A couple years ago, when I bought a Medium Prada Galleria Saffiano Tote in black, I quickly realized the bag had one major problem: the strap was way too long. I was frustrated at first and considered returning it altogether. A sturdy shoulder or crossbody strap is essential for me – and I was irritated that I failed to realize the strap wasn’t up to par in the first place. Lesson learned.
Anyway, I needed a solution – and fast. I scoured the web for bag straps, and at this point, there really wasn’t much out there. This was before the whole Fendi strap craze, and my options were pretty bleak. (I wouldn’t have paid $1,000 for a strap either way, though.) Ultimately, I took the long and awkward Prada strap and had it cut and re-sized at a local leather shop. The job was decent, but if you look closely, it’s obvious the strap was altered.
[sc_ic_ad1]About a year later, I was on TheRealReal and came across a Fendi strap severely discounted (from around $1,200 all the way down to $450). The condition, online at least, appeared impeccable, so I decided to take the risk and buy it. From that point on, I’ve been hooked on straps. This particular one is beige with multicolored accents, which means it automatically spices up whatever bag I put it on.
Bags I thought I’d barely use again immediately transformed, all by adding a different strap. Seriously – it’s crazy what a new piece of leather can do.
Lucky for you, we’re in an age of bag straps. It seems like every designer, from Fendi to Marc Jacobs and Valentino, has their own version. From the discrete and traditional to the downright quirky and weird, I’ve searched high and low for a handful of straps available for purchase right now.
Beware: Some are ridiculously expensive. I am in no way saying it makes sense to blow $1,000 on a strap when you could purchase a bag (or a few) for that amount. But this list would be incomplete without mentioning them.
Do what you will, but if I were you, I’d totally splurge on a strap. Trust me when I tell you it will most definitely give your favorite purse a totally new look, which essentially means you’ll have two bags. Yep, just a classic case of bag math.
Fendi Strap You Metallic Flower Leather Guitar Bag Strap ($1,250)
Anya Hindmarch Allover Sticker Guitar Bag Strap ($495)
Marc Jacobs Striped Shoulder Strap ($85)
Balenciaga Logo Shoulder Strap ($495)
Karl Lagerfeld K/Straps Round Logo Bag Strap ($63)
Delvaux’s Tempête Short Strap ($600)
Valentino Garavani Leather-Trimmed Canvas Shoulder Strap ($1,175)
Chloé Leather & Silk Shoulder Strap ($309)
Fendi “Strap You” Short & Long Shoulder Straps ($600)
Gucci Sylvie Detachable Leather Strap ($230)
Off White Twill Shoulder Strap ($289)
Longchamp Rayee Stripe Nylon Shoulder Strap ($70)
