Fashion people are a dramatic bunch and the industry is full of personalities. Designers leave and arrive at brands, the flock of editors and industry insiders flits from one trend to the next, companies’ literal and figurative stocks rise and fall. Because handbags have such a central role in the health of so many fashion businesses, their popularity and life cycles are closely watched by investors and executives, and it’s important for brands that rely on bags to keep accessories shoppers happy above all others.
That means that each new season has its attendant handbag story lines, and figuring out exactly what they are is a bit different than deciding which new bags are the best. Below, we’ve assembled a list of new bags that could have important roles shaping the handbag market in the next few months and why.
Alexander Wang Attica Bag
$850 via Neiman Marcus
Alexander Wang departed Balenciaga to refocus his efforts on his eponymous brand, and this is the first big bag to come out of that shift. The price point is a little bit above some of Wang’s other popular bags, so even though this bag is very pretty, I’m interested to see what kind of consumer response it gets.
Balenciaga Bazaar Shopper S Tote
$1,495 via Balenciaga
Demna Gvasalia has had enormous success at Vetements selling cult fashion to industry obsessives, and although his clothes will undoubtedly do well with the relatively small section of the luxury market that buys top-tier ready-to-wear, his real test will be in handbags. Can he bridge the gap between his esoteric clothes and the sea of handbag shoppers that might not be down for the accessory equivalent of a $900 cotton hoodie? There’s only one way to find out.
Chloé Lexa Bag
$2,050 via Neiman Marcus
Chloé has a somewhat unique tradition within the accessories industry: since the post-Paddington days, the brand has repeatedly turned out solid day bags that charm shoppers of many types for years and never get too ubiquitous too quickly. That kind of slow-burn longevity is rare, and I think the Lexa might be the next design to follow in the Paraty and Marcie’s footsteps.
Givenchy Horizon Bag
$2,690 via Neiman Marcus
The Nightingale, Pandora and Antigona are a difficult trio to follow, and it seems like Givenchy is hoping the Horizon will be the bag to do it. I’m not sure this is the right bag for the job; I want to love it, but it’s just a little…off.
Gucci Marmont Shoulder Bag
$1,890 via Gucci
Based on consumer reaction that I’ve seen so far, Gucci may have hit on something big with these bags. I’m looking forward to seeing how popular they get and what Gucci does with them next.
Jason Wu Suvi Backpack
$1,595 via Shopbop
Jason Wu took a hiatus from handbags to retool his line, and the Suvi collection, which also includes a long-strapped shoulder bag, is such a pleasant surprise. Wu is definitely on the right track this time around.
Louis Vuitton City Cruiser Bag
$3,650 via Louis Vuitton
Nicolas Ghesquiere has done a lot to reinvent LV’s aesthetic position within fashion, but I’m still waiting for him to produce a breakout, must-have bag for the brand. Whether this one will be it remains to be seen.
Mansur Gavriel Mini Sun Tote
$595 via Net-a-Porter
The brand famous for its bucket bags has steadily expanded in their wake, and the Sun Tote is its latest addition. The brand is doing a good job making the transition from being a Big New Thing to being a reliable, fashionable accessories brand.
Mulberry Chester Satchel
$1,880 via Net-a-Porter
Mulberry has maybe the most tumultuous recent history of any handbag brand still standing, but snagging Céline’s accessory designer to head up creative direction was a huge coup. We’ll be watching closely to see if his designs can win back some of the previously devoted fans that were driven away by temporarily high prices.
Valentino Rockstud Spike Bag
$3,195 via Neiman Marcus
The Rockstud has been around for half a decade, and it looks as though Valentino has decided to double down on the look instead of move on.
Not a fan of the Balenciaga and the Mulberry but wildly in love with the rest! The Lexa bag is really growing on me
Valentino needs to do something else real quick. They’re starting to compete with MiuMiu for most gaudy bags, and that’s not a good thing for a brand that used to be all lace and feminine details
Exactly this. When I saw that bag, I said to myself, it’s that rock stud crap played out already?
The Valentino rockstud spike flap bag is a gorgeous bag. I did buy it and it’s one of my favorite bags. I highly recommend it and I don’t feel the rockstuds are played out. This is actually my first rockstud bag and I got so many compliments for the bag, even from strangers.
The Valentino is heinous. Reminds me of something you would buy at Forever 21. I love the Wang, MG and the Givenchy. The Lexa is slowly growing on me.
Many thanks Amanda for pointing out that “each new season has its attendant handbag story lines, and figuring out exactly what they are is a bit different than deciding which new bags are the best.” Sometimes I get flustered when folks designate styles as “best” and “worst” (or “good” and “bad”) without indicating their criteria. Does “best” mean most popular (sales), most innovative, or most functional? I know well now that I am in the minority on this blog in thinking that Balenciaga’s Bazar Bags are the “best.” But my personal criteria includes the use of strong color(s), a design that looks unlike anything else I currently carry, a design that I don’t already see the masses carrying, and perhaps most important, its ability to be worn by a man. I’ll carry a woman’s handbag as long as it doesn’t immediately convey “WOMAN.” But who cares why I buy what I buy? FAR more interesting, and the reason I enjoy blogs like yours, is learning about those story lines that inspired each design — even those that I don’t particularly care for. There’s tremendous value and fun in understanding what’s happening behind the scenes. Thanks for the post!
I like Freitag, to me it’s the real shopping tote, what with the feeling of giving back to the earth. It’s got many desirable bags that look hot on men. 🙂
Thanks for the tip :). I checked them out and they do look nice. I tend to veer toward the shoppers that are a bit more unusual for men to carry (it’s a weird pride issue for me at this point). I just bought the Givenchy LOVE women’s shopper tote and I’m already turning heads 😉 (or at least my own)
How mamy straps does that LV bag need?!
Lol, I know.
While the Attica bag is okay, I’m missing that Alexander Wang edge and innovative design. It looks like a bag you can get from any designer.
As far as the Givenchy bag goes, the belt going across it makes the thing awkward. But, like Wang, the I’m missing that Givenchy aesthetic.
The Gucci Marmont bag is gorgeous. I like that they brought back the vintage logo from the ’70s. I’ve already seen tons of my favorite Youtubers with bags from this collection.
I like an embellished handbag, but this Valentino is too much even for me.
Does anyone know if the Chloé Lexa Bag is heavy (to me, heavy is like the Alexander Wang Rockie bag)?
Interesting selection of bags, I always love seeing new/intriguing bags!
Yes, the Lexa bag is heavy. I’ve found that most of Chloe bags are on the heavy side and I really dislike that about my Lexa.
Thank you! Now I can stop lusting over it 🙂
Chloe <3 <3 <3
The only one that appeals to me is the Gucci.
This selection makes me feel like my love of handbags may have jumped the shark. Oh well! It was fun while it lasted. The Gucci is lovely. The rest, mmmmm, yeah. I just can’t even muster enough interest to like or dislike them! Is this what “bag content” feels like? Utter apathy? LOL.
The Balenciaga is just awful…I adore Givenchy but the Horizon is not up to par, the Gucci bag is beautiful, so beautiful. The Wang bag is a Hermes Kelly for less money.
I completely agree on the Bal bag. Yuck! I wouldn’t carry that if somebody paid me.
The Lexa is my favorite. Every time I look at it, I think back to the days when Coach was at its zenith, making super high quality bags *in the USA* that women of all ages bought and then carried for years. The Lexa has a bit of that Coach retro look and something very urban preppy about it. It’s the bag that would be carried by a soccer mom who reads Tatler and Vogue. I really want to see this bag up close and personal. If it feels and looks as good IRL as it does on the web, I think I’ll be bringing it home 🙂
I am with you!!! The Lexa gives me retro Coach nostalgia. Gucci is just slaying it right now.
love to have the attica in that dark brown/ox blood.
Mulberry is a lost cause. As a fan, i’m quite upset with it.
Do people actually like running their hands against all the studs like on the Valentino? I would hate it.
The LV design is way too busy and I think the Attica looks too much like a Kelly bag. My favorite is the Chloe lexa!
Sigh. While I get the play on high-low materials in the Balenciaga® tote, I honestly don’t think that it works as anything other than a novelty bag. As a side rant: I understand that Balenciaga® desperately needed a boot of new blood and young energy after Alexander Wang’s milquetoast tenure as creative director; but I don’t think that Gvasalia either understands nor properly venerates the rich history and heritage of the house of Cristóbal Balenciaga, and I don’t have much hope for his upcoming debut womenswear collection for the brand.
I know that fashion is always about what’s new and upcoming, but when I look at companies like Balenciaga®, Balmain® and (Yves) Saint Laurent®, they all seem like companies facing an identity crisis. In attempting to maintain buzz, these houses have severed whatever connection they had with the ideas and ideals of their founders.
My favorite is Alex Wang’s (#1). Nice, casual take on the Kelly that still feels original.
Mansur Gavriel has my heart! I own 5 bags, including the new sun bag in mini mini. I want the mini sun bag next. Their presentation yesterday also wooed me. <3
Meh. Except for the Lexa….that’s love love love <3
I don’t care what anyone says,that Valentino bag is beautiful 🙂
That Balenciaga bag is awful.. Awful.. I have a cheap, plastic, reusable shopping bag that looks just like it!
If that’s the new direction of Bal- my wallet isn’t worried.
I guess I am in the minority as I dislike everything about the Gucci (the HUGE LOGO, the strange extra long tab on the flap … I could go on and on.
i usually hate big logo hardware, but I feel that gucci’s schtick works given the overall vintage feel of the bag
The Mansur Gavriel Mini Sun Tote is adorable! I love this one!
These are areally pretty horrible with the exception of the Jason Wu backpack. And that’s saying a lot bc I’m not crazy about wearing backpacks! But that one is very nicely designed and timeless. The rest of these designs shouldn’t have made it into the public eye. Ewww :(((
Got Chloe Lexa, it was much needed functional casual chic kind of bag in my collection.
Got Chloe Lexa, it was much needed functional casual chic kind of bag in my collection.
None of these bags are intriguing, if anything, they are offending. I mean look how much they cost and how cheap they look.
None of these bags are intriguing, if anything, they are offending. I mean look how much they cost and how cheap they look.
None of these bags are intriguing, if anything, they are offending. I mean look how much they cost and how cheap they look.
None of these bags are intriguing, if anything, they are offending. I mean look how much they cost and how cheap they look.
I own the Valentino rockstud spike bag. It’s such a lovely bag and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Valentino!