Does anything say “I’m ready for a fresh fashion season” like a new handbag?
But how to find the one that actually works for you? It may seem peculiar for you to try out a bag before you buy it (at least in front of a hawk-eyed shop assistant), but I really would recommend the in-person effort.
How would you carry it? Does it dig into your leg, or your shoulder when you walk? Is there some cumbersome, heavy chain weighing it down, or setting it off balance? Also – crucially – does everything you need actually fit into it? Why not test it, there and then?
These are fair considerations, regardless of whether you’re remortgaging to buy the dream designer bag you’ll cherish forever, or just looking for a high-street hit to update your work look for the spring.
There are strong contenders aplenty, with new shapes, scales and fabric trends to choose from – and for all budgets, with prices starting at £27 in this edit. But the thing they all have in common? Pick one that really works for you, and you’ll love it for years to come.
Big and buckled
First up, I’d consider a big business bag. Smarter than a shopping tote, but pillowier than a briefcase – this style is both practical and comfortable to carry. You really can fit everything into Manu Atelier’s Le Cambon, or JW Pei’s Adele, but the buckle fastening makes the whole thing (and therefore you) look pulled together.
Clockwise from top left: Drawstring bag, £27.99, H&M; Adele bag, £200, JW Pei; Dash bag, £650, Veronica Beard; Buckle bag, £135, John Lewis; Le Cambon bag, £765, Manu Atelier
Animal packs
In the animal world, a menagerie of alternative prints is worth parading, beyond the ubiquitous leopard. They are each surprisingly versatile – think of them as new neutrals. Deer-hide effects camouflage perfectly within a neutral brown palette, while cow patches or zebra stripes look sharper and graphic, especially when worn with all-black.
Clockwise from top centre: Jazmin bag, £40, Shuch; Shoulder bag, £89, Marks & Spencer; Cinch bag, £1,995, Jimmy Choo; Sophia crossbody, £79, White Stuff
Smooth caramels
The colour to covet is caramel. Rendered in suede, it will bring a subtle 1970s vibe to any outfit. This lighter, orangey-brown looks as good when paired with your bitter-chocolate winter coat as it will with cream jeans in the spring.
Clockwise from top left: Lee Radziwill bag, £660, Tory Burch; Heckfield tote, £145, Jigsaw; Kisslock barrel bag, £550, Coach
The satin scrunchie
The clutch bag is back – but this time it’s softer and fits more than a lipstick inside. Prada’s new pouches are deceptively roomy and would make the ideal wedding guest bag as they come in sweet colours like baby pink and sky. Staud’s buttercup-yellow Lila bucket bag also carries your entire guest arsenal, plus it has an optional detachable cross-body strap.
Clockwise from top left: Satin bag, £47; & Other Stories; Pouch, £530; Prada; Lila bag, £345, Staud
She’s the one
Finally, one for the ladies. Designer Jonathan Anderson’s debut at Dior has ushered in a new era of hyper-feminine handbag styles – see the top-handled Cigale, with its neat tie top, or the frame Bow bag, both straight off the catwalk. On the high street, there’s an abundance of 1940s and 1950s frame bag shapes to carry, whether for an elegant occasion or just to elevate the everyday.
Clockwise from top left: Pushlock lady bag, £465, Liffner at Net-A-Porter; Mokki bag, £480, Polène; Bow bag, £69, Charles & Keith