It tells us an awful lot about a year—and in fact—a decade, if many of the period's season-defining trends focused on what we carried on our shoulders and in our hands. Yes, we had the beginning of the 2020s to thank for Barbiecore, quiet luxury and the Y2K renaissance, but the real talking points were the It bags that made flash-in-the-pan trends feel like fully realised aesthetics. Whether you cooed over JW Anderson's pigeon clutch or preferred Loewe's puzzling take on the tote, fell for Bottega's woven styles or grabbed the Anthropologie dupe that went viral on social media, you found your way here first and foremost because you are a bag lover; and if you're looking for the latest bag trends to invest in, the first place to start are the runways.
Ready-to-wear might have its timeless staples (the wool coat, the cashmere knit, the perfect pair of everyday jeans, for example), but we get to have a little more fun experimenting with our accessories. Needless to say, there are the eternal icons that have been around for decades (the Hermés Birkin and the Chanel 11.12 spring to mind), but when we're refreshing our wardrobes with a little update on our seasonal style, there's nothing quite like a pulse-quickening, lust-worthy bag to bring things bang up to date. So, what can we expect from 2024?
In the name of good journalistic research, I set about scouring the runways and analysing the 2024 collections to bring you the key handbag trends I'm confident we'll start seeing everywhere over the next 12 months. From the supersized evening bags that are even bigger than last year's totes to the colour trend that influencers and editors are already backing, keep scrolling to see the six handbag trends that bring new meaning to the term "arm candy".
1. RAINBOW BRIGHTS
Style Notes: It just wouldn't be a trend roundup without one standout colour, but as it turns out, 2024 will be about celebrating them all. Ultra-bold Crayola brights cropped up in the majority of collections in the form of a colour-pop handbag—almost the antithesis of A/W 23's trending shades of charcoal grey and chocolate brown. There's a lot to love about this joyful trend that lifts almost any outfit to dopamine-inducing highs. Having a bad day? Reach for a bright bag.
SHOP BRIGHTS:
The cult favourite in bright citrus orange.
Surprisingly versatile.
Sunshine in a bag.
I'm obsessed with this blue.
This would look great against black, white and grey.
2. THE LUDICROUSLY CAPACIOUS CLUTCH
Style Notes: It seems like a contradiction in terms that an "oversized clutch" should exist. By its nature, the handle-less bag should easily be able to fit in one hand or tucked under the arm, but if the runways have taught us anything, it's how to make an accessory feel like the star of the show, and these exceptionally large clutches give serious big bag energy. Don't mistake them for the reserve of eveningwear alone though—according to 16Arlington, Ferragamo, Victoria Beckham and The Attico, to name but a few, these bags are styled best with tailoring, leather jackets and casual denim.
SHOP OVERSIZED CLUTCHES:
This entire 'fit is perfection.
A bag that doubles up as a shoulder bag and a clutch? Sign me up.
You won't able to beat this price.
Too cute for words.
A dream bag, in every colour.
3. BUCKET LIST
Style Notes: After the big, bad clutch, it feels like we're back in familiar territory with the bucket bag. There are no bells and whistles, no theatrical reinventions and no need for whacky colours here; instead, 2024's bucket bag harks back to the classics—circular-bottomed, deep-barrelled bags in rich, tonal colours that will go with everything (and fit everything inside, too). Think of this deceptively roomy option as the fashion person's rucksack.
SHOP BUCKET BAGS:
DeMellier is a certified Who What Wear UK editor favourite.
Oxblood red always looks expensive.
This leather looks so supple.
That's right, Bottega does outstanding mini bucket bags too.
4. MY FAIR LADY
Style Notes: Demure, "ladylike" and timeless, the top-handle bag has been reinvented countless times, never falling out of fashion. Perhaps it's down to the simple yet elegant silhouette, maybe it's the bag's nostalgic appeal; either way, my guess is that it's no coincidence that the year we gravitated towards slingbacks and A-line skirts also set the stage for the return of the top-handle. Could we be ready to trade in '90s minimalism for '50s Americana? Watch this space.
SHOP TOP-HANDLE BAGS:
The Row is the definition of quiet luxury.
There's something satisfying about the squidgy pillow Tabby.
Now that's a statement bag.
This looks like a prized antique.
5. ANIMAL ATTRACTION
Style Notes: And now to prints we know and love. 2024 will take a walk on the wild side in the form of glossy mock-croc, fierce leopard, statement snakeskin and almost anything else you'd find on safari. There's no better way to dress up everything from cosy knits and coats to simple dresses and tank tops, and since these styles always seem to come back around each year, it's fair to consider animal-print bags a sensible investment.
SHOP ANIMAL PRINT:
The subtle way to do leopard.
Tell me you didn't think this was designer.
The bamboo handles are a nice touch.
It's strokeably soft too.
Simply stunning.
6. LEARN TO SLOUCH
Style Notes: Forget everything you were told about slouching. Structured, boxy totes and shoppers are out for the new year, when spring will usher in the age of fluidity. Big bags made their way down the runway, carried nonchalantly as they practically spilled off the arms of models, in floppy suede, buttery-soft leather and liquid silk. It's official: languid forms and shapeless styles are the new way to do effortless elegance. Good news for those who prefer to carry everything including the kitchen sink; these spacious bags are designed to be filled up and slung over your shoulder, so you needn't worry about fitting it all in.
SHOP SLOUCHY TOTES:
Add this to your wish list before it sells out again.
ARKET bags keep getting better and better.
Another COS It bag in the making.
You won't believe it's not leather.
What a beautiful shade of blue.
