The Bags That Were Popular in 2005 Are Back—and Even Better

2005 was 15 years ago—feel old yet? For those of us who spent our teenage years in the early aughts, we tend to think of the era as being "not that long ago" when, in fact, it's now been long enough that fashion trends from the early and mid-2000s are circling back into style. If you think back to the handbags that were popular at the time, several might come to mind first like the Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag, the Fendi Spy Bag, and the Chloe Paddington Bag. What do all of them have in common? Aside from their notoriously oversized shape, they were all categorized as satchels. 

Well, friends, satchels are officially coming back into style and we have the intel that the modern bags are even better than older counterparts. We spoke with Sangeeta Udayar, Head of Buying at Rebag, to back up our claim that the bag is on the rise once again. "There are a few certain satchel bags that are trending upward, including styles from Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Gucci and Chanel," Udayar shared. "The beauty of the satchel silhouette is its versatility—it can be carried by hand, on the shoulder, or across the body, making it easy to style in different ways, while it’s moderate size and volume allows the wearer to carry all their daily essentials with ease."

Keep scrolling for a throwback example of a satchel in 2004 and see how fashion girls of today are styling the best satchel bags with a modern flair, and shop our favorite versions.

Here, Ashley Olsen carried Balenciaga's iconic Motorcycle Bag at a fashion show in 2004.

In 2020, fashion people are leaning towards satchels in miniature and more structured shapes.

It's all about the top handle on these bags which give any outfit a sophisticated polish.

Designer satchels like the LV Alma have been around for a while now and continue to be just as relevant.

This mini Tory Burch bag is a favorite among fashion Instagrammers.

When Prada released its Bowler Bag this spring, it immediately became a hit on the street style scene.

Structured satchels are clearly an editor-favorite, too.

By Far's top-handle bag is the ultimate modern satchel because it's petite and comes in a range of trendy prints and colors.

These retro bowler bag shapes are having a moment right now.

Up next: 17 early-fall shopping finds our readers convinced me on.