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Over the past few years, we’ve found ourselves questioning now much smaller and eye-grabbing our handbags could possibly get. Mini bags, and bright, bobbled styles have lead the trend cycle, but in 2025, times are changing. The handbag trends of 2025 are embracing nostalgic silhouettes in a more elevated way, with capacious bags ruling our everyday outfits and sophisticated (and actually wearable) shoulder bags entering the fold.
That’s not to say the trending bags of 2025 are boring, in fact, they’re far from it. Embellishments like studs and fringing are keeping things fresh, and we’ve also noticed a new animal print is usurping the leopard print that dominated last year.
If the changing seasons has you taking a closer look at your wardrobe to see where new pieces may fit, you’re not alone. As 2025 grinds on, we find ourselves looking at our handbag collection, in particular, so to help you find the perfect bag to add to your collection in 2025, we’ve rounded up the best handbag trends of the year and exactly where to shop them — no matter your budget.
East To West
In the past few years, flirty little shoulder bags that harken back to the Y2K era have peaked (and peaked again) in popularity. It seems, the downturn is still far away, rather, shoulder bags are evolving into more wearable styles that are more practical and elevated than the more nostalgic styles favoured over the past five years.
The most recent iteration of the trend was ushered in by the Alaïa Le Teckel Bag, which translates to “Dachshund” in French and debuted as part of the Autumn/Winter 2024 collection. Characterised by its elongated east to west shape and extra-long straps, it’s a shoulder bag that isn’t relegated to the summer months, fitting easily over a winter coat and featuring enough space to stash your gloves when you step in from the cold.
Soft Suedes
Buttery soft suedes, particularly in chocolate brown and caramel hues, have been staples for the street style set since the September shows. Thanks, in part, to The Row’s perpetually sold out Margaux (which may be one of the most duped bags of the last year), brown suede especially has become a comforting addition to winter wardrobes around the world.
This year, we’re leaning into suede’s comforting embrace, including more daring colourways like the green suede tote below. But above all else, you’ll spot us carrying relaxed and slouchier suede silhouettes over structured and stiff styles, whether they carry a Margaux price tag or not.
The Essential Medium Bucket
$326 at Madewell
Slouchy Oversized
Finally, our days of carrying a petite handbag and a dirty canvas tote to work everyday are over, with capacious handbags finally making their return to the runways (and our wardrobes). The trend towards larger bags that comfortably fit a laptop has been simmering for much of the last year, but it was cemented when Coach released its now-viral Brooklyn bag. Embellished with cute bag charms in the Autumn/Winter 2024 show at New York Fashion Week, the Brooklyn is a bag that’s designed to be worn to death, for years to come, and we have a feeling it’ll only look better the more it’s beat-up.
Chanel is also erring towards a larger profile bag, with the Chanel 25 emerging as the bag It Girls want to be seen in this season, and it would be remiss of us to ignore the rise of slouchy boho bags trickling through following Chemena Kamali’s debut collection at Chloé in 2024.
Chanel 25 Large Handbag
$11,920 at Chanel
Embellished Details
In 2025, more is absolutely more. Fringing in particular is a trend we noted in the Spring/Summer 2025 and Autumn/Winter 2025 collections, with everyone from Louis Vuitton to Ferragamo wafting a fringed design down the runway.
This has helped to inform one of the bigger handbag trends of this year, which is of course, embellished detailing. In addition to fringe, Khaite continues to steal our focus with its now-timeless oversized stud detailing, and Poléne still leads the charge in structured leather panelled handbags.
Fashion followers will have also noticed that belted bags have extended outside the bounds of Hermés’ Birkin. Miuccia Prada wrapped Prada and Miu Miu bags with buckled and clipped belts respectively, Toteme also gave its croc bucket bag the belted treatment, and both Demellier and Manu Atelier have incorporated belts into their structured work totes.
Snake Print
Animal prints have been in their redemption era over the past 12 months. But while 2024 was the year of the leopard, 2025 is all about the snake — appropriate, since it is the Year of the Wood Snake, according to the Chinese Zodiac. This was signalled back in September, with the models at Dries Van Noten and Khaite holding oversized and structured python bags respectively. Fast forwarding to the Fall/Winter 2025 shows, snake print handbags were dotted on runways throughout Fashion Month — with Dries Van Noten and Khaite doubling down, and Altuzarra, Alaïa, and Zimmermann all embracing the neutral print as well.
Seed Ring Detail Clutch
$149.95 at Seed
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