Wondering why everyone seems obsessed with wearing their bags across their chest these days? From camera bags to chain wallets, quilted leather crossbody bags to crochet tote bags, the trend is everywhere.
The crossbody style is hardly a new invention. Messenger bags have been around for a long time now. But recently, it does seem like everyone has embraced the crossbody look more than ever before.
We have some theories, and we also have a guide for helping you join the trend with a designer style. Selecting a designer bag can feel like a dizzying task but stick with us, and we’ll take care of you.
Keep reading to learn all about crossbody bags and check out our current selection of crossbody styles.
Why We Love a Hands-Free Moment
First and foremost, you have to love a crossbody bag because it allows you to carry your purse without using your hands. Your bag stays safely attached to your person without you needing to think about it.
There are so many occasions where you might need access to your hands, from running errands to swiping into the New York City subway to holding your drink while you dance with your friends. What’s great about this style is that it’s versatile enough to work with an everyday purse and a night-out purse. It works both ways.
Plus, it essentially acts as a mini anti-theft measure since it’s much harder for someone to grab a bag that’s lying across your body.
We also think this style is it right now because of the Y2K resurgence in recent fashion trends. The mini crossbody bag, especially if you’re opting for a belt bag, has a futuristic look and feel, despite being a style we’ve seen for decades, if not centuries.
Choosing the Right Crossbody Bag
When it comes time for you to choose a designer crossbody bag, there are three things to consider.
Think About Size
One of the most important elements to consider is size. Ideally, what are you looking for this bag to carry, and when do you think you’ll use it?
Do you need a big hobo bag that can fit your laptop or a small wristlet that just fits your keys?
Recently, lots of designers have shown teeny tiny purses and phone crossbody bags. While this seems like a new trend, you might be surprised to know that the style has some historical precedent — gather round, y’all. We’re having a quick fashion history lesson.
Mini purses went through a bit of a renaissance (if you know, you know) in the 1800s, as Napoleon’s wife, Empress Joséphine, set the satchel aside and popularized a new style of handbag called a ‘reticule.’ These were hugely popular in France but also mocked frequently because they were so small, and therefore “useless.”
Today, we know a mini purse is anything but useless — in fact, Brandon verbatim told Pop Sugar in an interview, “I don't make useless bags.” Period! Though the mini purse is small, she is mighty cute, and any bag that can fit your cards and keys has plenty of use from where we’re sitting.
Think About Placement
The next point you want to think about is placement. Where do you want the bag to sit when you’re wearing it in the crossbody style? Do you want it on your chest, at your side, or on your back? A bucket bag is going to sit in a different place than a messenger crossbody, so it’s worth considering.
Look for convertible crossbody bags with fully adjustable straps, so you don’t have to necessarily choose one placement over the other when you purchase the purse.
A fully adjustable strap will let you play with where the bag sits. Also, for what it’s worth, an adjustable strap is also just a more inclusive design that acknowledges that everyone’s bodies are different — amen.
Think About Details
Last but not least, you should think about details. Do you want something that feels restrained and sleek or something that feels unique and daring?
Consider color, material, and the type of metalware you want. A zip crossbody will have a different feel than a flap crossbody, and other details like a drawstring opening or a magnetic snap can change it up even more. All these details make a big difference in how the bag moves and feels on the body.
You might even want to consider features like a top handle or a chain strap for some extra oomph.
The material of your bag counts as well. A jacquard lining can give your bag a luxurious feel, while pebbled faux leather makes for a bag that’s easy to clean. It all depends on what you’re looking for.
Once you have a solid sense of what you’re looking for and what would fit into your current wardrobe well, it’s time to start shopping.
Shop From Our Collection of Crossbody Bags
The good news is that you don’t necessarily need to make a choice between a crossbody bag and a handbag. Many designer bags, including lots of ours, come with long removable straps so you can wear the bag as a shoulder bag and crossbody bag or as a purse you carry with your hands.
Beautiful, well-made purses, especially ones with a classic design, will work either way.
So that’s said, let’s talk about some of our favorite best-seller bags that can be worn across the body.
The Arlen Bag
We’re having such a moment with the Arlen bag; we’re not even going to lie to you.
This style just screams “taste.” The simple, angled design gives it that little bit of sparkle, setting it apart from a standard hand bag, not to mention the 100% genuine suede, nylon, or mesh exterior available in a vibrant selection of colors.
The adjustable straps easily clip into the purse with elegant silver metalware, making it a breeze to transition from crossbody bag to handbag and vice versa.
The Braulio Belt Bag
Okay, technically, the Braulio is a belt bag, but it totally qualifies as a crossbody bag when you wear it across your chest, by definition.
The Braulio Belt Bag is our take on everyone’s favorite nineties trend, the fanny pack. We’ve kept the essential shape of the classic but given it a facelift, with 100% cowhide leather and sleek design leading to something that feels brand new.
We love to wear the Braulio when we’re going out. It’s so effortless but looks maximally cool.
The Medium Kuei
The Kuei bag is one of our best sellers for a reason. Its structure body and simple front side detail make it a quintessential Brandon Blackwood design.
We want to shout out the Medium Kuei for this post because it’s not often a size you see in a crossbody purse, and we think that should change. At ten inches wide, the Medium Kuei can carry all your essentials, plus a little more, but it doesn’t feel bulky or cumbersome when on. Made with premium vegan leather, it’s a light bag that easily transitions from day to night, especially when you remove the long shoulder strap.
We also have the Kuei in a mini-version which Vogue called one of the best mini bags to make a statement. A correct take — we have to agree.
The Ayala
Last but not least is the Ayala, one of our most miniature crossbody options, which is really more wallet than purse.
If you haven’t seen the crossbody wallet yet, prepare to see it a whole lot more often. A crossbody wallet keeps your most important items like your credit cards and your keys totally safe and on your person and is light enough that you won’t even remember you’re wearing it.
And when you purchase something like the Ayala, it can also look totally cool, polished, and refined. The Ayala comes in five colors, made with premium vegan leather. With its bamboo clasp and long crossbody strap, it’s tasteful, functional, and unique.
If none of those designs are speaking to your soul, don’t fret. We have so many more crossbody bag designs on our website for you to peruse. Feel free to get lost in our pages, imagining the perfect, most you designer bag on your person. We do it all the time.
More Is More: The Crossbody Collection
At the end of the day, you can never have enough crossbody bags, especially when most designs can be worn either as a handbag or as a crossbody bag. Our advice is to make sure you save and protect the long removable straps that come with versatile crossbody bags. Once you try this style, you’ll be glad you did.
Ready to make a Brandon Blackwood item a piece of your growing designer bag collection? We feel so lucky.
At Brandon Blackwood, we believe in accessible luxury. All of our bags are made with love and precision, as we bring our expertise and style into each and every design. But that shouldn’t mean that we bankrupt our customers. The right designer bag is magic, and we think everyone should be able to experience that.
So whether you’re looking for a crossbody bag, a backpack, or a saddle bag, just know that we’ve got your back. We can’t wait to see what you pick and would be honored if you chose to rep your Brandon Blackwood out and about. If you do, tag us on Instagram. We love to see y’all on the wild.
Sources:
A Mini History of the Tiny Purse | JSTOR
Brandon Blackwood On the Success of His Sustainable Luxury Handbags | Pop Sugar
42 Itty-Bitty Mini Bags That Make a Serious Style Statement | Vogue