Introduction: The importance of handbags in fashion
Handbags are essential parts of our wardrobe. They are more than simple accessories; they often combine style and function. So, the game has changed in 2023 for handbags with some fresh ideas reinforcing the tops that were touted last year. When you update your look with these trending handbags you will be sure to turn some heads at the brunch date spot, or at least for your daily commute. You’ll discover the top 10 handbags of 2023 right here. These must-have styles will complete your wardrobe, keeping your look bang-on trend this year. Get ready to read about the upcoming top 10 most talked-about handbag designs this calendar year.
Trend #1: Oversized Totes
2023’s it-item are giant totes. A stylish and convenient piece, it’s a must-have addition to everyone’s closet.
What’s not to like about their cavernous interiors? We can carry laptops, gym clothes and books all together without losing an inch of beauty. Whether we’re going to work or spending a Sunday, our trusty tote has got us sorted.
The material choices are multi-faceted; anything from sophisticated leather up to comfy soft canvas is available. Colour schemes and designs can really make this simple accessory funky !
It’s perfect with everything from weekend casual to dressy occasion wear – absolutely multitasking heaven. With time ever more pressed these days, the shoulder bag is our faithful sidekick, lifting any look, and keeping us organised whatever the hustle.
Trend #2: Mini Bags
This year it’s all about mini bags: seriously mini. They may be small, but these bags make a big statement and prove that small things can still come in big on style.
The multi-tasking mini bag is the hot buy of the season: small enough to take you from brunch to an evening soiree, yet big enough to support the look, not overwhelm it. From crossbody to clutch to bucket, side-saddle to handbag and clutches in every shade and shape.
They are tiny enough to only ever hold keys, cards and lipstick, while still being large enough to adorn the frontback or centrepiece of your outfit, just the way that designers want them to be.
Whether they’re military dock leaf green or embroidered, they’re a hassle-free way to show off your personality – pair one with tailored trousers or a frilly dress for mega points. Over the course of the year, there will be many mini trends on the, err, horizon, but these will set the pace.
Trend #3: Crossbody Bags
Crossbody bags are the hottest convene at-fashion items of 2023.They are a handsfree appliance which travels along style.
They come in different sizes – small for essentials, large enough for a full day – and they can be dressed up for a formal event or dressed down for a casual outing.
Designers have embraced the trend with avant-garde fabrics and bright hues. Crossbody bags come in everything from sleek leather to playful prints.
There is no stopping comfort with the bags, thanks to the adjustable straps that can be set to different lengths as per the user’s liking, thus making them convenient to carry for longer durations without any pressure on you.
Whether it’s running everyday errands, getting together with friends or a night out on the town, crossbody bags make your day a little more chic while keeping what you need handy.
Trend #4: Bucket Bags
The bucket bag. The piece of debate. Casually Chic 2023. Everything perfectly structured with a free-flowing life. Its abnormally adopted shapes and unusually spacious insides. Practicality meeting aesthetics on Sunday brunch runs to Costco.
Designers have jumped on the trend with materials exploring leather to bubble-wrap from “vegan” textured fabrics, to sustainable canvas, to sleek acrylic; surely there is a bucket bag that will speak to you. And it’s a versatile bag, a hand bag for all seasons. Day or night.
Colours of the season travel from traditional neutrals to energetic hues that stand out. Playful prints and patterns are going to spice up all your looks.
With their drawstring closure, bucket bags are easy to access while still keeping your belongings safe. If you like your accessories both pretty and practical, a bucket bag is just the ticket.
Trend #5: Structured Shoulder Bags
Structured shoulder bags are a big deal this year. The hard edges subtly lift an outfit and make it feel sophisticated. Take them to the office, or to brunch with friends, and they will transform your look.
They have sleek lines and sharp edges that make them look on-point, and they can be made with different materials (leather, canvas, eco-friendly patterns, etc). They can be small or large, so they work for almost every occasion.
Another feature is that they have space for important items – almost all of them have plenty of handy little pockets – in everything from neutrals you can wear with almost anything, to colours that shout a little louder than your average tote. All of which adds up to bags that really tick that most elusive box of all: looking stylish without also looking overly utilitarian.
Designers instigating this trend have traded in industrial-strength materials for delicate details such as decorative hardware or textured finishes; each piece is a one-off story, but each is nevertheless at home in the contemporary wardrobe.
Trend #6: Animal Print Bags
Animal print bags was a huge trend in 2023. Bold accessories create a fun contrast for any outfit, elevating style with a colourful personality.
From ‘resolutely sexy’ leopard spots to ‘quite dreadful’ zebra stripes, the choices are manifold, and able to take casual attire up a notch or two, and formal dress, too.
Fashionistas are pairing them with plain colours for a polished look or mixing them with other prints for an edgeier vibe. It’s all about confidence, wear it with confidence and you will be noticed wherever you are going.
Plus there are the endless sustainable brands with natural materials that don’t have to compromise on style, so not only are you adding an animal print bag into your life for an extra hit of excitement, but you’re also following a conscious fashion path.
Whatever your style preferences – edgy chic, or sophisticated elegance – there’s a ballsy bag out there waiting for you.
Trend #7: Pastel Colors
Pastel colours have re-appeared this year in the world of handbags. Lavender, blush pink and mint green are among the soft colours that add a fresh element to any outfit.
Such soft hues are for relaxing, creating a grown-up and elegant atmosphere. They move easily from spring days in the park to evenings in the summer. The pastel contrasts with the neutral or with brights makes for a striking effect and an added bit of elegance in your ensemble.
Contemporary fashion houses are also picking up on the growing popularity of the pastel tone, and now, from structured totes to cheeky clutches, brands are offering pastel accessories of all kinds. The lure of a pastel handbag is not only the shade itself, but its potential for versatility.
As essential to 2023 as the maximalist trend was to the past few years, bringing a pastel accessory into your collection, whether you choose to invest in an expensive designer bag or go for a much more affordable option, is an instant mood booster in the world of fashion. It’s also fun and joyful – pastel bags, dare we say it, are actually cheerful.
Must-Have Designer Handbags
Designer bags are not only fashion accessories, but also investments. Most high-end designer bags will hold their value and sometimes even increase over time.
Meanwhile, the iconic order goods from Chanel, Louis Vuitton or Gucci, whose creations never go out of fashion and form the basis of any sartorially sensuous wardrobe.
The quilted leather finish of the classic Chanel 2.55 leather flap bag makes the ultimate fashion statement while still being very practical.
The other is that Louis Vuitton Neverfull tote bag, which is now the essential bag for everyone; the bag you can take from day to night, for your busy life.
Surely there is a statement piece for those who can afford it? How about an Hermès Birkin? This bag is made by hand by a revered craftsman. Only a very small number of handbags are made to the same standard of perfection.
Investing in them is buying quality with a serious style edge. Behind each bag is a story – one about personal choice and stylish individualism.
Affordable Alternatives to Designer Styles
While not everybody wants or can afford a $5000 Birkin handbag, us fashion enthusiasts shouldn’t despair. Cheaper versions of coveted designer styles can still be purchased, often from Hogmoth.
Thanks to brands such as Mango or ASOS, you’ll be able to grab something on-trend in suitable dimensions and colours: try supersized tote bags made of faux leather or sturdy canvas – versatile and practical as well as attention-grabbing. Mini bags are similarly more ubiquitous and affordable, too – the true sign of their ‘normalisation’. These are perfect for those of us who desire that designer-with-an-edge look without the high price tag.
Croissant bags. Crossbody bags. Whatever you call them, it seems they are currently omnipresent, and the affordable market carries the latest and greatest in comfortable-meets-stylish designs to take you from the office to a night out – think Zara. In the meantime, if you fall in love with the bucket bag, that may be the hardest one of all to navigate purely from the status-asing element, although opting for a designer piece with limited production numbers, say from a less-tracked boutique on Etsy or an independent shop, is a good bet.
You can even find animal prints and pastel colours along with budget retailers who have those looks in their collections. And don’t forget those structured shoulder bags, their looks are appearing in so many inexpensive lines, you can get that effect right away.
Whether you are dropping thousands on this season’s designer must-haves, or going for wallet-friendly finds, you’re in luck: looking great has never been so easy. It’s all about finding the styles that work for you and glimpsing the great deals that make you feel amazing all year long!