The mid to late-2010s were all about the crossbody bag. Function was in fashion, and the bags of the moment meant you didn’t have to sacrifice style for ease of use.
It was the era of the Louis Vuitton Pochette Metis, Prada Cahier, Gucci Marmont, Chloé Drew, and so on. Yet somewhere between tie-dye, all-color-everything, and quiet luxury, the shoulder bag stealthily kicked the crossbody out of the top slot, taking over as the handbag world’s most popular silhouette.
The Shoulder Bag Reigns Supreme
It was a perfect storm of sorts that led to the mighty shoulder bag’s meteoric rise. For starters, the crossbody bag had already cycled through the phases of the trend cycle (an introductory phase, saturation, peak, and eventually decline) as late 1990s and Y2K fashion was booming.
That specific time period, just prior to and during the early aughts, was all about the sleek shoulder bag (and of course the big bag boom too). As our favorite bags of yesteryear, the Fendi Baguette, Gucci Jackie, and Dior Saddle Bag, came back into fashion, the popularity of crossbody bags also declined.
Battle of the Generations
Recently, as I vowed to use my old bags more, I took inventory of my current collection and realized that many of those unused bags fall into the crossbody category. Meanwhile, earlier in the Spring, I had conversations with a friend and an acquaintance (one who works at Coach and the other a fellow fashion writer) when the fall of crossbody bags came up in conversation.
“I just think about college and the weird way they would cut off your boobs,” one of them said matter-of-factly. The other, who works in merchandising at Coach, specifically mentioned how the silhouettes are very generational. Gen Z is to shoulder bags, as millennials are to crossbody bags.
While that sentiment makes a lot of sense given the phase of life many millennials are in, it also dates us, as crossbody bags were at their peak when many of us came of age. While I’ve personally found myself reaching for only shoulder bags more and more, there is a time and place for both.
Undeniably, a shoulder bag looks much sleeker (not to mention chicer) for a night out, while a crossbody bag pairs better with athleisure for a day of errands. Still, we’re all for wearing what you want and what works for you, regardless of where we are in the trend cycle.
Plus, the old saying continues to ring true—what goes around comes around, so it’s only a matter of time before the almighty crossbody bag rules again.
What an odd post… who said crossbody bags were no longer popular? Weird.
No “odd” post here. As Bea mentioned, yes! The point is to discuss their ubiquity as a trend. If you think of the major It bags of the last few years/seasons, many of them are shoulder bags (regardless of the size) versus the It-bags of yesteryear as mentioned (Marmont, Drew, Pochette Metis ect.)
As mentioned, crossbody bags will never be entirely out of style. There is always a need for them, and they will always be around and part of designers’ lineups. They will likely be trending again in the future!
I think she is referring more to what is currently trending with younger buyers. In the 2010s it was crossbody bags but in the 2020s it is shoulder bags. The trending bags of the moment are the Alia Teckels and other similar shoulder bags, not crossbody bags
Alaia*
I don’t agree because crossbody bags are as popular as ever. Also, I don’t see it as a generational thing because Baby Boomers to Gen Alpha all utilize these bags for practicality, ease of use, etc. They’re also the bag of choice for many people during travels because they thwart off thefts, etc. vs. shoulder bags.
agree, I see them all the time! I’ve never had a shoulder bag that actually stays on your shoulder when you’re out and about.
Also, what about the cross body belt bag trend? Talk about “the weird way they would cut off your boobs”
Kristie nailed it. Anyone of any age who lives in a city or travels grabs a crossbody first. Hands free options will never go out of style.
Totally agree. As someone who lives in a big city, who travels, it’s only crossbody for me. The smaller, the better!
I politely disagree! I wear shoulder bags or even top handles around the city, but then again I’ve always put fashion and what I want to wear ahead of function. Like I said, though, there’s a time and a place! When I have my dog with me, it’s always a crossbody!
I have to agree with the other posters. I live in California and crossbody bags are EVERYWHERE. I use them mostly in the summer, as I don’t want a bag necessarily under my armpit and always use them while travelling or out for the day running errands. Shoulder bags slip off your shoulder and in my opinion, actually look more dated. Tomato tomato I guess!
If crossbody bags are out/no longer relevant, why do brands keep designing and selling bags that can be worn crossbody or come with a crossbody strap?
Crossbody bags will NEVER go out of style! You can be fashion forward and true to yourself and your needs. IMO fashion is not following every trend but knowing your own aesthetic incorporating trends when you like them.
A comeback? They never left.
You can go to any luxury retailer website and sort their bags by popularity or check the new releases. The reality is that shoulder bags are much more popular, and that has been the case for several years.
The most recent popular crossbody bag that comes to mind is the Marc Jacobs Snapshot.
A bag with an optional strap ≠ a crossbody bag. Those bags are often not marketed as crossbody bags on retailers’ websites, and the models showcasing them are not wearing them crossbody. The straps are provided solely for convenience; in my opinion, they are not an indicator of the popularity of “traditional” crossbody bags.
I have only ever carried crossbodies. I can’t imagine ever choosing a bag that doesn’t leave both hands free or that I could accidentally set down somewhere and forget. Plus visually, I just prefer the way a beautiful bag sways on my hip vs. a shoulder bag which makes one arm puff out weirdly. I think we millennials got it right on this one.
Live in DC and young women of a certain age and under are definitely reaching for shoulder bags when they do life over crossbodies especially for going out. I carry too much + I like to dance so I stick with my crossbodies for going out, but I def see what the author is saying from a young perspective!
This author is not young.
I did not know cross body bags were “out”. I like hand carry medium satchels and everywhere i look are cross bodies and either HUGE totes or teeny tiny, barely fit my phone in it bags
This is an interesting point of view….
I feel like when the pandemic hit, I saw almost nothing BUT crossbody bags! I hadn’t really been a fan prior to that time but I’ve come to love the ease of wearing a crossbody bag. Shoulder bags with long straps tend to slide off me and I’m not a fan of the right-under-the-armpit look with some of the shorter straps. Top handle or crook of the elbow carry don’t work for my daily needs. I have a mix of all types but definitely reach for my crossbody bags 99 percent of the time!
As we could see with people picking different sizes of Chanel classic flaps based on their heights and how a classic flap looks crossbody (single strapped), I don’t think there is that much of a difference.
A shoulder bag, sometimes I’ll wear it on my shoulder, sometimes in the crook of the arm, and single handed.
Cross bodies or longer shoulder (especially those can be double strapped) basically covers all bases.
Love it all$$🙈🤷♀️
I’m currently into handheld/crook of the arm bags. I only use crossbody when I’m going to places in which being hands-free is a must. I don’t carry one when I want to be stylish. I treat it like my work bag as it’s only for a specific function.
I wouldn’t necessarily call them popular, per se. Just somewhat of a necessity in my handbag wardrobe.
I’m with the people who would never make any bag into a crossbody bag,I find them very gauche for myself but people who love them please feel free to continue to wear their bags as you wish. Never been a trend I bought into for my own personal preference.
I find a detachable long strap + top handle the best design (for me, of course). When I was around 30, I find Damier Ebene Alma hard to carry (felt dark & matronly), so I bought a strap for it, not to wear it crossbody, but just have it dangling in a carefree way. All of sudden the bag is refreshed and much younger looking! (Oh how I love the days just walk in to any boutique and pick stuff out of their vast in-store stock!)
Other than for “the vibe” as in this Alma case, the long strap also comes in handy when I need to be hands-free. Many of such types glide day-to-night seamlessly, simply remove the strap, making them a great travel choice. Two-in-one!
The “top handle” part is because I don’t quite like holding a bag by its body (it leaves smudges!), the handle is an anchor for me. (And I actually appreciate a handle showing wear, it’s supposed to.) Hence I never quite get comfortable with the leather clutches, but I loved the tweed ones. They are so elegant to wear.