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.

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Satchels in the early aughts:
(Image credit: Gregory Pace/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

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

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How fashion people wear modern satchels now:
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In 2020, fashion people are leaning towards satchels in miniature and more structured shapes.

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

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(Image credit: @kristennoelcrawley)

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

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(Image credit: @tylynnnguyen)

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

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

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(Image credit: @kristenmarienichols)

Structured satchels are clearly an editor-favorite, too.

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(Image credit: @laurenegg)

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.

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(Image credit: @nycxclothes)

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

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

Editor

Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.