Spring 2025 Bag Trends
Do you dump the baguette? Cozy up to an oversized tote? What are the hot bag trends for Spring 2025
To me, the best part of the movie Funny Face is the musical number “Think Pink,” sung by the incomparable Kay Thompson. At the start of every Fashion Week, or whenever I work on a trend report, that song dances through my brain. This musical number is apropos for this article.
Fashion trends come and go. Some only make their mark on the runway and wither on the vine. Some trends, like wide guitar straps for bags, took forever to be a “thing.” Pajama-style tops tended to sit in the clearance racks instead of draping bodies. Unlike our mothers’ and grandmothers’ fashion eras, we don’t dump everything we own to take on a new trend.
In the interest of science and as a fashion reporter, I feel obligated to report on the new bag styles for 2025. Fashion is an immediate reflection of the cultural zeitgeist. And I really enjoy creating trend reports — it gives me the perfect excuse to window shop.
Perhaps jumbo-sized bags are trending as the "It style," because they come more from a sense of insecurity. As if our lives will change quickly, we must carry our most precious items wherever we go. Maybe the reason why bags that are big enough to hold at least three toddlers within is a reaction against the wee tiny bags that have held a fashionable stranglehold on all of us.
Spring (thankfully) is looming ahead like a beacon of flowers. Here are styles that, much like flowers, bloom when the weather warms up.
Suede -- a classic spring material for bags and shoes.
Straw, rattan, and wicker bags -- whilst seen primarily in summer, they're traditionally purchased now and make a gentle debut come April
Fabric tote bags a la Goyard et al. l -- it's as if we all live in a rom-com. We carry these bags, thinking we'll toss in a lunch, a good book, and a drink and then sprawl on a park's lawn. Eating and drinking under a gentle spring sun, we'll find our other half when they trip over a stone and land on us. In reality, crumbs acquire at the bottom of the bag. We really eat lunch on a park bench with a wary eye out for pigeons.
Pastels and brighter hues - Spring harkens a joyous celebration of color. Bring on the turquoise or yellow bag.
Courtesy of Goyard’s Instagram
What bag styles are still “in:”
The Baguette - short-strapped and as wide bodies as its namesake. This bag gives one cramp in the armpit, yet it continues.
Structured handbags - Maybe a leftover from the falling out of favor “quiet luxury bag,” these bags are classic. Dress them up or down, and they’re never stodgy.
Tote Bags - Le Pliage, the Neverfull, Cabas, Saint Louis, Anjou — classically designed tote bags that can be used for work or an overnight bag.
Crossbody — The perfect bag.
East-West - bags that are wider than taller.
Designer Backpacks — seen on many Spring/Summer 2025 runways. It’s a spring favorite because you can travel well when you one-bag it.
Bags destined to be the top bags of Spring 2025
Oversized Bags — Almost so big that if it were a centimeter more, you’d fall sideways
Bucket Bags — They’re back in the spotlight. Remember, fashion is cyclical. Seen on the Gabriela Hearst, Zimmerman, Loewe, and Chanel (among) runway shows for Spring/Summer 2025.
Courtesy of Loewe’s Instagram Fringe Bags — Do you recall when fringey bags were in a few years ago? I hope you didn’t give yours away as they’re back. Seen on the Hermes, Fendi, McQueen, and Tory Burch runways.
Courtesy of Prada’s Instagram Printed Bags — when I think of printed bags, I think of bags from the late ‘60s to early 70s, and their recherche in the early aughts. Kate Spade has been creating “personality” printed bags for eons. Print bags were on Prada, Tory Burch, and other runways, too.
Twisted Lady AKA Eccentric Aunt Bags - Weirdly (in a good way) shaped bags that resemble something Salvador Dali might’ve dreamt up. Classic bag shapes that were stretched out or not the “typical” bag. Seen at Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta, Ferragamo, et al.
Courtesy of Versace’s Instagram Is there a bag style or trend that calls to you, or not?
