The Low-Key Luxury Bags That Celebs Carry Everywhere
The term "quiet luxury" has been bubbling up more and more in fashion circles, and it describes a shift that we're seeing toward styles that combine minimal and logo-free silhouettes with the high-quality craftsmanship you'd expect from a designer label. There's no doubt that this shift has wielded its greatest influence on recent bag trends, with the rise of terms like "anti-It bag" and "conspicuous consumption" floating around the digital ether. In an era where we're only a tap away from seeing the price of something, flashy logos are no longer the ultimate symbols of wealth. For the A-list crowd, designer handbags no longer shout—they whisper.
These are the bags that are timeless, elevated, and easy to wear. They're long-term investments that last in your closet for years and years. Don't just take our word for it, though. The proof is all here in a subset of stylish celebrities who reach for these carryalls day in and day out. Whether it's Kendall Jenner's commitment to The Row's Half Moon Bag or Kaia Gerber's love for her Celine Ava Bag, these stars know that less is really more.
Here, discover the low-key designer handbags that celebrities are carrying with them everywhere.
We don't think "quiet luxury" would even be in our lexicon if it weren't for the serenely understated energy of The Row. Each of its designs, especially the bags, comes sans logos or any kind of identifiable symbols, making them recognizable only to those already in the know. Nothing epitomizes this idea quite like the Half Moon Bag, a curved shoulder bag modeled after the mini silhouettes from the '90s. Its small-but-functional size and unique shape have drawn a massive fan base that includes Kendall Jenner, a longtime The Row devotee and arbiter of modern '90s style.
On Kendall Jenner: The Frankie Shop Melody Oversized Shirt ($135); Helmut Lang pants; Éliou necklace
On Jenner: St. Agni dress; Ganni cowboy boots; DMY by DMY sunglasses
Shop:
Ever since Saint Laurent's Le 5 À 7 Shoulder Bag debuted in mid-2021, celebs have hardly wavered in their love for the style. While its fan base includes A-list names, from Zoë Kravitz to Elsa Hosk, Hailey Bieber is who we most often associate the bag with. You see, Bieber carries hers so often that we've begun to clock the collection she's amassed. She wears versions in black, beige, and patent finishes with everything from cargo pants to minidresses.
On Hailey Bieber: LaQuan Smith dress; Calzedonia 20 Denier Seamless Sheer Tights ($10); Saint Laurent Le 5 À 7 Patent Leather Shoulder Bag ($2500)
On Bieber: Saint Laurent coat; Loewe Padded Boots ($1416)
On Bieber: Balenciaga cargo pants and sunglasses; Saint Laurent Le 5 À 7 Shoulder Bag ($265); New Balance 2002R Sneakers ($150)
Shop:
A quick survey of Dua Lipa's Instagram feed is all you need to see that the pop star rarely repeats an outfit, let alone a single accessory. Yet Gucci's iconic Jackie 1961 bag is the rare through line that links Lipa's bold and glamorous ensembles. Named after Jackie Kennedy, the Jackie 2.0 gives a Gucci style that's been popular for years a sleek new makeover. Former Creative Director Alessandro Michele first introduced the bag in Gucci's F/W 20 collection, in which almost every look featured the iconic Jackie bag, and three years later, the Jackie isn't going anywhere. It's remained a fixture on the arms of the celeb set. Particularly in Lipa's closet, both its glossy and logo finishes are staples.
On Dua Lipa: Gucci blazer, shirt, pants, sunglasses, and GG Slingbacks ($1150)
Shop:
If you ask us, Kaia Gerber has some of the most approachable street style in all of Hollywood. Her outfits are simple and relatable but always elevated, and for over a year, the model has carried one specific handbag with nearly every single outfit she's left the house in. Talk about commitment. Gerber is wholeheartedly backing Celine's crescent-shaped Ava Bag, an easy under-the-arm style that seems to fit all the essentials and—evidently—go with everything.
On Kaia Gerber: Doen jacket; New Balance x Aimé Leon Dore 550 Sneakers ($415)
Shop:
Without plastering on logos, carving out experimental shapes, or administering traffic-stopping colors, Daniel Lee managed to produce a number of It bags during his time at Bottega Veneta that continue to have a lasting impact. While the Jodie and Pouch bags come to mind first, the way that Lee married practicality with luxury in some of the more utilitarian designs isn't lost on fashion insiders—or celebs. The Arco Tote has found a devoted fan in Lea Michele, who we've spotted carrying it with every single outfit while based in NYC as Broadway's Funny Girl star.
On Lea Michele: Khaite Maddy Knit Top ($1160) and Lormier Mary-Jane Pumps ($336); Dorothee Schumacher Checked Wool-Blend Cape ($1100)
On Michele: Toteme Moulage Silk Tube Top ($600); Bottega Veneta Leather Mules ($950)
On Michele: Khaite Derby Boots ($1480)
Shop:
Only a bag this sleek and polished would be fit for a princess. The Nano Montreal Bag is a petite top-handle shape from London-based label DeMellier and a fixture in the Princess of Wales's closet. The brand is known for its under-the-radar designs that always have us doing a double take, and its three-digit-price pieces look like they would easily ring up in the four-digit range.
Shop:
Talk about low-key luxury. The Prada Cleo Bag has such a slim shape that it almost disappears completely when it's tucked under the arm. That's part of its appeal. Now that we've studied all the "quiet" and logo-free designer bags that celebrities love, it's easy to see why the Cleo became one of the most in-demand bags at the time of its launch two years ago and hasn't slowed down ever since. The shape references the '90s—as so many Prada styles tend to do—and is imbued with a timeless quality that makes it a smart investment. Just take a look at the many ways Gigi Hadid has worn hers recently to realize just how easy to wear the style really is.
On Gigi Hadid: Adidas x Gucci Gazelle Sneakers ($850)
On Hadid: Oak + Fort Vegan Leather Blazer ($60)
On Hadid: Levi's Dad Jeans ($108); Converse All Star Sneakers ($60)
Shop:
Next: Quiet Luxury Is in the Lead—10 Low-Key Brands That Are the Epitome of Chic
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.
-
Blake Lively, Sofia Richie, and More Stylish Women Know These Jeans Are Better Than Designer
They're $98 but look way pricier.
By Eliza Huber
-
We're Always Thinking About Prada—17 New Items We Expect to Go Viral by the End of the Year
A dream haul.
By Allyson Payer
-
Gigi Hadid's Skirt Is the Opposite of the Trend Everyone Was Wearing Earlier This Year
A seasonally appropriate shift.
By Allyson Payer
-
Elegant Dressers Always Choose This Impractical Yet Chic Coat Color
Jennifer Lopez is one of them.
By Allyson Payer
-
From Tory Burch to Toteme—Every ITK Brand Is Stocking This One Particular Winter Trend
Talk about luxurious.
By Eliza Huber
-
Hailey Bieber Just Used the TikTok Styling Hack That Will Actually Go the Distance
I'm going to use it this weekend.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
Hailey Bieber Can't Stop Carrying This New Elegant Handbag
It-bag alert.
By Eliza Huber
-
I Did a Double Take When I Saw What Shoes Angelina Jolie Just Wore
Talk about unexpected…
By Eliza Huber