“A woman's mind is as complex as the contents of her handbag; even when you get to the bottom of it, there is ALWAYS something at the bottom to surprise you!”
– Billy Connelly
Forget diamonds. Handbags really are a girl’s best friend. What other accessory can offer such a level of fashion and function? Bags are a sacred holding ground for both the mainstays and the debris of everyday life. Everything from gum wrappers to credit cards to notebooks can be shoved into a bag, only to look oh-so-cute when it’s zipped up and thrown over the shoulder.
The current trends in bags reflect this carry-everything philosophy. Industry experts agree that oversized handbags, satchels and luggage-inspired bags are all the rage right now. As Terry Daniels, of CJ Daniels, in Columbus, confirms: In handbag trends, “bigger is better.”
A growing number of women in the workplace has snowballed the big bag phenomenon. The shopping bag style can double as a briefcase, book bag or airline carry-on bag. Yet, while most big bags have become multi-purpose, they still haven’t been able to eclipse the small clutch as the quintessential evening bag.
The popularity of detailing on handbags is now fading toward more functional features. Buckles, clasps and hinges tend to be eye-catching, but also useful accents on handbags. The popularity of metal brads or grommets can still be seen in Chloe bags featuring large locks, or the Balenciaga handbags featuring grommets, mentions Mary Curran, owner of the Dublin boutique Audacious. Yet the trend is progressing toward a little less decoration and a little more utility. Even the Louis Vuitton and Coach bags are now focusing more on high-quality leather and inside compartments.
This spring, expect bright-colored patent leather purses in every color, from fuchsia to burnt orange, to bright red to cobalt. Daniels also mentions that the off-white “bone” color will be popular for spring and summer. Metallic bags and metallic accents, in hues such as silver, gold and pewter, will be big as well.
With gold jewelry coming back into vogue, gold trim on bags has become increasingly popular. Additionally, animal prints – leopard, cheetah, zebra and boa – are in, but appropriate only as an accent. Curran warns: “Don’t overdo it!” This spring, bags will most likely remain big, but small, clutch-size bags will certainly still have a presence. This fall, be on the lookout for smaller bags in unique shapes.
The move to big, metallic and colorful bags may well be a result of our culture’s obsession with following celebrities’ leads. But, it also could be just a fashion phase. Greg Andrews, regional manager of Nordstrom, says contemporary fashion is in a retro stage and is highly influenced by color and metallic motifs of the 1980s. Also, the colorful bags are a great way to make a major accessory statement.
Purse trends may also be linked to geographical location, Daniels says. In his travels to buy purses for his boutique, the purses women carry in Chicago and New York tend to be less showy, but are made of great, durable leather with functional straps. Conversely, West Coast women tend to carry bags that are flashier and trendier.
Women have always looked for a bag that has the perfect ratio of functionality and fashion. It has to be the right size, fit their lifestyle, have enough compartments for everything, and be and made of the right material, Andrews says. At Audacious, Curran has noticed that younger women tend to look for purses that correspond to what’s in fashion, whether it’s easy to carry or not, whereas older women want an everyday, multi-purpose bag. Daniels adds that women are looking for a bag that’s timeless – one they can carry from year to year that can act as an investment piece.
Yes, bags are popular for men, too
Guys, where are you putting all of your stuff? It’s OK to hesitate in calling them man bags (or worse, man purses), but the fact of the matter is that a growing number of men are embracing the trend to carry bags, rather than stuff everything in their wallets.
Greg Andrews, regional manager of Nordstrom, says popular bags for men come in a variety of styles. Messenger bags and briefcases are the most popular styles, but backpacks, computer briefcases and duffel bags are also quite common. These bags are typically small to medium in size and are predominantly utilitarian in style.
The Dublin boutique Audacious carries a selection of bags for men, such as the healthy back bags, as well as backpacks, luggage and computer bags. Another Columbus store, CJ Daniels, also carries a small assortment of bags specifically for men. Messenger bags seem to be the top sellers in Columbus.
However, Terry Daniels, of CJ Daniels, notes that the guy-carrying-bag phenomenon is much more of a big city trend that has yet to really take off here. Cities like San Francisco, Denver, New York City and Chicago witness nearly every guy sporting some type of satchel.
In these cities, the messenger bags aren’t as popular because they don’t hold as much. Smaller, leather backpacks are popular, as are large briefcases with long shoulder straps. But the true man bag, notes Daniels, is the midsize briefcase that’s longer than it is wide, with a shoulder strap and handle and with spaces inside for organizing the necessities. They’re plenty masculine and can take the place of wallets. Bags may have a bigger impact in the near future, too, as the cargo pants trend makes way for clothing that is more fitted.
Lindsay Nichols is a contributing writer for CityScene.