It wasn’t all that long ago that extra crossbody straps were pretty rare to find on designer bags. In the mid-to-late 2000s, it was somewhat rare that top handles and satchels had extra straps of any kind, and I remember bemoaning their appearance when they did—back then, I felt they looked cluttered. Then, two things happened simultaneously: I moved to New York and started using public transportation, and handbag trends started swinging toward crossbodies and long shoulder straps. Suddenly, you could sling nearly anything on and go hands-free, and suddenly that’s exactly what I needed.
In the years since, I’ve come to take that omnipresent optional convenience for granted, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Trends are in a constant state of churn, though, and lately I’ve noticed that fashion-forward retailers are starting to stock day bags that don’t provide any shoulder carry options. In fact, it seems like a lot of them don’t even allow you to carry them in the crook of your arm: it’s hand-carry or nothing. I expected a few brands to give this a shot and then abandon it, but I keep noticing new options that follow along with this structure, often with the circular hardware trend we spotted when it very first surfaced. So what gives?
Personally, I’d never buy one of these bags, but someone must be buying them. Would you?
If you’re feeling the one above, it’s the Roksanda Neneh Tote, available via Net-a-Porter for $1,515.
