Few wardrobe investments are as important as a handbag. Most of us experiment with different outfit combinations nearly every day, but a reliable accessory will be used dozens, if not hundreds, of times. Given that you carry a bag over your arm, it is often what draws people's eyes first, regardless of how chic the rest of your clothing may be.
Because of this, you want to ensure that your bag creates the right first impression. In the rapidly evolving world of fashion trends, it is easy for a bag that is only a few months old to look outdated, no matter how trendy it seemed at the time of purchase.
Below are four bag styles to avoid this coming summer, along with exactly what to shop for instead. From embellished evening bags to practical commuter solutions, keep reading to discover accessories that will make you look like a street-style influencer this season.
Out: Oversized Totes
Remember in Succession when Tom mocks the 'ludicrously capacious bag'? That sentiment echoes strongly for summer 2025. Huge totes can seem try-hard, especially if they are monogrammed or heavily logoed. A bag is an accessory, not an entire outfit, and just because something is expensive does not mean it is automatically chic.
Swap For: Doctor's Bags
If you still need roominess, a structured doctor's bag with top handles and an iconic semicircle shape offers a more considered look. It serves as a great 2025 update to last year's trending bowling bag. Unlike oversized totes that swallow belongings and outfits, a doctor's bag keeps everything neat and streamlined. It is roomy enough for essentials yet elegant, with a polished shape and cool vintage feel that screams street-style influencer.
- Zara Suede Doctor's Bag
- Melie Bianco Doctor's Bag
Out: Micro Bags
Not to sound like Goldilocks, but teeny bags are as gauche as huge ones. They are entirely performative, fitting almost nothing except perhaps your AirPods, forcing you to juggle belongings in your hands. Their smallness also makes you look giant by comparison, which is not a flattering effect.
Swap For: All-Day Clutches
The fashion set's new answer to impractical micro bags is the all-day clutch. Larger than an evening bag but sleeker than a tote, it strikes the perfect middle ground: roomy enough for essentials but streamlined for a polished look. Tucked under the arm rather than swung over the shoulder, it instantly makes an outfit feel classier and more expensive. Soft leather or suede styles work particularly well, as quiet luxury continues to reign supreme on the runway.
- Asos Blush Large Clutch
- Dune London Woven Clutch
Out: Bucket Bags
A few years ago, bucket bags, especially the Loewe incarnation, were everywhere. But lately they have started to look clunky, especially when stuffed with receipts and lipsticks that sink to the bottom, making the bag resemble a sack. Their wide fit against the body can throw off an outfit's line, and raffia details can feel a bit toddler-esque.
Swap For: East-West Bags
If you missed the memo, an east-west bag is a handbag with a stretched-out horizontal silhouette, where the width is significantly greater than the height. The fashion set is obsessed. The long, narrow shape is perfect for tucking under your arm without dominating an outfit, offering a sleeker alternative to frumpy 2010s cuts. It subtly recalls 90s minimalism but looks fresh for 2025.
- Nobody's Child Suede Bag
- H&M Shoulder Bag
Out: Knotted Straps
The rise of quiet luxury brought ultra-minimal bags, most notably the woven Bottega bag with a knotted strap and its countless dupes. After years of stripped-back accessories, the tide is turning. Plain woven bags lack personality, and knot details often look limp once worn in, resulting in a look that feels less 'quiet luxury' and more 'I've worn this to every event since 2023.'
Swap For: Chain Handles
Spring/summer 2025 runways celebrated hardware. At Chloé, scrunched leather bags featured chunky gold chains, while Ferragamo and Givenchy leaned into statement handles that made bags feel more extravagant than in recent years. The new chain bags are not overly polished or flashy but feature sleeker, polished metals that look more grown-up. Even restrained detailing is a welcome change from the mantra that plainer is better.
- M&S Chain Shoulder Bag
- JW Pei Chain Crossbody
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