The 10 Definitive Autumn/Winter 2021 Bag Trends

Admittedly, the handbag was on hiatus for much of 2020, forced into an early retirement – or at least, a sabbatical – at the back of the wardrobe. No one needs a bag to ferry their lip balm from the kitchen table to the kettle. But you can bet it’s back with a vengeance for fall. Bolstered by a raft of autumn/winter 2021 bag trends (and healthy Q1 leather goods revenues) it’s ready to dutifully house your bobby pins alongside a crushed bag of peanut butter M&Ms, your cotton mask, tissues, cards, keys and Dr Bronner’s lavender-scented, organic hand sanitiser (it’s the best).

Whether you’re carrying it over your shoulder or in the crook of your arm – or, perhaps if you’re a Gucci fan, you’ll be strapping yours to an equestrian-style torso harness, complete with horsebit – your bag could be interpreted as a reflection of your personal analysis of the Covid-19 threat. Going for a super maxi tote? You’re either paranoid or deeply prepared. Opting for a teeny tiny top-handle bag? You’re ready to mingle, buoyed by a vaccination card and your underused house keys.

We’re joking, of course. But there is a middle ground in the form of the cuddle bag, a texture-laden style, perhaps trimmed with shearling or woolly strands, that can be clutched to one’s body with exquisite tenderness. Emphasis on exquisite – the craftsmanship boasted by these guys merits a closer look. And then there are the non-movers: the disco-ready pouches, the chain-handle shoulder bags, the house classics.

Scroll on for a first look at the autumn/winter 2021 bag trends to know now.

1. Back to Business Tote