These Summer 2024 Bag Trends Are the Only Ones Worth Knowing This Season

Wherever the summer takes you, be sure to have the right bag. And no, we don’t mean the most practical, efficient bag. We mean the cutest and trendiest, obviously.

A stylish little It bag in the summer holds a power difficult to put into words, but you just know it when you feel it. There’s a confidence you (literally) carry when you have a purse and an outfit you feel great about in the summer. To help you build—or at least buy—that confidence, we’ve gathered our favorite summer 2024 bag trends that are sure to be your tried-and-trues throughout the warmer months.

From slouchy bags to lady bags to the continued Y2K dominance (manifested here through paillette and barrel bags), there’s a chic bag—including some amazing designer options—for every aesthetic you might want to embrace this summer. Get in on the trends and shop below.

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Barrel Bags

If there’s one trend that’s so 2000s but so timeless at the same time, it’s barrel bags. Who can forget the Louis Vuitton Papillon handbags discontinued in 2009? After a 2018 internship with Law Roach, where I searched every vintage store and eBay seller imaginable to find the Takashi Murakami x LV Papillon for Ariana Grande’s “Thank U, Next” music video (and yes, I found one, go watch), imagine my shock when not one, not two, but several runways this past season featured the cylindrical-shaped bags. This time, though, they’re simple, minimalist and modern.

Sea Creatures

It’s true, we all want to be on the beach this summer, in the water, under the sun, swimming carefree. If you can’t be your own creature of the sea, you can at least carry one with you. Whimsical and summery, fish and shell bags are the new novelty bag for the season. It’s not a toy, it’s not tacky; it’s pure, cheeky, nautical-adjacent fun.

Crocheted Bags

Crocheted dresses, crocheted shoes, and yes, crocheted bags are fashion’s answer to summertime bohemian culture. It just doesn’t quite hit the same in the colder months, so now’s the time for these colorful, loose knits to shine.

Slouchy Bags

In the same vein as crocheted accessories, slouchy bags are the epitome of the boho chic trend seen on the runways for current and upcoming seasons, like at Chloé and Isabel Marant. They hold everything you could possibly need for all your summer adventures.

Paillette Bags

The paillette bag has continued to be a staple when it comes to trends, no matter the season. Still, summertime offers a vibe shift that beckons the flirty movement and bright shimmers that paillette bags offer when they catch the light.

Lady Bags

For some fashionable folks out there, it very well could be the summer of the Swans. ’60s-esque top-handle bags offer a prim and proper way to accessorize your summer. Pair them with chic linen pants and your favorite kitten heel for an effortlessly elegant look.

East West, Continued

We’ve all seen them and loved them: the East-West bag, or as they’re more traditionally known, the baguette bag. The oblong shape has become more and more exaggerated to evolve into its own style name, and if you didn’t notice that they were everywhere this spring, you’ll certainly notice this summer as Alaïa’s Le Teckel trickles down.

Sustainably Minded

Summer tends to be the season we appreciate the earth just a little more (even though yes, every day should be Earth Day). But we can start our summer right by supporting bag brands that make an effort to be more sustainably minded. Brands like Polène, Advene, and Coachtopia (Coach’s recycled collection) incorporate sustainable practices into the business to reduce their carbon footprints. And that’s the hottest trend there is.