Not Black, Not Brown—7 Richer Handbag Colors Only Chic People Care About

Black and brown bags will always have their place. They're reliable, polished, and practically immune to trends. Still, if your everyday carry is starting to feel a little too expected, you're not imagining it—fashion has quietly moved on. Across recent collections, designers have introduced a new palette of handbag colors that feel richer, chicer, and, frankly, more interesting.

These aren't statement colors in the traditional sense. You won't find neon or glitter here. Instead, think deep plum, soft butter, and elegant shades of sand and navy. They have range, they play well with the rest of your wardrobe, and they instantly signal a certain kind of style awareness only the coolest members of the fashion set will instantly clock.

The beauty of these colors is in their subtlety. They do what black and brown have done for decades, only with a little more depth and intention. If you're ready to retire your go-to tote for something that feels just as wearable but far fresher, keep reading. Below, shop the seven handbag colors the fashion set has fully embraced in 2025.

Soft, dreamy, and just a little unexpected, butter yellow is quickly becoming fashion's new favorite neutral. We saw it all over the runways at Chanel and Fendi, usually paired with slouchy tailoring and luxe textures. It's a warmer alternative to stark beige and adds a gentle brightness to whatever you're wearing. Picture it with white jeans, a tan blazer, and gold jewelry—perfection.

Gray handbags have emerged as the quiet luxury icon of the season. Brands like The Row and Bottega Veneta leaned into the cool-toned neutral, pairing it with tonal outfits and soft tailoring. Gray offers all the versatility of black but feels lighter, fresher, and slightly more directional. Whether styled with sharp suiting or off-duty knits, this shade communicates effortless elegance without trying too hard.

Typically reserved as a fall staple, oxblood-colored bags were everywhere across the fall/winter 2025 runways. It's a total workhorse shade—dramatic enough to stand out but neutral enough to wear every day. Bonus: It wears beautifully with age.

There's something quietly commanding about navy. It doesn't beg for attention, but it gets it. On the runways at Burberry and Miu Miu, navy bags added polish and depth to otherwise monochrome looks, proving this shade is far more than a menswear standby. It works beautifully with camel, gray, white, and even black, making it a stealth essential in a refined wardrobe.

Neither beige nor taupe, sand sits in that perfectly undone, perfectly considered middle ground. It was all over the Chloé and Toteme collections, where it grounded floaty silhouettes and tonal dressing alike. A sand-toned bag is deceptively versatile. It brings softness to sleek tailoring and lends polish to casual, denim-heavy outfits.

Eggplant for fall? Kind of groundbreaking. It's a color that isn't quite purple and isn't quite brown but still remains saturated and strange in the best way. It's not playful, not seasonal, and certainly not trying to be trendy, and that's exactly why it feels so compelling right now. Designers like Miu Miu and Fendi treated the color with reverence during the last runway season, crafting structured silhouettes in high-shine leather and pebbled silhouettes.

Let's be honest: White bags have long been fashion's most polarizing accessory. It's either too pristine, too impractical, or too bridal. Lately, though, the fashion world has come around. Sure, it might be one of the most stain-prone colors, but a white bag is always ready to command attention.