The Only Fall Handbag Trends Worth Spending Your Money On

Just thinking about the trends that are on the horizon for fall makes me giddy for the new season. I can't be alone here, right? I know I'll have to wait for real fall weather to arrive before pulling out my chunky knits and leather pieces, so in the meantime, I'm fixating on the fall trend I can wear right this second: bags. I'm already starting to spot designer handbag trends that will set the tone for the rest of the season.

I sifted through the heritage designers like Chanel, Burberry, and Chloé as well as new It-bag brands like Wandler and Medea to assess the styles each label is offering. What I found were eight overarching trends that simply can't be missed—from the mini structured shapes that are undeniably Insta-worthy to the It prints like zebra and snakeskin. Read on to discover and shop each trend now so you're well-versed on what the fashion set will all be wearing for the rest of the season and beyond.

Apart from feeling particularly current, these fall designer bag trends have the most staying power. Scroll down for some worthy investments.

LARGER THAN LIFE

Okay, micro bags, you've had your time in the spotlight, but now it's time for XL bags to take center stage. We're predicting that these oversize shoppers like the ones from Boyy and Dior will be all over the street style scene next month.

SMALL STRUCTURES

But mini bags aren't dying out completely just yet. Nope, they're just getting a new look for fall in structured tote bag shapes. Leading the trend are It brands Medea and Hayward with their iterations in prints and colors that pop.

CHUNKY CHAIN-LINK

Plains straps are so last season (as far as the below bags are concerned). Chunky acrylic chain-links are replacing simple leather straps on several designer bags this fall, and we love how the detail adds a statement-making effect to an otherwise classic bag shape. 

COLORS OF THE RAINBOW

Designer shoulder bags are yet another reinvented classic we're seeing more and more of. Unexpected colors like orange and lime green make these elevated bags feel so fresh. If you're looking for an investment bag that's different from what everyone else is carrying, may we suggest one of the below?

PUFFY POUCHES

Thanks to Bottega Veneta's Insta-famous pouch bag, oversize clutches just became the next unlikely designer bag trend to emerge. 

LUXE LOGOS

Logo bags will never not be in style. They're timeless, and that's that. But right now, designers are imagining their logos in sleeker and subtler ways than we've seen before.

HEAVY METAL

Paco Rabanne's chain-mail bags are having a moment right now, and other designers seem to have the same idea. Could these be the answer to last year's beaded bag trend? This editor seems to think so.

ANIMAL PRINT

If you're feeling fatigued by the ongoing mock-croc trend, other animal-print bags just might be the answer. Zebra, tiger, and snakeskin iterations are all equally as classic but somehow feel like fresher pick for fall.

Next up: the eight shoe micro-trends you're about to see everywhere this fall.