Miu Miu May Be One of the Hottest Brands Right Now, But These 5 Bags Are Forever Investments

With a surname redolent of everything that luxury craftspersonship stands for, it should come as no surprise that Miuccia Prada, the famed 78-year-old fashion designer at the helm of two of Italy’s most elegant brands, Prada and Miu Miu, is well versed in the making of covetable accessories.

In fact, one would expect this from the well-heeled Sciura, an affectionate term for the refined and sophisticatedly dressed women who call Milan home, given it was her grandfather, Mario Prada, who founded the family-owned and operated business in 1913 with a series of handmade leather goods. Over a century later, Mrs Prada remains a tastemaker and trendsetter in her own right, with the best Miu Miu bags often spotted tucked into the crook of an elbow or languidly slouching from the wrists of It girls the world over.

For the uninitiated, or perhaps those who have remained immune to the intensity with which Miu Miu has been received over the past few years, the label is often regarded as the spritely younger sister of Prada. "Naïve and immediate", which is how Mrs Prada herself describes the brand, Miu Miu’s design language is one of spontaneity and girlhood.

The most iconic handbag silhouettes are a flirtation of impulse and utility, enabling the wearer, who ranges from nascent creative types to established stars, with arm candy that is both artisanal and playful. You only need to look at the runways for proof. At Miu Miu’s storied Paris Fashion Week closing collection presentation (the brand always shows on the final day of the calendar), celebrities including Gigi Hadid and Alexa Chung brandished bags brimming with a change of heels, or embellished with rope accessory charms, infusing these pieces with a sense of lived-in wearability.

This is something I learned firsthand upon a recent visit to The Space in Florence, a "secret" outlet selling highly discounted past-season pieces. In a small town on a Tuscan hillside, I watched as locals and tourists alike stockpiled Miu Miu bags like there was no tomorrow. The most popular styles? The quilted-effect and crescent-shaped Wander bag, the sweetly boxy Arcadie and the elegant, bumbag-esque Pocket, to name a few.

So, if you’re going to invest in one of the best Miu Miu bags, I’d heed these insights and start there—with an in-demand and top-selling style. I can’t help but think this is what Miuccia would want too, with her bags' instant recognisability and covetable status an ode to the ethos that began all the way back in the brand’s debut autumn/winter 1993 collection: rebellious, effervescent and always of the now.

You’ll also note that the best Miu Miu bags are aptly titled to encourage excitement. Some arm you with the confidence to lose your bearings, whilst others take the epithet of a darling companion you’ll want by your side at all times. Either direction you go will be one of style. Ahead, the best Miu Miu bags to invest in.

The Best Miu Miu Bags to Invest In

1. Wander

Style Notes: If you've ever stepped foot into one of Miu Miu's baby-blue boutiques, you'll know the sensation of being encased in a sort of candy-like wonder from the moment you cross the threshold. The Wander bag, a pint-sized top-handle, emanates this same saccharine sensation, albeit with a more quotidian approach.

As supple as a buttery pastry, and even shaped like the sugary Venetian breakfast delicacy Cornetto, this bag is one of the brand’s most versatile, as it’s offered in nearly every hue and texture imaginable, including pistachio suede, candyfloss satin and decadent chocolate leather. Debuted on Miu Miu’s autumn/winter 2022 runway, the bag is characterised by its matelassé design, a form of folded or quilted fabric that’s swiftly become a signature for the brand.

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2. Arcadie

Style Notes: Mrs Prada’s designs are ones that always rectify notions of what is "ladylike". The Arcadie makes this apparent. The rectangular shape is imbued with "mannish" energy, courtesy of its structured form, but the graceful top handles and sumptuous fabric bring about a smoother quality, resulting in a piece that’s always ready for action but graceful nevertheless. It's perfect for those who tend to bookend their day with a morning reformer class and evening cocktail hour.

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3. Pocket

Style Notes: Long gone are the days when bags were simply pretty objects, rather than serving a function. Indeed, the era of keeping our accessories as fresh as the day we received them is behind us, with the Miu Miu Pocket bag the antithesis of the micro-sized and perfectly preserved accessories we once lusted over.

Slung over your shoulder or held casually in a loose grasp, this bag, with all its titular pockets, is made for the woman on the move. Swinging from a single strap like an expert gymnast on a horizontal bar, this shape teeters between streetwear and sportswear with aplomb. There’s also a nostalgic '90s quality to the design, with every zip-up compartment perfectly sized for storing a Nokia 3210 or tortoiseshell claw clip.

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4. Beau

Style Notes: It’s said you can tell a lot about a person by what handbag they carry. Miu Miu’s Beau style doesn't reveal a lot on the surface; its subdued, square structure and non-descript material leave much to the imagination. Instead, it’s what's beneath that matters most.

Debuted in Miu Miu’s autumn/winter 2023 show, a collection more diminutive and studious in format, models like Emma Corrin and Mia Goth properly slung the Beau into the crook of their hip like girls about town. A season later, the label contradicted this styling altogether by sending it down the runway with its contents spilling out. Safe to say this style is the ultimate blank canvas and further evidence of the beau fille—a French phrase that relates to the blend of masculine and feminine dressing that Miu Miu does so well.

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5. Adventure

Style Notes: There’s a famous quote that reminds us that those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it. What can be said, then, for the success of vintage silhouettes that are plucked from fashion’s annals and reissued for a new generation? The Aventure is a style that falls into this category, with the shape recovered from Miu Miu’s archive.

The elongated strap lends itself to daily use, but what is most adored about this bag is how it’s a platform for creative expression. A singular belt buckle wraps around the body, allowing everything from silk scarves to kitschy talismans and memorabilia picked up on travels to be attached to it. It’s called the Aventure for a reason, right?

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