Starting a designer handbag collection? We sincerely want to welcome you to the club.
A designer bag is a message to yourself and to the world. It says I believe in investing in my image. And whether you choose to lean into fashion trends or to pick something that will always be in style, expert craftsmanship can elevate your personal style game to the next level.
Still, with so many handbag styles, it can be hard to know where to start. Do you want a bag with sequins? With a big logo? With a drawstring? These are big questions.
If you’re starting from scratch, these are the five handbags we think belong in every collection.
How To Approach Your Handbag Collection
There are hundreds of types of handbags. Try not to get overwhelmed. Instead, think about two simple factors: practicality and style. A bag, at the end of the day, should be useful and suit your personality.
A Baguette Bag
This bag has many names. The baguette bag, the saddle bag, the shoulder bag, the small hobo bag. What it is is a small purse with a short shoulder strap, meant to be worn around your elbow, shoulder, or held in your hand. The baguette bag is small but not miniature. It can fit your wallets, keys, and chapsticks.
This shoulder strap bag style has been around for a while, but in the late nineties, it became the It Bag after one very famous, fictional New Yorker columnist started to wear it.
So why invest in the baguette? This is a purse purse. It’s a feminine, stylish bag that screams opulence and personal style.
It’s an important handbag for your collection because it’s for those days and nights when you want to be seen. It’s for brunch and for window shopping. It’s for blurry photos and late cab rides. The baguette bag is an It Bag, and every collection needs at least one.
If you’re starting with us, that means starting with the Syl Bag. The Syl is a slightly more compact iteration of the iconic baguette bag, available in so many materials and colors, including a beaded bandana version, a ponyhair version, and a denim logo version.
A Mini Bag
From a small bag to an even smaller bag, the next style we’d recommend investing in is a mini bag.
Over the last few years, runway designers started showing impossibly small mini bags which could barely fit a lipstick, let alone your wallet. The mini bag we’re talking about today isn’t quite that small, but it’s pretty close. Think about it as replacing a wristlet.
The mini bag silhouettes are amorphous. Really, it can be any bag design, shrunk down into a smaller size, but we happen to think that a girly, embellished style is the way to go.
Most mini bags will come with a crossbody, detachable strap so you can wear it hands-free, but right now, we’re kind of obsessed with carrying a mini bag by its top handle. Carrying bags by their short handles means the bags absolutely will be seen. For styles that are meant to pop and be a focal point in your outfit, putting it front and center ensures eyes will be drawn to it.
Mini bags are the ultimate evening bags. When you only want to be carrying your wallet, phone, and keys and don’t want to be bothered with anything else, opt for the mini.
We have mini bags in so many styles and shapes. Our famed Kendrick Trunk is available in a mini size, as well as the Cara Duffle. Marie Claireincluded the Kuei Bag in purple shearling for their round-up of designer bags worth the investment. Well said, girl.
A Crossbody Bag
Let’s scale up a little with a crossbody bag.
Brought to popularity with messenger bags, crossbody bags are a broad category, covering any bag which is worn with a long strap across the body. While we really do love holding a bag by its top handle or around the shoulder, you just cannot deny the freedom that a crossbody bag offers — which is why we treat bag purchases like a collection, not one-off pieces!
A crossbody bag can be worn in so many ways. It can sit on your side, on your chest, or on your back. Depending on the size of the bag itself, this look can change dramatically.
Many of our bags come with a detachable strap so you can decide what vibe you’re feeling day to day. The Standard Sophia Bag (with crocodile embossed genuine suede) is such a cute crossbody with a silver chain strap.
If you’re looking for something smaller, the Braulio Belt Bag is our elevated take on the 90 fanny pack. Made with vegan leather, it’s smooth and creamy and feels great under your arm.
A Tote Bag
Next up is the tote bag. We’re willing to bet you already have (maybe too many) tote bags stashed away in your closet, but we’ll make a case for investing in a designer tote bag. The difference in quality and craft is so clear.
Tote bags are the de facto errand bag. They’re perfect for running around between work, dinner, and the dry cleaners, and you see them so often on the subways and streets of New York for a reason.
They’re practical. And with a simple rectangular design, they also seamlessly blend into most outfits, making them a worthy investment you’ll get plenty of use out of.
That’s the reason why purchasing a designer tote bag makes sense. For something that you’ll carry so often, why would you want anything less than genuine suede or leather touching your one and only body? That’s what we thought.
Like any other bag, tote bags can be scaled up or down, depending on your needs. Our Mini Mandeville, the perfect leather tote bag, is still big enough to hold a book and tablet, plus any other little items.
On the other side of things, our Morell Tote (in luxurious soft shearling) is huge and can fit anything you need it to and then some. If you want to go even bigger and wider, the Market Tote, with its colorful mesh, is our fave beach bag and grocery bag for when every day is a runway day.
In any case, a designer tote is absolutely worth investing in. Some bags are meant to be saved for special occasions; others are meant to be used every day. Expert craftsmanship is essential to both.
A Backpack
Like the tote bag, the backpack is often forgotten when it comes to designer bag styles.
To be clear, we’re not talking about the book bag you used to stuff your school lunches into. We’re talking chic leather backpacks that will be the envy of your entire neighborhood.
In the same vein as the crossbody bag, the backpack is a classic way to stay hands-free, with a little more security. With two shoulder straps rather than one, backpacks are cute and youthful, but that doesn’t mean they’re not stylish.
Designers recently have embraced the backpack, going minimalist and sleek with their styles and producing these iconic bags in premium leather and suede.
Our backpack has a name. Allow us to introduce you to the Portmore. This wide-based backpack has short shoulder straps so that it sits right between your shoulder blades. This is not a slouchy teenage vibe, y’all. The Portmore is available in five colors, each made with a smooth, buttery leather that will feel amazing on your shoulders.
The Portmore is subtle and simple in design, with a foldover flap closure and zipper that sits right in the center. The microsuede fabric interior will keep all of your essential items cozy, while the rigid exterior protects them from the big bad world.
A designer backpack may feel lavish, but we guarantee you’ll get lots of bang for your buck.
Filling In the Gaps
From these five bags, you can expand and fill in the gaps. Next, we’d recommend looking into a bucket bag, a clutch bag, and a basket bag. While handbag trends come and go, popular designer handbags tend to circle back around.
Remember, building a designer collection doesn’t need to happen all at once. Take your time with it and really consider what pieces you’d like to invest in. Or save up your money and wait for a design that totally takes your breath away.
This is your space to be creative and express what only you can. We’re going to keep bringing the heat with our bags and accessories, so once you get your bag collection at a place you feel good about, get ready for more.
Sources:
Everything You Need To Know About The Baguette Bag | Forbes
The Types of Bags to Always Invest In | Marie Claire
The Attainable It Bag? A New Generation of Designers Are Crafting Coveted Handbags for All | Vogue