8 WAYS TO DO BAGS THIS SEASON

Our fashion editor’s guide to the totes, vintage bags and soon-to-be classics to carry you through this season and beyond.

Words: Thea Bichard

The start of a new season is the perfect moment to take stock of our accessories. Never mind what bags are trending now, read on for eight ways to approach buying a bag that reflects your personal style for autumn, winter and beyond – from tips on buying vintage to which brand is best for tote bags.

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1. FIND A GOOD VINTAGE

Before looking for something new, turn to our RESELFRIDGES edit of pre-loved and archive accessories that have already proven they’ll outlast trends – including that Chanel bag of your dreams. For guidance on venturing into vintage, I asked journalist and vintage collector Dino Bonačić (founder of the brilliant Handbags at Dawn newsletter). Why does he love pre-loved? “It’s the element of the unknown that makes me keep wondering about its past. Who bought it? What were they thinking while wearing it? Who were they making out with?... These bags have a mysterious history that allows me to fantasise about their original story.” And how do you decide which one is for you? Dino’s advice: “If you feel like just looking at this bag will make you smile – go for it.”

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RESELFRIDGES - Pre-loved Chanel tweed cross-body bag

RESELFRIDGES - Pre-loved Dior Double Saddle Dome top-handle bag

RESELFRIDGES - Pre-loved Prada Gaufre Lock leather cross-body bag

RESELFRIDGES - Pre-loved Ferragamo printed canvas cross-body bag

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GERMANIER, Image: courtesy of IMAXtree

2. LOOK TO THE TREASURE HUNTERS

A wave of designers has embraced upcycling to create standout accessories. Keen to shun the negative stereotypes traditionally associated with transforming unwanted materials, Kevin Germanier turns discarded beads into his bedazzled bags that look like the 00s lovechild of a coral reef and a disco ball. Likewise, the treasure seekers at Rianna and Nina hunt down and transform vintage silk scarves into one-of-a-kind quilted bags.

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3. KEEP IT CLASSIC

Summing up the stealth luxury that has emerged as a running theme in the AW22 collections, the seemingly simple white vest and jeans that opened Bottega Veneta’s show, were, in fact, hewn from leather. Embrace this under-the-radar approach for your more understated accessories by investing in bags that demand (and reward) a second look. The sleek Le Papa from Pieter Mulier’s latest Alaïa collection splays into concertinaed sections at the sides, while Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato styles reveal intricate leatherwork up close.

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BOTTEGA VENETA - Intrecciato leather shoulder bag

SAINT LAURENT - Le 5 à 7 monogram leather hobo bag

ALAIA - Le Papa logo-clasp leather shoulder bag

JIL SANDER - Goji Bamboo mini leather clutch bag

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MOSCHINO, Image: courtesy of IMAXtree

4. GO VIRAL

Pigeons, bin bags and basketballs – not obvious catwalk catnip, but the weird and wonderful is also drawing us in this season. Partly a reaction to the restrictions and rules of the past few years, this era of eccentric self-expression over strict trends has birthed meme-worthy accessories (Balenciaga ‘rubbish bags’, I’m looking at you). So be expressive: show the love with Moschino’s heart shapes or take Tomme’s upcycled basketballs for a spin.

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MOSCHINO, Image: courtesy of IMAXtree

5. HOLD IT ALL IN

So long as we have reason to lug our laptops around, we’ll never tire of tote bags. This season, though, they’ve been particularly prominent at fashion weeks. One brand that has perfected the art of the outsized, all-purpose bag is Jil Sander. Choose your player: does your style suit something packed with pockets or a stripped-back shopper? A slouchy black handbag or something more architectural?

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JIL SANDER - Woven logo-embossed leather tote bag

JIL SANDER - Logo-embossed leather sling shoulder bag

JIL SANDER - Pleated structured shell tote bag

JIL SANDER - Market brand-debossed leather tote bag

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MARINE SERRE, Image: courtesy of IMAXtree

6. EMBRACE THE Y2K REVIVIAL

Having been a teenager when Y2K wreaked havoc on our wardrobes, I’ve treated the Noughties comeback with trepidation. But the latest crop of shoulder bags reflects the fact that those of us who remember when Paris Hilton dominated headlines are now all grown up. Balenciaga’s Neo Cagole is a descendent of the brand’s City style – an original 00s It Bag – and gives a knowing nod to the era with a playful heart-shaped mirror dangling from the strap, while Coperni’s take is more minimalist, borrowing only the throwback shape.

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7. GET IN THE PARTY MOOD

It’s much easier to accept that summer is over if you remember that winter means party season. Designers are leading us to the dance floor with endless sparkle in the form of recycled sequins at Prada Re-Edition, mirror-ball metallics at Bottega Veneta, and paillettes at The Attico. And, if there’s one big night you have your sights set on, head to Selfridges Rental to find your perfect plus-one.

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BOTTEGA VENETA - Cassette intrecciato leather cross-body bag

ATTICO - Midnight studded leather clutch bag

PRADA - Re-Edition 2000 Re-Nylon mini sequinned shoulder bag

JACQUEMUS - Le Bambino leather pink shoulder bag

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LOEWE, Image: courtesy of IMAXtree

8. SEEK COMFORT

Memories of lockdown and 24/7 loungewear are fading, but we’ve reached a consensus that comfort should never have been a dirty word for our wardrobes. For bags, this manifests at Loewe as a fuzzy Flamenco pouch, as faux fur at Stella McCartney and as puffs of pastel at Saint Laurent. We’ve been enjoying such shear delights for a few seasons now, and I see no reason to let go.

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