Ashley Olsen Just Wore a $33,000 Version of 2024's Next Big Handbag Trend

Ashley Olsen, in an all-black outfit and The Row Lady Bag, and Nicolas Turko walking in New York City

(Image credit: Backgrid)

Ashley Olsen isn't spotted out and about very often, but when we do catch a glimpse of the award-winning co-designer of The Row, her outfits never disappoint. Ever. And this latest sighting is far from an exception. Olsen was joined by her The Row co-worker—the brand's Vice President of Brand Identity and Marketing Nicolas Turko—in downtown Manhattan this week, where she wore one of her signature all-black ensembles. But this wasn't just any black outfit. Making it even more impactful than her usual looks, Olsen looped a $33,000 alligator version of The Row's Lady Bag, a zip-around top handle bag that's completely sold out despite its expensive price tag, around her arm. As a result, her The Row trench coat and scarf, barrel-leg black jeans, and simple Mansur Gavriel ballet flats weren't the stars of the show, although all four items each are undoubtedly buy-worthy in their own right.

Her chosen handbag fits perfectly with a fast-rising trend in the bag space: Elegant top handles. In addition to a similar version by The Row called the Nina, the market is stacked with lady-like pocketbooks capable of making even the most casual outfits look refined and swan-like. The options come in all sizes—for example, you could compare Alaïa's smaller Le Teckel to Khaite's larger Maeve—colors, and materials, making it easy for everyone to find a chic top handle to fit their existing bag collection's needs.

Scroll down to see Olsen's NYC errands look and shop the top-handle bag trend ahead of spring.

Ashley Olsen, in an all-black outfit and The Row Lady Bag, and Nicolas Turko walking in New York City

(Image credit: Backgrid)

On Ashley Olsen: The Row bag, scarf, and Cadel Belted Double-Breasted Shell Trench Coat ($3950); Mansur Gavriel flats

Shop The Row's Nina Bag

Shop More Top-Handle Bags

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Senior Fashion Editor

Eliza Huber is a New York City–based fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and celebrity style. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 after almost four years on the fashion editorial team at Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Iowa. She has since launched two monthly columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled the likes of Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top trends from fashion month, season after season. Eliza now lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, running in Central Park, and scouring eBay for '90s Prada and '80s Yves Saint Laurent.