What’s the Deal With the Sudden Ubiquity of Top-Strap Clutches?

Indie accessories brands have a trend all their own

The accessories market has shifted over the past few seasons in a way it’s difficult to explain in a satisfying way. The big, traditional powers in the industry haven’t experienced any slowdown in their sales, but at the same time, a real market for indie designers has emerged, likely influenced by the rise of Mansur Gavriel, which helped open retailers’ eyes to potential consumer interest in super-chic handbag upstarts, as well as the opportunity younger designers have to get their designs seen on Instagram, even with a smaller promotional budget than their more well-established competitors. Now there are enough visible indie bag designers to create their own trend cycle, which is great for shoppers who might be interested in quirky, stylish bags whose audience isn’t necessarily wide enough up front to pique the interest of the megabrands.

The first big trend I’ve noticed coming out of this group of designers is something I think of as a top-strap clutch, but that I’ve seen referred to on retail sites as a clutch, bucket bag, tote or top handle bag. That they have no commonly accepted name can make them hard to search for, but you’ve probably noticed them popping up in online stores or on the arm of your favorite Instagram influencer. Essentially, they’re a modernization of the wristlet: they’re petite and unobtrusive, which makes them ideal for situations in which you might carry a traditional clutch, but their strap means you don’t necessarily need to have one hand full at all times to carry one.

By my own estimation, it was upstart contemporary brand Danse Lente that helped this style take off, although it’s existed here and there for a long time, most notably in Alaïa’s permanent lineup. The brand’s Johnny Bucket Bag features exactly the kind of slick, minimal construction and bold detailing that makes a bag memorable, and perhaps more importantly, make a bag look sculptural and cool on Instagram. We caught a couple prominent style stars carrying the bag at New York Fashion Week in February, but the bag has been on the fashion radar for several seasons, and now it has plenty of company. Check out ten strong options we found below; it’s only a matter of time before a major designer takes notice. (So far, Louis Vuitton has come the closest that I’ve seen.)