and I’m loving this slouchy beige iteration. I believe suede bags look best in neutral, classic shades to keep them looking premium.

 

Raffia Bags

Loewe

Petal Basket Bag Raffia Calfskin

 

 

While Loewe basket bags have been one of the most popular styles for years, this pretty petal shape style feels fresh. I love the scalloped edges and contrasting leather strap that’ll go with any outfit.

 

Mango

Natural Fibre Carrycot Bag

 

 

For a fun beach bag or an evening style to throw on with your white linen dress on holiday, this Mango mini basket is a winner. Not into pink? You can also get it with a brown handle.

 

Check out Jennifer Labbett’s “Colour Trends” series.

by Harriet Davey.

 

Handbag Buying Tips and Tricks from a Fashion Editor

When I was at university, I told myself that when I got to the title of ‘fashion editor’, I would buy myself a Chanel bag to celebrate. And although this happened several years ago, I’m yet to buy said bag. Why? Because the price of an overage Chanel bag has more than doubled over the past ten years. With a new medium sized 2.55 now costing around £8,850. And with saving for a house, this isn’t something I could justify spending on one–gorgeous, may I add–handbag.

Luckily, though, there are now so many pre-loved sites that make it so much easier to find handbags from the most esteemed brands at a lower cost. And considering most people would cherish such a much-loved possession as a Chanel, Hermes or Louis Vuitton bag, you can find styles that have been kept in brilliant condition.

 

Like any pre-loved purchase, though, there are ways to find the best ones. And there’s also steps sites have taken to help you avoid accidentally buying from the counterfeit industry. As someone who has bought some of my favourite bags from the likes of Vestiaire Collective and eBay, I wanted to share the destinations to buy second-hand designer handbags. Because as the saying goes ‘one person’s trash is another person’s treasure’, and while I would never describe any designer bag as ‘trash’, it fits in terms of loving something someone may not want anymore. Here’s my guide to the best places to buy pre-loved designer bags.

 

 

Designer Bag Resellers

Vestiaire Collective

One of the most recognised resale sites is Vestiaire, and it’s home to some of the most amazing pre-loved high-end brands, along with the likes of Ganni, Staud and Neous. I bought my Loewe Gate bag from here, and can confirm it arrived exactly as it looked on-screen. Each item is reviewed online for free before being listed so it comes with a certain level of authentication, but to ensure you have peace of mind, you can pay a flat fee of £15 to have it physically checked before it gets delivered to you–something I highly recommend with higher priced item.

My top tip? Make sure to add styles you love to your ‘favourites’ section, this way, Vestiaire will always show you similar pieces, and you’ll also be the first to know If what you love has an extra discount at the moment. This will also mean you can receive offers from sellers straight to your email. Psst, and it’s the go-to for vintage classics such as the Hermès Kelly or one-off Fendi baguettes.

 

Bottega Veneta

Beige Leather Arco Handbag

 

 

 

Hermès

Kelly 32 Black Leather Handbag

 

 

Designer Bags on eBay

Launched in 2022, eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee service extended into handbags sold over £500. All you have to do is select it as a filter (much like you would the style, colour etc.), and you can make sure that any bag you buy is checked by a team of professionals to make sure it’s real. I used this service to buy my Prada Cleo last year, and it works as I got refunded for the first style I bought after it was checked, and didn’t pass. I later bought another one and this was authenticated so I knew what I was buying was exactly what was listed.

So many fellow fashion editors also use this service, and with being able to bid, you can end up snapping up a real bargain. It’s also the place to find styles that are brand new with tags, just like my Cleo. One of my tips is to also select bags that are only within your location, this way you won’t receive any hidden shipping costs once you’ve found your dream bag.

 

Loewe Anagram Small Tote

Christian Dior Medium Tote

 

Sign of the Times

Buying or selling, Sign of the Times is the perfect place to find some of the best designer buys from a range of high-end brands. With detailed pictures of any marks, faults or wear and tear, you can guarantee that what you see is what you’ll get. And when you buy any pre-loved style, it also comes already authenticated (sometimes double authenticated for the likes of a Birkin) from the brand’s experts. If you live in London or planning a visit, you’ll no doubt want to visit the Chelsea store (aka a treasure trove of designer goodies) where you can see your future bag in real life.

 

Loewe

Light Blue Leather Puzzle Bag

 

 

Hermès

2002 Birkin 35 Red Leather Handbag

 

 

The Handbag Clinic

Like a doctor, for handbags, The Handbag Clinic is the destination for bringing your most-worn styles back to life. Restoring any style going, you can rely on this site to collect your bag and deliver it back to you just as good as new thanks to its clever dyeing and mending services. With an authentication service from £34.95, you can also get your already-bought bags checked to make sure they’re the real deal–perfect if you’ve bought from a less reliable site such as Vinted. And considering they have a team of experts who are trained in this area, when it comes to the site’s resale section, they’re some of the most trusted in the business.

So you can rest assured any style you shop–from the Jacquemus Chiquito to the iconic Mulberry Bayswater–will be pre-authenticated.

Mulberry

Zipped Bayswater in Black Leather

Louis Vuitton

Keepall 45 Tote Bag

 

 

Designer Bags at Cocoon

While Cocoon is known for its rental service–you can borrow a different designer bag to wear each month–once each bag is at the end of its rental life, it then goes up for resale. This way, you can end up getting some of the best vintage and even recent season styles for a lot less than their original retail price. All bags are of course already authenticated while being out on rental, so you’ve got no need to worry about whether these are legit. With everything from the Gucci Horsebit and Marmont to the Bottega Veneta pouch in the resale section, no doubt you’ll find a style to add to your beloved bag collection.

 

Gucci

1955 Horsebit Leather Shoulder Bag

 

 

Chanel

Camon Ligne Leather Bowler Bag

 

Check Out “4 Resale Platforms For Luxury Handbags“

by Harriet Davey.

 

A Definitive Handbag Guide for Spring Summer ’24

For me, bags have always been an important part of any outfit. They’re the cherry on top of the sartorial cake, and the finishing touch that can possess the power to be a talking point at an event, dinner or even just day-to-day. While I used to be somewhat of an accessories collector (I liked to match my bag, belt and earrings as a teenager), now, I have a more refined edit of pieces I tend to wear on heavy rotation. And when it comes to choosing a new bag, I don’t take this decision lightly.

Of course, if I had an endless budget, I would own a Birkin, a Chanel 2.55 (in black and butter yellow), and basically every Loewe bag ever created. As one of my favourite accessory designers, the Spanish label can do no wrong in my eyes. But imaginary budget aside, when I do splurge on a bag, I have to know I’ll wear it now, next month, next year and for years to come.

Working as a fashion editor for over 10 years, I’ve also always happily raved about the mid-price brands who are so brilliant, they rival some of the highest end designers – with Polène, Neous and DeMellier being some of my favourites. And here’s not forgetting the great British high street, because there’s plenty of bag styles out there that look premium, feel luxe and will last you a long time if you look after them in the same way you would a designer style.

While I don’t tend to follow trends when it comes to the bags I choose, of course some of the latest styles manage to grab my attention. I love the mini pencil case styles that are coming from the likes of Alaia to Mango, I’m a fan of all the rich burgundy shades and I must admit – even as a small bag fan – I enjoy the supersize carry-everything-including-your-kitchen-sink jumbo sizes we’re seeing filtering down from The Row and Victoria Beckham runways for spring/summer 2024.

If I had to pick bags to add to my much-loved collection right now, these are the six styles that are firmly on my wish list. And to make these wishes come true, I better start playing the lottery!

 

My Favourite Handbag Styles

Alaïa Pencil Case Shoulder Bag

 

Alaïa

Le Teckel Pencil Case Shoulder Bag

 

 

 

The ‘pencil case’ bag is a key shape this season. A version of the micro mini bags seen all over the catwalks – at Chanel, Fendi and Versace – I love the slim fit-barely-anything style from Alaïa. Although it’s a splurge on a slightly impractical shape, the timeless colourways and sleek fuss-free design means it’ll go with every outfit and be loved for years to come. I’ve been thinking about the plain black style for a while, but now I know I want it in the new monochrome colourway – SO chic!

 

Miu Miu Woven Basket Tote Bag

 

Miu Miu

Woven Basket Tote Bag

 

 

While I still love, and wear, my Loewe x Paula’s Ibiza anagram basket bag I got a few years ago, I’m on the lookout for another key summer style. Enter: Miu Miu’s woven wonder. Adding interest to even the simplest of looks, this crocheted style feels fresh for the warmer months. I also know I would wear it so many times with everything from light linen dresses to cool co-ords when on holiday or at home.

 

Polène Crossbody Bag

Polène

Numéro Dix Crossbody Bag

 

 

As one of my ultimate favourite mid-price labels, I own two Polène bags already – including the Numéro Dix. And let me tell you, it’s one of the most-complimented pieces in my wardrobe that always makes people ask me where I got it from. I wear the half-moon style as a crossbody so it’s a great everyday style that lets me be hands-free when I’m shoot prepping or en-route to events. While black has served me well, I would like to have it in a lighter hue to go with all my summer ensembles. Luckily, this style comes in not one, not two, but 17 different colourways – yes, really!

 

JW Pei Shoulder Bag

 

JW Pei

Joy Leather Shoulder Bag

 

 

Burgundy is a staple colour for spring/summer 2024, particularly when it comes to bags. While I’ve had the Loewe Paseo in my saved basket at Net-a-Porter for months, there are now so many iterations coming through from more affordable brands, too. LA-based vegan brand, JW Pei always creates interesting silhouettes that are bound to be a highlight of any outfit. This sleek, curved shoulder bag would look so good with a dusty pink dress for a wedding or with jeans and a one-shoulder top for after-dark.

 

Khaite Lotus Shoulder Bag

 

Khaite

Lotus Suede Shoulder Bag

 

 

Suede jackets, shoes and bags are having a moment this season, and I’m on board. Khaite has created this mini tote and it’s ideal for someone (like me) who prefers smaller styles. Also perfect for minimalists, this bag would look best with classic tonal pieces such as linen shirts, ecru jeans and classic vest tops. Trust me, so many fashion insiders are going to be wearing this one for 2024.

 

Loewe Raffia Logo Tote Bag

Loewe

Raffia Logo Tote Bag

 

 

As my favourite designer brand (especially for accessories), no wish list would be complete without a Loewe bag. I wear a lot of stripes, and I also have stripes in my home interiors, so naturally I’m drawn to this fun raffia logo bag. Whether it’s a city/ beach break or just with everyday outfits, I know I would get so much wear out of it – yep, this is me justifying that I need yet another Loewe bag. Sorry, bank card!

 

Check out my article “High Street Hottest Handbags”