Designing bags is a fine art; a skill that only a handful of creative directors have mastered during their respective tenures. Some see bags as a representation of a theme they may have explored in their ready-to-wear collections – florals seen on blouses and dresses, for example, may be translated as intricate embroidery on accessories – and others consider bags a complement to the woman or muse they’ve had in mind for the season. A generous, slouchy tote bag for the lady on the go; a clutch for someone with an occasion-filled diary; a shoulder bag that serves as an easy everyday companion.
While each house lead has their own unique vision, every season brings a variety of similar silhouettes, palettes and fabrications, contributing to the bag trends that will then trickle down and influence the offerings of mainstream retailers. For autumn/winter 2026, this meant an influx of supersized shoulder bags and crescent shapes, crafted from soft leather and suede in an array of colours, including delectable toffee and biscuit shades and earthy tones like burgundy and forest green.
The key autumn/winter 2026 bag trends to shop now:
East-west bags were a popular bag silhouette seen across the board. Pieter Mulier should be credited as a catalyst for the trend, having released the Le Teckel (meaning “sausage dog” in French, for its slimline shape) several seasons ago. Though there was an intentional absence of accessories in his autumn/winter 2026 collection – his final show for Alaïa after a five-year stint – the legacy of Le Teckel will live on. Iterations in calf hair and floral prints can be found online.
Mulier’s most popular bag proposition toes the line between daytime and evening, working well as both an everyday shoulder bag or an after-dark accessory. So too, Fendi’s iconic Baguette bag – one of the original east-west shapes – which has been reinterpreted by multiple creative directors since its debut in 1997. For autumn/winter 2026, Maria Grazia Chiuri rendered the bag in a mirror finish, beading and animal prints, retaining its instantly-recognisable, slouchy silhouette and interlocking Zucca logo closure.
Prada took a more structured approach to the trending east-west profile, and sent out top handles in various iterations that acted as props for the 15 models, each of whom wore four layered looks that transformed as they walked the runway. Elsewhere, the intentionally-undone Amazona 180 bag, introduced at Loewe by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez upon their debut for spring/summer 2026, inspired by a 50-year-old archive design, returned once again in a swathe of new colourways and finishes. The duo stayed true to the bag’s classic boxy outline, but added a playful conceal and reveal unzipped detail.
Chanel also went bold with bags this season, exhibiting everything from XXL shoulder bags and siren-red croc-embossed companions to delicately-embroidered flap bags. The mood purveyed by Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent, however, was quite the opposite, delivered in the form of skinny envelopes clasped by models on his carpeted runway. These clutch wallets accompanied Vaccarello’s step-and-repeat of suits that comprised the opening eight looks – a nod to the 60th anniversary of the Le Smoking, one of the house’s most revolutionary contributions to the industry.
Here, brings the standout trends from the collections that are worthy of shopping right now.
Super shoulder bags
Shoulder bags are traditionally quite small, able to hold just a few belongings, but there was a fresh crop of styles at the shows, scaled up ever-so-slightly. They still fit snugly on the shoulder, tucking easily under the arm, with more room for everyday items – some (from the likes of Chanel, Miu Miu and Chloé) could even hold a laptop.
Medium Split Suede Shoulder Bag
New-gen clutches
Once upon a time, clutches were restricted to evening use, but recent seasons have changed that mindset. Look to the supple, pillowy pouches at Loewe, Bottega Veneta and The Row, which would be just as fitting out on the town as they would on your morning commute (some might even double up as a pillow).
All-rounder top-handles
Top-handle bags bring an entirely different vibe to the act of carrying a bag, since they can only be grasped with one hand or slipped into the crook of an arm. No bother: you’ll want the profiles of the new bags from Hermès, Dior and Prada on full display. More rigid top-handles leant into doctor bag territory, with curved proportions (see Miu Miu and Proenza Schouler), while others, such as Jonathan Anderson’s playful Cigale, offered a new everyday silhouette, fitting for night and day.
Large Canvas Le Pliage Energy Top-Handle Bag
Paparazzo Medium Leather-Trimmed Canvas-Jacquard Shoulder Bag
East-west is here to stay
The east-to-west silhouette from past seasons is more prominent than ever. From Chanel’s punchy colourways to Bottega Veneta’s more neutral options, the elongated trend takes shape in top handles, shoulders, and tote bags. Then there is Fendi’s iconic baguette bag, which is the gift that keeps on giving. Sleek yet spacious, it packs a punch without doing too much – nearly 30 years on from its original launch.
India E/W Small Leather Tote Bag
Half-moon shapes
Crescent bags rendered in slouchy proportions were a common sighting on the runways, seen at Dior, Tod’s, Stella McCartney, and Louis Vuitton. Some versions were distinctly rigid, while other silhouettes were more relaxed. Jonathan Anderson’s take was realised in the same quilting as the historic Lady Dior bag, but with a louche folded-over top.
Mombasa Paneled Leather Shoulder Bag
Croissant Small Paneled Coated-Canvas Shoulder Bag
Looking to add a statement yet elevated twist to an everyday outfit? Consider a croc-embossed companion. Be it a high-glossed clutch for evening or a croc tote bag for office moments, the runways at Prada, Celine, Chanel and Tory Burch made a case for textured leather.
Playful minaudières
Evening affairs – be it a wedding or a black tie function – call for accents that are a conversation starter. Minaudières are the perfect way to add a unique touch to an after-dark look, as proven by the autumn/winter 2026 runways. Chanel strung a glossy pomegranate from a wristlet chain, while Dior turned the frog prince into a valiant dinner companion.
