It’s time once again to review the best bag looks of the summer. This year we didn’t have to strain to recall what the hot bags were last month or even three months ago. Brands were not at all coy about the bags they wanted to put in front of paparazzi cameras this season, and in most cases, their efforts paid off. Trends weren’t subtle either, and nylon fanny packs earned their place on the list early on. Prada fanny packs and other novelties are probably permanently timestamped “Summer 2018,” and I don’t anticipate many of those will transition into fall with us. Other bags on this list, however, will surely fare better. Which ones will we be seeing in 2019, and which ones have already earned a space in your wardrobe?
Laura Harrier
This is a late addition to our list, but it was still a no-brainer. The Louis Vuitton New Wave Bag captured the hearts and minds of celebs in mere weeks. It comes in a rainbow of color options, but few carried it better than Laura Harrier, in black. (Need to see more? Take a closer look.) Shop the Louis Vuitton New Wave Bag via Louis Vuitton ($1,990)
Karidja Toure
Nothing to see here, just a gorgeous French actress leaving one of Chanel’s shows while carrying the Chanel Gabrielle Bag. Chanel wants to put this bag in the hands of eager twenty-somethings, maybe even more so than they want to see it in the hands of Meghan Markle or Nicki Minaj. Shop Chanel Bags via Vestiaire Collective
Priyanka Chopra
The Tod’s Sella Bag had a hot moment this summer, and we must pay it proper homage on this list. Here’s Priyanka Chopra carrying an exotic python version. Shop the Tod’s Sella Bag via farfetch.com ($1,310)
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley
Balenciaga is shaking things up a bit, lately, and its Balenciaga Triangle Bag has certainly elbowed its angular way into our hearts. Shop the Balenciaga Square Triangle Bag via Nordstrom ($1,800)
Dakota Fanning
The Gucci Rebelle is perhaps more conservative than the Dionysus or Marmont of last summer, but it’s the bag the brand pushed in Summer 2018, and it also happens to be the bag of Kaitlin’s dreams. (And maybe Dakota Fanning‘s too?) Shop the Gucci Re(belle) Bag via Gucci ($2,600)
Lady Gaga
You can’t reinvent the wheel, perhaps, but you can still reinvent the Fendi Baguette Bag. We’re quite enamored with Lady Gaga‘s little Fendi Micro Double Baguette. Shop the Fendi Double Micro Baguette via farfetch.com ($1,690)
Lauren Cohan
A few up-and-coming brands are earning their space in the celebosphere this summer. The Danse Lente Phoebe Bag has been difficult for the brand to keep in stock, and you can probably see why. Shop the Danse Lente Phoebe Bag via Moda Operandi ($455)
Alexa Chung
Alexa Chung endorses the striking STAUD Bissett Bag, and so do we. Nothing says summer like a good bucket bag, and we love those rigid lines. Shop the STAUD Bissett Bag via mytheresa.com ($375)
Kendall Jenner
Prada fanny packs and nylon bags were everywhere in the early days of Summer 2018, but they were especially all over Kendall Jenner. Here’s one of our favorites from her Prada collection. Shop Prada Bags via Nordstrom
Gigi Hadid
Chanel Flap Bags are always in season, of course but Gigi Hadid‘s oversized glittery, blue ombre sequin version is spellbinding. Shop Chanel Bags via Vestiaire Collective
Reese Witherspoon
Finally, the Valentino Candystud Bag had a very preppy moment this summer, and celeb bag lovers like Reese and Nicky Hilton were especially fond of it. Shop the Valentino Candystud Bag via Net-a-Porter ($2,875)
