Every Major Handbag Trend Taking Over in Spring 2024
We've been in the market for new bags for quite a while and decided to do some deep research into the styles that feel worthy of being additions to our closets. It's clear that we've reached an interesting moment in the handbag space as styles are evolving—both in the actual designs and how they're being worn. On one side, we are seeing more sophisticated styles such as elevated totes, top-handle silhouettes, and elegant shades like Bottega Veneta's Barolo.
On the other side of the spectrum, we are seeing personality enter the handbag space when it comes to styling. On the Miu Miu S/S 24 and Coach F/W 24 runways, bags were stuffed to the brim with shoes and styled with charms. These designs have the makings of accessories that felt lived-in and used from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. for a day of plans ranging from a workday to day care to dinner. We have seen the same thing echoed among fashion people, who are "Birkin-ifying" their bags with lanyards, scarves, and wired headphones—much like Jane Birkin. She is the namesake of the Hermès Birkin, which was famously designed when the young mother needed a chic tote to carry items like baby bottles and everyday items.
No matter how you style them, it's clear that some bags are winning out this season. Ahead, see the six key spring handbag trends to know in 2024.
East-west bag styles—named for their wide silhouettes—are one of the standout trends for spring 2024. Styles such as the Alaïa Le Teckel have been among the most talked-about bags of the season, but there are new styles dropping from practically every single designer.
When does a bag trend have practically nothing to do with the bag? That is when it comes to "Birkin-ifying" your handbag with charms, scarves, and other accessories that make that bag a signature personality piece. We expect this to be one of the defining ways fashion insiders will wear their bags this year.
Elevated totes such as The Row's Margaux bag are topping the list of in-demand bags right now. The category is growing with a surge in popularity of styles such as the DeMellier New York totes. These are practical everyday pieces that exude style.
The trend we didn't see coming is buckled bags. The detail has appeared on new-season styles from brands such as Miu Miu, Celine, and Manu Atelier and will no doubt be a defining bag style this season.
Sophisticated top-handle bags have entered the fashion sphere just as elegant opulence is setting the direction for where style is headed this year. The timeless bag style has true staying power, so it is a smart investment.
The color of spring 2024 is Barolo. Rich hues of burgundy, merlot, rosso red, or whatever you prefer to call it are taking over, and that is certainly the case in the handbag department.
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.
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