These Are the 5 Biggest Handbag Trends for Spring 2023
The spring/summer 2023 runways are predicting many trends that are in store for next year. From sweet, delicate pieces like rosettes and bows to skinny pants to excessive layering to '90s-inspired tube dresses, there are fresh new trends to watch out for in the ready-to-wear space. We're also primed for some major shoe trends, including shiny satin pieces, cool pumps, and the continuation of Mary Janes. If you're wondering what is happening in the handbag realm, there is plenty of newness to have on your radar.
Fresh silhouettes and styles were debuted on the spring/summer 2023 runways that will predict the biggest handbag trends for the upcoming season. With many people returning to the office, designers provided fashion-forward work bags. Think of them as directional, cool takes on briefcases and practical 9-to-5 pieces. We also saw some larger trend themes—including pretty, romantic pieces—play out in the handbag category. Ahead, see the five biggest spring handbag trends to know for 2023.
One of the most notable bag trends of the season? Back-to-work bags. Brands such as Prada and Miu Miu endorsed shrunken briefcase-style bags that feel primed for corporate dress codes, albeit the coolest possible versions that you'll be sure to spot in the wardrobes of fashion insiders.
For several seasons, we've been talking about the prevalence of XXL tote bags, and every season, they are reworked and more wearable than the last. Cool, minimal, and neutral styles prevailed on the runways at Peter Do, Altuzarra, and Ferragamo. If you're looking for a practical piece that is trend-forward, this is it.
For the spring/summer 2023 season, we're seeing more refined takes on the angsty-fashion trend that has been gaining momentum throughout 2022. That includes buckles, which we're seeing as a major trend on bags for the upcoming season. Whether added to a slouchy bag, tote, or baguette, it's all about the buckle detail.
With talk about "pretty things" and goth glam, there are many takes on romantic fashion that are permeating the fashion space. The next iteration? Bags finished with details like rosettes, ruffles, and sweet flowers, as spotted on the runways at Prada, Dries Van Noten, and Loewe.
Flouncy, soft-to-the-touch bags couldn't be ignored on the spring/summer 2023 runways. With iterations as interesting as the tasseled clutches at Victoria Beckham and the fuzzy bags at Jil Sander, you can bet that this subset of bags is about to be huge next year.
Next: 9 Major Shoe Trends That Will Be Everywhere This Spring
Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.
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