It’s said that you can tell a lot about a person based on the bag they carry. As a fashion writer, this saying rings exceptionally true, with the styles I see on strangers’ shoulders revealing everything I need to know about them.
For instance, the mammoth totes I spy carried by commuters on the Tube during the daily rush reveal their transporters to be pragmatists. The chintzy purses that casually line the tables of London’s latest buzzy small plates restaurant demonstrate their owners' vivacious approach to fashion. The boxy crossbody bags I see flung over a fur gilet certainly convey that someone has a penchant for the classics.
Although accessories are timeless for the most part, there are particular iterations that I’ve noticed make those wearing them look stuck in the past. So, what are these outdated bag trends of 2026, you ask? Thankfully, I’ve made it my mission while I’ve been out and about over the past few weeks to chronicle the cuts and materials that feel slightly past their prime to gauge what qualifies as an outdated bag trend.
As the stringent journalist that I am, I’ve also cross-referenced the latest runways to note the silhouettes leading designers are backing for the year ahead and the shapes that are notably absent in their new-season collections.
And with countless luxuriates reviving beloved archival pieces—Michael Ryder bringing back the Phoebe Philo-era Phantom at Celine, Pierpaolo Piccioli updating the Le City bag at Balenciaga and Matthieu Blazy putting new spins on the Chanel 2.55, to name a few—it’s easy to get lost in the maze of what’s vintage and slightly antiquated.
From the styles I’ve noticed tasteful dressers in fashion capitals carrying to the once-viral must-haves they’re pausing en masse, uncover the 7 outdated bag trends of 2026 and the fresh shapes fashion’s chicest are carrying instead.
The 7 Bag Trends That are Considered Outdated in 2026
Passing On: Microscopic Purses
Wearing Instead: Ludicrously Capacious Totes
Style Notes: Long gone are the days of carrying around minuscule purses that would barely fit a pair of Apple AirPods. (Looking at you, Jacquemus Le Chiquito mini bag.) Whilst these Tinkerbell-sized accessories once served as a way to convey wealth, because what’s more luxurious than wearing an expensive bag that couldn’t hold anything, those looking to invest in designer accessories are actually gravitating to the other end of the spectrum. It might’ve been chastised by fictional billionaire Tom Wambsgans in the final series of Succession, but ludicrously capacious totes are currently all the rage. Call this an act of life imitating art, but those with taste are now turning to bags so big that they could double as a carry-all, like The Row’s Margaux and Celine’s New Luggage.
Shop the Trend:
If money were no object, this is the style I'd be wearing everyday.
With suede touches and an elongated wingspan, this style holds a candle to its designer alternatives.
Like the Bushwick Birkin before it, this Coach Empire Carryall is a more accessible substitute for incredibly expensive designer iterations.
Passing On: Bowling Bags
Wearing Instead: Doctor's Bags
Style Notes: What did more for bowling bags as a trend, the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski or the bag trend of the same name? Either way, the over-saturation of the trend has led those at the forefront of fashion to veer away from this incredibly admired shape. With clean, curved lines and an instantly recognisable semicircle shape, the proliferation of this trend has resulted in newer versions coming to the fore. For those who want the same effect but something marginally different, the doctor’s bag trend will certainly sate. Taking inspiration from vintage, fold-out bags worn by medical professionals in the mid-century, the result is something clinically chic and backed by the likes of Miu Miu and Manu Atelier.
Shop the Trend:
Debuting on Miu Miu's autumn/winter 2024 show, this is the style that sparked the trend.
A lot of bag trends have evolved, but suede is one element that's showing no signs of slowing down.
Trust the Olsen Twins to put their own spin on this popular style.
Passing On: Vanity Handles
Wearing Instead: Extra Shoulder Space
Style Notes: One overarching bag trend for 2026 is this rise in functional elements, so it should come as no surprise that the mainstream is investing in bags with usefully large handles instead of the shorter vanity handles that once dominated. Of the latter, you’d find these straps on covetable styles like the Loro Piana Extra Pocket or the Dior Lady D-Joy, which are saccharine styles that lend themselves to dainty day wear or ritzy evening attire. However, for the most part, those indulging in a new bag are looking for styles that can quite literally carry their weight by providing extra space, like the Ferragamo Hug or Gucci Giglio.
Shop the Trend:
This Italian tote is designed with folded leather corners to echo the shape of its namesake
With shopper-style handles, there's not much that doesn't fit into this generously cut style.
With a signature metal horn shape, the Saint Laurent Mombasa has one of the most unique handles in fashion history.
Passing On: Studded Accents
Wearing Instead: Belted Details
Style Notes: Last summer felt like everything was coming up studs—Gimaguas x Havaiana flip-flops, Tory Burch ballet flats, Valentino’s Nellcôte shoulder bag. Whilst these accessories had everyone rushing out to purchase thumbtacks to replicate them at home, this metallic accent has certainly waned in interest in recent months. Instead, the sartorial zeitgeist is gravitating towards another design element altogether: belted accents. From the Hermés Birkin to the Prada Bonnie, every covetable It bag has a noticeable strap fastened around it. Taking the tops of trousers and recontextualising them in a new space is the sort of experimentation we relish from designers, and we can be sure to see a lot more of it throughout 2026.
Shop the Trend:
You'll find every tasteful dresser across London and Le Marais carrying the Le Cambon.
Mrs. Prada, you've done it again.
Named after American socialite Lee Radziwill, this Tory Burch bag is the perfect accompaniment for the 'Ladies who Lunch' set.
Passing On: Cross-Body Breeziness
Wearing Instead: East-West Shapes
Style Notes: There’s no style as ubiquitous as a cross-body bag. But where this piece offers a breezy quality that’s hard to replicate, it can also bring a clunkiness to your silhouette, courtesy of the way this boxy shape protrudes from your figure. A very Cronenberg-esque description, yes, but also one that exemplifies why people are swapping it for more refined east-west styles. Directional and decidedly chic, you’ll find this shape in designs like Alaïa’s dachshund-inspired Le Teckle or DeMellier’s Manhattanite-approved New York.
Shop the Trend:
The original style that kickstarted the craze.
The ideal addition to the modern city dweller's uniform.
So supple yet still super polished.
Passing On: Croissant Shapes
Wearing Instead: Coming in Clutch
Style Notes: Like the beloved baguette bag before it, croissant-shaped purses are the latest pastry-inspired trend to dominate the category. However, where these styles derive inspiration from crusty baked goods, it’s clear a newer trend is emerging with the rise of soft-as-butter clutches. From Khaite’s elongated Pencil case to The Row’s slouchy Peggy clutch, these are styles that are perfect for tucking into the crook of your arm for on-the-go ease. (Leaving your hands free for all your sweet treats, of course!)
Shop the Trend:
Forget prints or patterns, textures are the way to set your outfit apart.
How chic is this gold hardware and envelope flap?
This style comes with a strap, for moments when your hands start to feel a little too full.
Passing On: Bag Charms
Wearing Instead: Bijoux Touches
Style Notes: From Labubus to strings of beads, there’s not a purse around that wasn’t personally victimised by the rampant bag charm trend. However, in 2026, things are getting less customised and more polished thanks to the rising bracelet bag trend. Led by Chemena Kamali and her band of clog-wearing Chloe-ites, these are styles that exchange the classic leather strap for something that rivals a piece of jewellery. Because who needs tchotchkes when you have gilded rings?
Shop the Trend:
A style that comes Sienna Miller-approved.
Incredibly elegant-looking, without the expensive price tag.
Is it a clutch? Is it a carry-all? With this trend, it can certainly be both.
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