Luxury Fashion
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Fall and winter change what a handbag has to do. It sits against a wool coat instead of a T-shirt, it carries gloves and a scarf as well as a phone, and it has to look right at a holiday dinner as easily as on a rainy Monday. The bags below are the ones we would buy for the season: rich suede and warm browns, the quilted and woven icons that never date, totes that carry the whole day, and one clutch for the parties.
Suede and warm browns
Suede is the texture of the season. It looks soft against camel and cream, it deepens beautifully with wear, and a brown suede bag does what a black one cannot: it makes a simple outfit look warm.
Coach Chelsea Shoulder Bag 30
The bag on the cover of our handbag board. A slim, flap-front shoulder bag with a pushlock closure, an 11.5" strap drop that sits neatly under the arm and an open interior with a zip pocket. The warm brown suede is the fall pick; the maple and black grain leathers are the ones to carry straight through to spring.
Coach Brooklyn Shoulder Bag 28
Slouchy, roomy and easy: the Brooklyn has a wide strap with a 10.5" drop and a magnetic snap closure, and it is tall enough for an iPad or a Kindle. Double-faced suede in warm brown, the Coach Signature embossed into tobacco suede, plus black and a holiday scarlet in grain leather.
Tory Burch Small Perry Suede Shoulder Bag
Clean lines and almost no hardware, in a dark cocoa suede. It comes with two straps: leather for the day, and a gold chain that turns it into an evening bag.
Michael Kors Laila Small Suede Shoulder Bag
The long, slim shoulder bag shape of the moment in forest green suede, a colour that sits beautifully with brown, camel and grey. Gold-tone hardware, snap pockets front and back, and a short drop that tucks under the arm.
The investment icons
These are the bags that hold their place year after year, the ones to buy once and carry for a decade. Every one of them works with jeans and a sweater as well as with a dress.
Chanel Classic Flap, pre-owned
The most recognisable bag in the world: quilted caviar leather, the CC turn-lock and a leather-threaded chain that wears doubled on the shoulder or long across the body. Caviar is the textured, scratch-resistant leather that keeps its shape. Chanel does not sell handbags online, so these are pre-owned from Fashionphile. Each listing is a single bag, so a link here may sell out.
Saint Laurent Loulou
Named for Loulou de la Falaise, Yves Saint Laurent's muse, and made in Italy in chevron-quilted leather with the YSL monogram. The puffer is soft as a down jacket and a true everyday size; the Toy Loulou unclips into a clutch; the camera bag is the hands-free one.
Saint Laurent Le 5 à 7 and Le Carré
Two clean, smooth-calfskin shapes for those who prefer no quilting. The Le 5 à 7, named for the hours between work and evening, is a soft hobo with a hook closure. Le Carré is its opposite: boxy and structured, with a level base and a geometric gold clasp.
Bottega Veneta Andiamo and Jodie
No logo at all, and still instantly recognisable: both are handwoven in Bottega Veneta's intrecciato leather and made in Italy. The Andiamo is a roomy everyday bag finished with a single gold knot, in a soft sage green. The Jodie is the knotted hobo, here in a bright orange that lifts a camel or grey coat.
Totes that carry the whole day
A winter tote has to take a laptop, a scarf and an umbrella and still close. Every one of these zips shut.
Marc Jacobs The Tote Bag
The tote everyone recognises, with its bold lettering, chunky top zip and a removable crossbody strap. Black full-grain leather for the office, copper suede for the season, or the original cotton canvas that softens the more you carry it.
Michael Kors Jet Set Travel
Pockets everywhere and a zip top over all of it. The extra-large olive suede sits comfortably over a coat; the medium in moss pebbled leather is the everyday size; the large 3-in-1 comes with a removable crossbody and a wallet inside, so travel days and dinner are both covered.
Michael Kors Quinn Large Tote
A quiet, polished work tote in sand pebbled leather with gold-tone hardware: room for a laptop, a planner and a water bottle, and an 11" handle drop for the shoulder.
Longchamp Le Pliage
Light, water-resistant nylon with leather trim, and it folds flat into a suitcase. The rainy-day tote, and the one to pack for the holidays. Cognac in the large size, khaki in the medium.
Shoulder bags and crossbodies for every day
The bag you carry five days a week should go with every coat you own. These are small enough to keep you organised and structured enough to look polished.
Coach Tabby Shoulder Bag 26
A modern take on a 1970s Coach design, with the brass Signature C and two detachable straps, so it carries by hand, on the shoulder or crossbody. Black polished pebble leather, or maple for a warmer fall colour.
Coach Lana Shoulder Bag 23
Winter white in polished pebble leather. A centre compartment sits between two open sides, so it is easy to keep in order; carry it by the short handles or on the long strap.
Tory Burch Kira and Romy
Two black bags with opposite characters. The Kira is a classic flap in softly padded leather with blown-up diamond quilting and a tonal Double T. The Romy is a lightweight, gently gathered bucket bag in pebbled leather that wears by the handle or crossbody.
Tory Burch Mini Miller Crossbody
A small black crossbody with the laser-cut Double T and two zippered compartments, compact enough for evenings and travel.
Kate Spade Deco
Black pebbled leather with gold K hardware inspired by Art Deco. The large size takes an iPad and a continental wallet, while the chain bag is the one that goes out at night.
For holiday parties
Saint Laurent Uptown Clutch
The clutch you will carry for decades: smooth black Italian calfskin, a clean envelope shape and the gold YSL monogram, slim enough to slip under the arm. For holiday parties, weddings and every dinner reservation. The Chanel Mini and the Kate Spade Deco Chain above are the evening bags with a strap.
Before you buy
Choose the shape first and the brand second, and buy for the life you have: a bag too small for your phone, keys and wallet will stay on the shelf. Our guide to designer handbags worth the investment covers leather, hardware and size, and handbag shapes explained walks through the crossbody, the clutch and the bucket bag.
Designer Handbags Worth the Investment
The bags people keep for decades: the quilted chain-strap flap in black and caramel, a blue croc top-handle, a sleek black leather hobo and a burgundy top-handle on marble. Plus two at-a-glance guides to the most iconic it-bags and where each sits on the luxury ladder.
Every bag here is pinned on our Designer Handbags Worth the Investment board, where we add new ones through the season.