We cannot, as a society, spend the entirety of our spring and summer obsessing over one Mary-Kate-and-Ashley-approved doctor bag. The Row’s Margeaux tote just can’t be your entire personality for much longer!
In hopes of breaking the spell, I’ve rounded up a few fun bags I’ve been fixating on for some time now, and I think they’re all great contenders for potential spring and summer purchases. And with prices ranging from $70 to $11,000, I like to think that there’s a bag on the list for every budget (and then some for folks with no budget at all, whom I envy).
My handbag hunt began with a sad reminder: a lot of the new bags I’ve been thinking about since Fashion Month aren’t actually available yet, including the new bracelet styles from Chloé’s Winter 2024 collection (which appear to reference older styles you can still occasionally snag on eBay and other pre-loved sites) and the hard-shelled bag-in-a-belt from the Tory Burch Fall/Winter 2024 show. Swoon.
For me, both of these styles were a reminder to seek out bags with a bit of whimsy — and since seeing them, I’ve been carefully building the list below.
Read on for 19 bags of myriad shapes, sizes and styles that I completely co-sign you buying (or simply lusting over in an attempt to distract your mind from the Margeaux bag). I don’t believe any of the listed have achieved virality yet, but they all have It Bag potential, so consider us the first to embrace them.
Etro Mini Vela Bag ($2,190)
The ultimate ladylike bag, seen here in Dark Brown. I’m not one to closely follow Etro, but this bag caught my eye as I strolled by their store one afternoon, and I swear I’ve seen it everywhere since. I’m most likely to snag it in a neutral leather, but I also love it done in fun floral raffia or this whipstitched thread work version.
BTW, it turns out Etro should be my go-to for exciting bags — I’m awarding honorable mention to the Mini Saturno Bag ($1,390), which boasts a drawstring bucket shape with a unique side handle.
The Wolf Gang’s Myra Shoulder Bag ($308)
I stumbled upon this LBB (Little Black Bag) while scrolling on the Anthropologie site, and the multi-strand straps connected by black beads immediately piqued my interest. Why wear a basic black shoulder bag when something like this exists?
Jil Sander Cannolo Small ($1,500)
A good food-related framing can really win me over, and the Jil Sander team’s choice to name this little bag after one of my favorite Italian pastries made it downright delectable in my book. The Pale Yellow iteration feels decidedly more dessert-y, but I can’t stop thinking about this punchy blue, called Lagoon.
Longchamp Le Panier Pliage XL Basket Bag ($480)
Once a Longchamp girl, always a Longchamp girl — but for quite some time, I thought a gal needed just two Le Pliage bags, tops. I have a bright orange for spring and summer, and a neutral brown for fall and winter. Then, I saw this basket version and everything changed. I can’t personally justify another beach bag or market tote, but if you’re on the hunt, consider this The One.
Jacquemus Le Petit Calino ($1,235)
Jacquemus bags have a tendency to get too trendy, too fast, and while I have many I like, this occurrence does give me the ick. Rather than consider their more popular silhouettes, I try to assess the ones I haven’t heard much about. The Calino is what playful minimalist dreams are made of, seen here in dark red ponyhair. I also suggest the full-size Le Calino ($1,485) in one of many shades of buttery leather.
Brandon Blackwood Long Evening Bag ($215)
I believe this bag is sold out in every colorway except for snakeskin, so allow me to put it on your radar for when it come back in stock (fingers crossed). East-west silhouettes are having a revival, but evening bag iterations have always seemed stiff to me. Leave it to cooler-than-cool Blackwood to make the formerly-stuffy black-tie bag feel fresh.
Cult Gaia Viera Clutch ($348)
I’m all for investing in a (reasonably-priced) raffia bag for summer, and while I was thisclose to nabbing the Brandon Blackwood Nia Bag ($475) last year, I think I’m pivoting to this cascading Cult Gaia clutch instead. It’s almost guaranteed to tangle and be a total pain in the ass, but I can’t help but feel like these extra-long strands are worth it in the name of drama.
Loewe Mini Diamond Round Basket ($5,950)
Loewe has an exceptional number of underrated bags, and for every equally-great Squeeze or Puzzle, there’s a hidden gem like this delightful dumpling of a summer bag. If true raffia or wicker feel too on the nose for you, a sturdy woven leather gives the look without being quite so susceptible to the elements over time.
Cafuné Drop Duffel ($448)
I saw this bag and the brand’s Mini Drop Duffel ($345) in a targeted Instagram ad, and I’m glad to have been served it. A snazzy bit of hardware is really all it takes to elevate a good bag to a capital-G Great Bag — even, dare I say, an It Bag — and Cafuné’s bulbous egg-shaped closures definitely qualify.
Bottega Veneta Tosca Shoulder Bag ($11,500)
Another blue bag, this time one that stopped me in my tracks IRL instead of on my screen. While browsing at Bottega in Palm Beach last month, I was stunned at the beauty of this underrated yet timeless handbag. The woven Intreccio leather is classic Bottega, but the natural pearl closure takes it over the top — both in terms of aesthetic and price point. There’s a $9.9K version sans-pearl that I also love, but it’s safe to say both are out of budget.
Simkhai Rola Tote ($695)
Simkhai bags are underrated. Simkhai overall is underrated. There, I said it! This ultra-unique accordion tote may not be the most practical bag on this list, but it just might be the one that earns the wearer the most intrigue. If you’re seeking a conversation-starter that resembles an old-school camera’s bellows, look no further.
Looks Like Summer Ozzy Bag ($195, was $265)
Like my pick from Cafuné, here we have another reasonably-priced summer bag that leans heavy on the metal hardware. The glistening gold pebble at the foot of this bag immediately elevates the entire piece — and if you’re into the asymmetrical look but want a more bohemian detail, they’ve even got it with wooden accents instead of metal.
Ferragamo Studio Box Bag (M) ($3,000)
I’ve been fixated on Ferragamo for quite some time, and while I don’t really recommend spending thousands on raffia (too susceptible to the elements, as previously mentioned), I’d ignore my own advice to get this piece. Stiffer and more structured in person than you might imagine, this really feels like the ultimate luxurious summer bag for the girl who has it all. The same goes for the Hug Mini Bag ($2,500) in woven Sky Blue raffia. Be still my heart!
Donna Karan’s Baldwin Shoulder Bag ($428)
Everyone knows the Donna Karan team is hard at work relaunching the brand with a contemporary edge, and I have to give them props on their handbags. A lot of them are quite cute, and most definitely slept-on. Immediately, this one reminded me of the Bottega Medium Solstice Shoulder Bag ($4,100) without being a direct dupe. Let’s just ignore the little detachable pouch pictured, OK? Honorable mention here also goes to the Valley Stream Small Buckle Tote ($298).
Balmain Jolie Madame Medium Bag ($1,295)
I have one Balmain bag that I absolutely never wear, but that doesn’t stop me from looking respectfully at their futuristic new Jolie Madame bags. These are definitely designed with the Balenciaga Hourglass bag crowd in mind, and while I’m not the target audience, I’d love to give it a whirl.
Yuzefi Dinner Roll ($501)
Remember what I said about loving bags with food-related names? Cue the dinner roll. Something about the context of a little loaf of bread gives me exactly what I need to embrace this adorable but impractical mini bag. I’m also a fan of the brand’s Large Fortune Cookie ($635) in dreamy Delphinium Suede. (Read: Do I have a thing for blue bags? This is a shocking revelation for me.)
Ree Projects Large Riva Calfskin Tote ($835)
One more big creamy tote for the road before the list winds down, shall we? I stumbled upon this Ree Projects hobo bag completely at random while scrolling on Nordstrom for a similar bag I’d just purchased, and had a moment of “Should I have gotten this one instead?”. Granted, the Cult Gaia piece I nabbed was significantly cheaper, but I won’t lie — I think about what could’ve been all the time.
Prada Medium Leather Handbag ($2,500)
I was hesitant to include any of Prada’s new bags on this list. Despite being a devout Miuccia fan, I haven’t loved the latest offerings, which feel designed to target Gen Z logo-lovers over fans of the brand’s enduring quality and perspective. However, this arched top-handle shape feels like a playful venture from the norm, and the modern take on an everyday bag is one I could see myself styling quite frequently.
Zara Straw Bag with Trim ($69.90)
Last but not least, let me end with a reminder that cute bags for under $100 do indeed exist. I don’t recommend hoarding them — better to invest in a piece you’re excited to own long-term — but if a fun summer bag doesn’t seem like the kind of thing you could justify splurging on, it’s worth noting that Zara has gone above and beyond with their summertime handbags. I didn’t know I needed wicker, grommets and (faux) leather all in one, but apparently, I did.
x BG