In a lot of ways, air travel is the great equalizer. Only the richest of the ultra-rich fly exclusively private, and for run-of-the-mill famous people, even A-listers, working means boarding a lot of commercial flights. Often those flights either land or originate at Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX, where paparazzi are poised every day to document one of the few mundane activities that a star can’t protect or control: checking in, checking her bags and walking to security.
That means that we know more about how celebrities behave at the airport than about how they do almost anything else, from reality stars all the way up to screen legends. Since the airport also requires the sort of baggage in which we are preternaturally interested, paparazzi pictures from LAX are absolutely full of awesome bags. We previously documented celebs’ love for Louis Vuitton luggage, but today, we’re interested in which handbags the stars are carrying on. Check out our finest findings from the past few months below.
Alessandra Ambrosio
Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag
Shop Mansur Gavriel via Barneys
Although Mansur Gavriel’s bags don’t have any pockets, they are lightweight and roomy, which makes them solid travel choices.
Kelly Osbourne
Givenchy Antigona Madonna Tote
$1,145 via LUISAVIAROMA
Givenchy’s Antigona tote also makes for a light-and-roomy travel companion.
Kris Jenner
Chanel Graffiti Backpack
Even though our readers have long been baffled by Chanel’s $3,400 canvas backpacks, stars abosolutely love to travel with them. Which makes sense, I suppose.
Tina Fey
Botkier Legacy Satchel
$395 via ShopBop
Maybe my favorite part of airport paparazzi is that they often document the travels of celebs less likely to be chased down my cameras in their everyday lives, like Tina Fey.
Emma Roberts
Fendi Peekaboo Bag
$2,900 via Bergdorf Goodman
This bag is a little small for travel, in my opinion, but Emma can probably afford to check the rest of her stuff, ya know?
Bella Thorne
Chanel Graffiti Backpack
I wonder how many of these backpacks have passed through LAX per day since the beginning of the year.
Ashley Tisdale
Chanel Graffiti Backpack
Seriously, these bags must have sold out in half a second, if only to celebrities who want to look good for their LAX paparazzi shots.
Dita Von Teese
Dolce & Gabbana Miss Dolce Woven Bag
Shop Dolce & Gabbana via MATCHESFASHION.COM
Spoiler alert: the only person who is going to outdo Dita in the rest of these photos is Dita herself. Of course.
Lea Michele
Givenchy Nightingale Bag
$2,040 via Bergdorf Goodman
For most celebs, Lea’s look is the go-to for the airport; dark clothes, spacious designer bag, sunglasses.
Melanie Brown
Hermès Birkin
Even Scary Spice looks like a fairly average human at the airport.
Charlize Theron
Louis Vuitton Soft Lockit Bag
$4,250 via Louis Vuitton
When paparazzi manage to catch some of their own in celeb photos, you get a glimpse of how unpleasant being famous must be at times.
Pamela Anderson
Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Bag
$2,750 via Saks
A quick Google indicates that Pammy once took up arms with PETA in a drive against consumer leather goods, but it seems as though her views may have changed.
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham Quincy Satchel
$1,275 via Net-a-Porter
When one has one’s own line of handbags, why would one bother with anything else?
Alessandra Ambrosio
Michael Kors Miranda Tote
$897 via Michael Kors
Alessandra’s California-casual style lends itself well to comfortable air travel.
Chrissy Teigen
Givenchy Antigona Bag
$2,125 via Bergdorf Goodman
Yes, there is a fancy handbag in this photo, but there is also an adorable bulldog named Puddy.
Kimora Lee Simmons
Céline Python Luggage Tote
Kimora has become downright demure, which is a word I’d never imagined anyone would use for her.
Alanis Morissette
Louis Vuitton SC Satchel
$5,150 via Louis Vuitton
Alanis is forever my favorite non-intuitive celebrity handbag addict.
Fergie
Saint Laurent Classic East-West Shopping Bag
$1,190 via Saint Laurent
This bag is also cut from the perfect travel mold – dark, roomy, lightweight.
Emmy Rossum
Ralph Lauren Ricky Alligator Bag
$18,500 via Ralph Lauren
I would be terrified to travel with a bag this expensive at all, but if you’re going to, you have to carry it on. Who knows what would happen if it were checked.
Jessica Simpson
Saint Laurent Studded Sac de Jour Bag
$3,490 via Barneys
Don’t focus on what’s going on circa Jessica’s mouth. Focus on the bag.
Kris Jenner
Alaïa Laser Cut Satchel
Shop Alaïa via Net-a-Porter
The Kardashian-Jenners are extremely experienced flyers; it seems like there’s more pictures of them at LAX or JFK than anywhere else.
Khloe Kardashian
Céline Python Trapeze Bag
See? Look how comfortable Khloe looks at the airport.
Laura Prepon
Balenciaga Giant City Bag
$1,985 via Balenciaga
When I first came across this photo, my first thoughts were somewhere along the lines of ALEX VAUSE IS REAL, which should tell you how quickly I sped through the second season of Orange is the New Black. (So quickly that it started to feel like my new reality.)
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Givenchy Ayers-Accented Antigona Bag
Shop Givenchy via Bergdorf Goodman
There’s no quicker way to feel chubby, stubby and homely than to consider how Rosie looks, on average, coming off an international flight.
Melanie Griffith
Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM
$1,960 via Louis Vuitton
Melanie seems to be considering it right now.
Chrissy Teigen
Linea Pelle Dylan Tote
Shop Linea Pelle via ShopBop
We may have already featured Chrissy, but she has a different dog with her this time (that’s Pippa the Frenchie), so we thought she deserved a second spot.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Tote
$1,990 via Saks
HOW DOES SHE DO IT?
Amanda Seyfried
Givenchy Floral Nightingale Bag
$1,883 by Forward by Elyse Walker
Thanks for being relatable, Amanda.
Amber Rose
Saint Laurent Sac de Jour Tote
Shop Saint Laurent via Nordstrom
As you might have surmised by now, these Saint Laurent totes are a very popular travel option.
Kesha
Fendi 2Jours Bag
$2,260 via Net-a-Porter
A sophisticated look for someone who used to have a dollar sign in her name.
Katie Holmes
Valentino Rockstud Camo Tote
$2,495 via Neiman Marcus
I have a lot of questions about this hat. First, does it fit? Second, if it does, why isn’t Katie wearing it like a normal hat? Third, if it doesn’t, why did she buy it?
Kim Kardashian
Hermès So Black Birkin
Despite the Kardashians’ constant presence at LAX, it looks like people are still excited to see them there.
Kendall Jenner
Balenciaga City Bag
Shop Balenciaga via Neiman Marcus
Personally, I think it’s a bit of a risk to wear this much white for air travel. Planes are dirty.
Khloe Kardashian
Hermès Birkin
Khloe, on the other hand, has the right idea.
Patricia Arquette
Louis Vuitton Cruiser Bag
$2,660 via Louis Vuitton
Patricia appears to have some regret over choosing to carry on such an unwieldy bag.
Winona Ryder
Givenchy Pandora Bag
$1,890 via Bergdorf Goodman
I know this is a Givenchy bag, but can someone cast Winona in a Saint Laurent campaign? She’d be perfect for it.
Kate Beckinsale
Givenchy Pandora Bag
$1,890 via Bergdorf Goodman
Kate may not be the most famous actress in the world, but she looks very famous in this photo.
Taylor Schilling
A.L.C. Lucas Satchel
$895 via Barneys
It would have made me very happy, had Alex Vause and Piper Chapman been at the airport together, but I’ll settle for having them both in this post.
Dita Von Teese
Dolce & Gabbana Miss Dolce Raffia Bag
Shop Dolce & Gabbana via MATCHESFASHION.COM
DVT, killing it once again.
Eva Longoria
Hermès Birkin
I saw a lot of photos of Eva at the airport while doing research for this post, and she always has the same little furry pillow with her.
Elizabeth Banks
Prada Diaper Bag
$1,290 via Bergdorf Goodman
Elizabeth Banks: Real Human Being.
Irina Shayk
Hermès Birkin
Irina may be carrying a Birkin, but if you look closely, you can tell that she is also wearing sweatpants.
Paris Hilton
Chanel Classic Flap Bag
For how popular these bags are in general, stars tend not to prefer to carry them to the airport.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Givenchy Suede Obsedia Satchel
$2,995 via Saks
Rosie is testing me.
Giuliana Rancic
Hermès Evelyne Bag
Giuliana reminds me of myself at the airport: wearing black, handbag plopped on my suitcase, trying to track down my Uber driver.
Kendall Jenner
Céline Edge Bag
Once again, travel whites make me nervous, but perhaps things are cleaner in the Admiral’s Lounge than out with us plebes.
Milla Jovovich
Alaïa Laser-Cut Tote
Shop Alaïa via Net-a-Porter
One way to assuage the TSA’s fears about what might be in your bag is to carry a bag with tons of holes in it.
Kate Upton
Céline Crocodile Luggage Tote
Chanel Cerf Tote
There are many, many handbag dollars resting on Kate Upton’s arms right now.
Leann Rimes
Chanel Frame Crossbody Bag
Have you seen Leann’s VH1 show? It’s…not great.
Candace Swanepoel
Givenchy Antigona Bag
Shop Givenchy via Bergdorf Goodman
One last model-with-a-Givenchy-bag for the road. Err, the sky.