Drawstring bags have come a long way from the polyester backpacks you used to tote to gym class. The simple closure has become a bona fide street style trend, turning up on everything from embellished pouches to sturdy leather carryalls.
It's a natural evolution from the ultra-minimal handbags of recent seasons (think Mansur Gavriel's bucket bags or Everlane's market totes), eschewing heavy hardware while giving your valuables a little extra security. It's also surprisingly versatile: Nylon and leather styles look sleek and sporty, while satin and velvet versions recall vintage evening purses. Some, like Alexander Wang's rhinestone-encrusted pouch, even manage to do both.
The best part of the trend, though, may be its relative affordability: Even the designer styles ring up well under $1000, and others, like Zara's and Madewell's, are less than $200.
Below, shop 16 of our favorite drawstring bags of the season.
Between the metal ring and the satin exterior, this little pouch is very on trend.
Meet your new everyday bag.
A twinkly alternative to your typical clutch.
This bag only looks expensive.
A little glitz never hurt anybody.
This style is an instant classic.
Prada's nylon bags never go out of style.
Any excuse to add a little more shearling into our lives.
These clever straps can be worn two ways.
Elegant enough for the opera but cool enough for downtown drinks.
Yes, you need a pink bag.
How to take your basket-bag obsession into fall.
This has a glam-rock vibe we can't get enough of.
So cozy, you'll want to use it as a pillow.
Bold and graphic yet totally easy to wear (even better, the sturdy leather strap is detachable if you want to carry the bag around your wrist).
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