As a bag enthusiast myself, I love keeping tabs on what trends are coming off the runways and what styles people are sporting on the street. In fact, everyday bags might just be the most important accessories out there—how else are you going to lug all of your stuff to the office, the grocery store, and the club?! And with 2025 around the corner, it’s hard not to dream of the bag trends that are about to take the fashion world by storm.
But first, a quick look back—2024 was an epic year for purses. East-west bags became my personal obsession, with my fave being the gorgeous Caroline Bag from Freja. Big slouchy tote bags had their moment too—perfect for holding everything but the kitchen sink. Oh, and we saw oversized clutches and bucket bags shine, while bag charms became the most coveted accessory.
While these trends will still be present in the new year, get ready for a fresh infusion of exciting new bag styles come 2025. Think belted purses, fringe and stud detailing, and even bags accessorized with more bags. Confused? Excited? Confused yet excited? Without further ado, let’s get into our top five bag trends for the new year!
Belted Bags
Not to be confused with the also-popular belt bags, belted bags were a style that we saw a lot of on the SS25 runway. Prada and Balmain debuted luxe versions of this bag trend while the L.L.Bean x Tibi Boat and Tote did it in a more down-to-earth way, and I gotta say, I’m so excited to see this trend continue throughout 2025.
SHOP THE BELTED BAG TREND
Mango Mini-Shopper with Rear Padlock
ASOS Design Stud Buckle Tote Bag
Studded Bags
Studs have been creeping their way back into style over the past few seasons and I’m not mad about it! We saw lots of studs on the SS25 runway at shows like Valentino and Bally, and recently, Eckhaus Latta debuted their first-ever bag (a gorgeous leather tote) featuring a sprinkling of silver snap studs.
SHOP THE STUDS TREND
Eckhaus Latta Snap Bag
Hammitt Kyle Small Leather Shoulder Bag
YFGBCX Studded Black Shoulder Bag
Rectangle Bags
The more practical cousin of the east-west bags, rectangle bags are on the larger side and feature structure around their corners. They sort of resemble a cool, retro suitcase or briefcase. They also give you more space to tote things around (hello, room for a laptop or tablet). Didn’t you just say you needed a new office bag?!
SHOP THE RECTANGLE BAG TREND
Melie Bianco Natasha Bag Set
Fringe Bags
Easily one of my favorite fashion details, fringe is having a comeback in the most stylish way possible. It’s a design detail that’s baked into the DNA of high fashion brands like Chloé and Isabel Marant, after all, so I’m sure we’re gonna see fringe continue to have its moment in 2025.
SHOP THE FRINGE TREND
Bags on Bags
While I absolutely loveee the bag charm trend that took over this past fall, in 2025, let’s try accessorizing our bags with...more bags! The double bag trend was executed flawlessly on the Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu, Valentino, and Bottega Veneta SS25 runways—try it for yourself by wearing a small bag with a large bag, or clipping a mini bag onto your purse.
SHOP THE DOUBLE BAG TREND
Maison de Sabré The SABRÉMOJI™ Weekender Charm
Devin Toolen is the Fashion Assistant at Cosmopolitan where she’s responsible for anything and everything that comes through the fashion closet doors. She preps ready-to-wear, accessories, and shoes for Cosmo photoshoots and assists on set. Devin also writes fashion stories for the Cosmopolitan website. Prior to Cosmo, Devin received her BA from Villanova University and her MA from Parsons in Paris, France. While she is passionate about fashion trends and current styles, she has a deep love for fashion history, heritage and archives. Follow her fashion journey on insta: @devintoolen.
