Compared to the wave of house debuts for spring/summer, the autumn/winter 2026 season was business as usual – sort of. There were only a handful of inaugural outings this time round, but sophomore shows from those appointed last season brought plenty of ideas to the fore, including an abundance of ready-to-wear and bag trends.
The key autumn/winter 2026 bag trends to shop now:
Pieter Mulier focused on the former in his last show for Alaïa after a five-year stint, which Vogue’s Sarah Mower described as “quiet perfectionism”. “It’s just really clothes for real people, not for an image,” Mulier said. “To reduce, reduce. No bags, no jewellery. Only beauty and clothes and a naked shoe. Because that’s what Azzedine was.”
Yet, during his tenure, Mulier delivered a number of It-bags, the most recent being his Le Teckel – meaning “sausage dog” in French, for its slimline shape – which will hold its value far beyond his departure. In fact, he could be credited for influencing the current streamlined, top-handle bag trend, the east-west – designed with the same tuck-under-your-arm spirit as the Le Teckel – which was present across the recent runway shows.
Top handles in various iterations, including this popular east-west shape, acted at props for the 15 models cast at Prada, each of whom wore four layered looks that transformed as they walked the runway. Elsewhere, the intentionally undone Amazona 18 bag, introduced at Loewe by Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, was back once again in a swathe of new colourways and finishes.
Chanel also went bold with bags this season, exhibiting everything from supersized shoulder bags and siren-red croc-embossed companions to delicately-embroidered flap bags. The mood purveyed by Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent, however, was quite the opposite; delivered in the form of skinny envelopes clasped by models on his carpeted runway. These clutch wallets accompanied Vaccarello’s step-and-repeat of suits that comprised the opening eight looks – a nod to the 60th anniversary of the Le Smoking, one of the house’s most revolutionary contributions to the industry.
Here, Vogue brings three standout trends from the collections that are worthy of shopping right now.
Super shoulder bags
Shoulder bags are traditionally quite small, able to hold just a few belongings, but there was a fresh crop of styles at the shows, scaled up ever-so-slightly. They still fit snugly on the shoulder, tucking easily under the arm, with more room for everyday items – some (from the likes of Chanel, Miu Miu and Chloé) could even hold a laptop.
New-gen clutches
Once upon a time, clutches were restricted to evening use, but recent seasons have changed that mindset. Look to the supple, pillowy pouches at Loewe, Bottega Veneta and The Row, which would be just as fitting out on the town as they would on your morning commute (some might even double up as a pillow).
All-rounder top-handles
Top-handle bags bring an entirely different vibe to the act of carrying a bag, since they can only be grasped with one hand or slipped into the crook of an arm. No bother: you’ll want the profiles of the new bags from Hermès, Dior and Prada on full display. More rigid top-handles leant into doctor bag territory, with curved proportions (see Miu Miu and Proenza Schouler), while others, such as Jonathan Anderson’s playful Cigale, offered a new everyday silhouette, fitting for night and day.
East-west is here to stay
The east-to-west silhouette from seasons past is more prominent than ever. From Chanel’s punchy colourways to Bottega Veneta’s more neutral options, the elongated trend takes shape in top handles, shoulders, and tote bags. Then there is Fendi’s iconic baguette bag, which is the gift that keeps on giving. Sleek yet spacious, it packs a punch without doing too much – nearly 30 years on from its original launch.
Half-moon shapes
Crescent bags rendered in slouchy proportions were a common sighting on the runways, seen at Dior, Tod’s, Stella McCartney, and Louis Vuitton. Some versions were distinctly rigid, while other silhouettes were more relaxed. Jonathan Anderson’s take was realised in the same quilting as the historic Lady Dior bag, but with a louche folded-over top.
