Not a Clutch—the Evening Bag Has Been Updated to This It-Girl Style for 2026

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Woman wearing a summer outfit.
(Image credit: @courtneygrow)

For weddings, events, and vacations throughout the summer, a clutch is the key accessory of the season. It's a suitcase essential and workhorse piece, an outfit finisher for a range of dress codes and settings. While classic minaudières clutches will always be a timeless choice, we're seeing all of the It girls opt for a fresh accessory this summer: the embellished bag.

The styles arriving on the market are finished with clusters of sequins, cascading beaded fringe, and floral embroidery. They're personality-driven and add a dose of fun to summer bags, and they would be perfect with an evening dress or even a look for the beach. While we first noticed the bag style at brands such as Lizzie Fortunato and Like a Bird, we're also seeing them released in the collections of big designers, including Prada and Miu Miu. Ahead, shop the embellished-bag trend.

Kristen Nichols
Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear where she oversees luxury, runway content, and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co., and her style has been featured in publications including The New York Times, Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.