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11 of the best burgundy bags to incorporate into your wardrobe as an easy and stylish upgrade
Dip your toe into the trend this winter
It’s official: burgundy is the colour of the season. Whether you wear it as a comfy yet stylish co-ord, choose it for your next nail appointment, or invest in the ultimate accessories. After a brief flirtation last year and throughout the summer, it's been dominating our autumn / winter wardrobes this season, with designers including Gucci, Chanel and Chloé incorporating it into their runway collections.
It’s easy to see why: a universally flattering shade, its rich colour holds connotations of both autumn foliage and Christmas, and it works beautifully alongside other jewel tones like sapphire, purple and emerald. Also, velvet and burgundy together? Chef's kiss.
If you’re looking for the easiest way to wear it, then consider your accessories – and, more specifically, a burgundy bag. Remember to think about the practicalities of it and your everyday life – after all, there’s nothing worse than splurging on a bag that you never actually use. From work-appropriate tote bags that will fit your MacBook inside, to east-west envelope bags best reserved for a handful of your essentials, there’s plenty to choose from.
As for how to style it, burgundy bags look great with multiple colour palettes. You could wear it with neutrals, like black, white and beige, or with similar jewel tones. It looks especially good when paired with navy, for a modern, chic look. When it comes to your other accessories, stick to neutrals or matching, and remember to coordinate the hardware on your bag to your jewellery too for added polish.
So, without further ado, here are the 11 best burgundy bags to buy now.
Massimo Dutti has become a well-kept secret amongst fashion editors, who love the high street brand’s directional fashion and extremely well-made pieces. Just take the Nappa bag, for example, which has an elegant east-west design, wide strap and braided detail. A throw on bag you pick up just before leaving the house, it goes with literally everything.
Minimalist and elegant, Coach's Aria bag offers understated chic. With a detachable strap and handle, it adapts well whether you're carrying it over the shoulder, crossbody or as a clutch, while the sleek crescent shape adds a point of difference.
This shoulder bag is made from 100% leather, and is currently on sale for 50% off. We love the gold hardware detail and thin strap, which makes the Pochette simple enough to go with everything in your existing wardrobe.
Part of Marks & Spencer’s Collection range, this east-west handbag looks so much more expensive and high-end than its price tag. With an adjustable strap and elegant silver hardware, it’s an easy-to-wear staple that feels both contemporary and classic at the same time. It’s no wonder it’s their seventh best-selling handbag.
The Ganni Bou has swiftly become one of the Scandi brand’s cult styles, thanks to its unusual hexagonal shape and slouchy leather appeal, not to mention woven handle and dual gold dice with butterfly logos. Available in multiple colourways and prints, the burgundy one is particularly elegant, with a rich matte tone, and we love that it can be worn either as a hand-held or cross-body. The mini size is perfect for storing your everyday items in and is deceptively spacious – we can get our wallet, phone, make-up and even an umbrella in there.
Add some Parisian savoir-faire into your handbag arsenal with Sezane’s Milo bag. This compact design is made from smooth leather and has an adjustable handle so that you can wear it crossbody or on your shoulder. A classic satchel style, it looks just as good with your eveningwear as it does day to day. You can also personalise your bag by adding up to three of your initials, which are embossed in gold on the back of the bag.
Endlessly versatile, Parisian brand Polène’s Número Neuf bag can be worn in a multitude of ways, whether that’s on the shoulder, cross-body or hand-held, with each lending itself to a different aesthetic. One thing that unites them all is how effortlessly chic they look, with draped leather and slouchy shapes, not to mention gold hardware. We also love the textured grain of the leather, which adds a further luxurious element to it.
The Charlotte Drawstring bag is one of royal favourite Strathberry’s more playful designs, with a unique drawstring closure that has been handcrafted by artisans in Spain and made from the most supple Nappa leather. The addition of gold accents works harmoniously with the oxblood burgundy colour, making it the perfect accessory for Christmas party season.
Featuring a luxurious woven design and distinctive knotted handle, the Melie Bianco Larissa bag adds instant fun to your look and is a great addition to your collection. The ultimate affordable luxury piece, it features a zip closure so you don’t need to worry about losing any of your belongings.
On the sportier edge of the spectrum is the Bibi bag from Whistles, which has an adjustable black strap and a boxy shape. With two compartments for storage, it’s particularly handy if you’re travelling or just like to know where everything is in your bag.
What’s not to like about this simple but stylish folded clutch from Scandi high street favourite, & Other Stories? Featuring a magnetic closure, zip lining and pocket for your wallet and cards, it will elevate your everyday look. We especially like the shiny patent finish.
Dusty Baxter-Wright is an award-winning journalist and the Entertainment and Lifestyle Director at Cosmopolitan, having previously worked at Sugarscape. She was named one of PPA’s 30 Under 30 for her work covering pop culture, careers, interiors and travel, and oversees the site’s Entertainment and Lifestyle strategy across print, digital and video. As a journalist for the best part of a decade, she has interviewed everyone from Louis Theroux and Channing Tatum to Margot Robbie and Ncuti Gatwa, while she has also spoken on Times Radio and BBC Radio. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram here.
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