Bags In The Wild

The Best Street Style Bags We Spotted in the West Village

Home to Carrie Bradshaw herself, this New York City neighborhood brought the heat this July

29 Comments

Ah summer in the city. There’s nothing quite like it and if you’re a native New Yorker, a transplant or you’ve ever visited the concrete jungle you know what I’m talking about. It’s unbearably hot, sticky and smelly but in the best possible way because summer in the city is magical. From impromptu run-ins with friends on the street that turn into tacos and margaritas al fresco, to trips to the park and early morning walks when the sun is not fully our yet, summer in New York is unparalleled, much like the fashion in the city.

One of the best neighborhoods for long summer days spent strolling is the West Village. Home to restaurants, shops, Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment and some of the cutest tree-lined streets in all of the city, the West Village is also a great place to spot some great bags. We spent an afternoon strolling around the neighborhood last month to see what people were carrying.

The Classics

When it comes to the WV, it’s a bit less eclectic than say the Lower East Side or Brooklyn, and the style isn’t far from what you’d typically spot in SoHo, but slightly less touristy. When it comes to the classics, we saw mostly trendier of-the-moment bags but we did spot an iconic Chanel Flap and a classic Louis Vuitton Neverfull in the wild…

Louis Vuitton Neverfull

Chanel Flap

Gucci Gang

Gucci, it seems, is a favorite among our West Village bag lovers. From Marmont bags to a Dionysus and even a rare vintage carry, Gucci was the popular pick amongst West Village goers.

Gucci Marmont and Prada Re-Edition

Gucci Marmont WOC

Gucci Dionysus

Gucci Marmont Flap

Gucci Vintage Bamboo

Dior and More

Dior was a close runner up, with street stylers pairing their denim and sneakers with the latest and greatest from Dior. We spotted two Saddle bags IRL alongside a Fendi Baguette and a couple of picks from Saint Laurent.

Dior 30 Montaigne Box Bag

Dior Saddle Bag

Dior Saddle Bag
via Fashionphile

Dior Saddle Bag

Dior Saddle Bag
via Fashionphile

Vintage Dior Oblique Tote

Dior Vintage Oblique Tote
via Vestiaire Collective

Fendi Baguette

Fendi Baguette
via Fashionphile

Saint Laurent Monogram Bag

Bottega Veneta Pouch

Saint Laurent Lou Camera Bag

29 comments

Leave a Comment

  1. Tiffany Avatar
    Tiffany

    While a piece of me wonders about the consent when taking these pics (would love if you could please share!), I loved seeing normal, everyday folks in normal, every day clothes & bodies with interesting bags.

    1. Vlad Dusil Avatar
      Vlad Dusil

      Glad you asked. In the US we do not require consent to photograph people in public settings, like a street. Sometimes we may shoot some candids, other times we may approach a person and ask them if we could take their photo. Depends on the specific situation.

      For the most part we like to omit people’s faces and make the bag and outfit the focus of the image.

    2. Jay Avatar
      Jay

      I completely agree Tiffany. It does feel like a violation. Particularly when so many faces are shown. I dont understand why the faces would not be cropped. Just because something isn’t illegal doesn’t make it right…

  2. Mari Avatar
    Mari

    To me these photos are more interesting than the ones with “celebrities”. I appreciate them more because they’re people, doing their thing, without pretense.

    1. Megs Mahoney Dusil Avatar
      Megs Mahoney Dusil

      While I love to see what celebs wear and carry, I always find that more aspirational – because they have a stylist, hair/makeup team, etc. I love to see everyday people and what they carry and how they style it!

    2. Adele Avatar
      Adele

      Agreed. And they paid for it themselves. With celebs, I often wonder how many in the pics we see were given to them for free.

      1. Megs Mahoney Dusil Avatar
        Megs Mahoney Dusil

        Yes, that is a big part of it too! These are people who picked and purchased these bags so there is a different level of realness in the photos!

    3. psny1217 Avatar
      psny1217

      i agree, loved this post and way better than the endless Kardashian posts

  3. Bex Avatar
    Bex

    Do you guys think we will ever stop wearing white sneakers? EVERYONE is wearing them with EVERYTHING…must get old one of these days. But what could possibly replace them?

    1. Megs Mahoney Dusil Avatar
      Megs Mahoney Dusil

      I don’t know – but I do love a good pair of light sneakers!

    2. Shopper Avatar
      Shopper

      I hate sneakers

      1. kemilia Avatar
        kemilia

        I’m with you on this!

      2. Megs Mahoney Dusil Avatar
        Megs Mahoney Dusil

        Ha, I love them! But I’ve never been a more formal shoe kinda gal

    3. Jerri R Avatar
      Jerri R

      Black ballet flats, I hope

  4. Amy Avatar
    Amy

    Lovely post, I always get so excited when I see a rare/ interesting bag in the wild, being used and carried with pride!!

    1. lalarey Avatar
      lalarey

      yes cool bags in the wild bring me JOY one of the fun parts of living in NYC

  5. Sandy Avatar
    Sandy

    I like the fact that you are taking photos of people on the street without warning, this is true street style. Celebrities and street style at fashion week are so staged, I find it a bit comical how they pose and wait for their picture to be taken. (Although at times I do get fashion inspiration from them.). Great post!

    1. Megs Mahoney Dusil Avatar
      Megs Mahoney Dusil

      That is why they labeled it “peacocking”. A lot of influencers walk slowly in circles waiting to be snapped!

  6. Dina Avatar
    Dina

    Please have more of these contents – normal, everyday folks in normal, everyday clothing doing normal, everyday activities with interesting bags

    1. Vlad Dusil Avatar
      Vlad Dusil

      We’ll be featuring street style posts more frequently going forward!

  7. Sas Avatar
    Sas

    I think white sneakers have now become a wardrobe staple.

  8. Jaime Avatar
    Jaime

    Love street style. Is that the Bottega Mini pouch or the Mini Bulb? There is more volume on this bag. But this might be my favorite…Street Style. Real purses not just the people we know we can afford these bags.

  9. anon Avatar
    anon

    It’s not a dior 30 montaigne micro bag, but actually a dior 30 montaigne box bag

  10. Jen Avatar
    Jen

    Carrie Bradshaw, the character, lived on the Upper East Side. The building used as Carrie’s apartment is located in the West Village. Yes, I’m a super S&TC fan.

  11. Stefanie Avatar
    Stefanie

    I loved this!! Great and interesting street style pics!

  12. Slim Avatar
    Slim

    As a former New Yorker, favorite time was lunch, eating outside and people watching. The fashion was like no other city, always fun and inspirational!

  13. Luna Avatar
    Luna

    I love love love this article…”seen in the wild…” lol

    I rather see more articles like this than celebrity centric pictures with generally unattainable collections.

  14. psny1217 Avatar
    psny1217

    love love love this post – thank you meg and vlad!

  15. poppy Avatar
    poppy

    love, love love these types of photos! real people in real situations with their own bag/purse choices.