9 Designer Bags That Dominated Fashion in 2018

As 2018 comes to a close, I’ve been thinking about the items that have defined fashion this year. Reflecting on the bags that have been on the arms of the fashion set, there are pieces it seems like everyone owned. Looking to Instagram and the street style scene from the months behind us, there’s no doubting some of the popular designer bag styles were absolutely everywhere.

From the belt bag craze that hit every corner of Instagram to the renaissance of Dior’s iconic ’00s-era saddle bag to By Far’s debut bag collection, which was just one of the many wildly successful launches this year, there were plenty of cool designer bags that arrived on the fashion scene in 2018. Which ones were the front-runners in the race for the best? Scroll on to reflect on the year that was, see which styles made the list, and of course shop all nine of them.

CHANEL PVC BAG

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(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

PVC bags were one of the biggest trends to hit 2018, and Chanel's version ended up on the sellout list. If you're looking to get one for yourself, act quickly.

DIOR SADDLE BAG

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(Image credit: @kristennoelcrawley)

This year marked the return of Dior's iconic saddle bag. The brand's newly introduced versions can be spotted in the closets of fashion girls—but also vintage versions, which we saw everywhere.

LOUIS VUITTON NEW WAVE BAG

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(Image credit: @devonleecarlson)

The Louis Vuitton New Wave bag saw its fun, colorful designs all over Instagram in 2018.

CHLOÉ TESS BAG

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Say hello to the newest member of Chloé's bag collection—a crossbody style that is the most coveted from the brand right now.

PRADA BELT BAG

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(Image credit: @pernilleteisbaek)

Yep, 2018 may become known as the year of the belt bag, and this nylon style from Prada was the one every fashion girl owned.

LOEWE GATE BAG

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(Image credit: @nycbambi)

The Loewe Gate bag has emerged as a modern classic that any fashion girl with timeless style will want in her collection.

JACQUEMUS CHIQUITO BAG

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(Image credit: @jacquemus)

Micro mini bags became a fixture on the 2018 fashion scene, and the most wanted was Le Chiquito from Jacquemus.

CELINE CLASP BAG

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(Image credit: @carodaur)

With "old Céline" pieces quickly evaporating from stores, fashion girls were ready to pick up remaining styles from the brand.

BY FAR RACHEL BAG

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(Image credit: @handinfire)

By Far launched a bag collection, and its '90s throwback design—the Rachel—quickly became one of the most wanted styles of the year.

Next: nine ways to boost your Instagram selfie likes.

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant 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.