Given that the year has only just begun, most things in 2020 are uncertain. We can’t be sure whether we’ll get a good summer, what the year’s most popular album will be, or what will be 2020’s answer to Fleabag, but when it comes to fashion, designers give us a lot of spoilers for the year ahead. Fashion trends and key buys tend to be mapped out at least six months in advance, so we can with some authority tell you the designer handbags that will dominate in 2020, and it’s not just guesswork. Of course, cult buys and new brands can emerge at any moment, surprising even the most seasoned of fashion buyers and editors, but there are certain new styles that I guarantee we’ll be talking about as 2020’s hero buys come next December.
There’s a new handbag from Chanel that just might become as iconic as the legendary 2.55 bag, and Bottega Veneta is set to have a year just as golden as the last. Every buyer I speak to tells me they just can’t order enough Bottega bags. When it comes to street style endorsement, one pearl handbag by Simone Rocha is destined to have a fair number of outings at fashion week in 2020, while Katie Holmes’s favorite label Khaite has released a practical tote that makes teeny-tiny mini bags look sillier than ever.
A mood we are seeing across the fashion world for S/S 20 is a desire for classic, timeless pieces, and fashion houses like Gucci and Celine are definitely applying this approach to their accessories department, delving through the archive to create handbags that will be just as loved in 2020 as they were in 1950. Keep scrolling to see the new handbags from Chanel, Gucci, Bottega Veneta, and more.
The Chanel 19 bag might be named after 2019, as it was launched at the end of last year; however, it is destined for big things in 2020. The quilted bag is a reimagined version of the house’s classic 2.55 bag, but the 19 has a really chunky chain strap.
Bottega Veneta was arguably the most influential brand when it came to accessories in 2019, and that is certain to continue this year. It’s hard to pick one style that will be the most impactful, but just ahead is the Jodie shoulder bag, which has quilted leather and a distinctive knot on the strap.
Alexander McQueen released the Story bag at the beginning of December 2019, and the crossbody bag has already had quite the celebrity endorsement. It’s recently been spotted with Kaia Gerber and Selena Gomez.
Even before this handbag was released, it was already a top seller. Moda Operandi is the site that lets shoppers preorder items straight from the runway, and it revealed that this Perspex bag was its best-selling handbag for S/S 20.
The banana bag first appeared as a part of The Row’s S/S 19 collection and has quickly become a favorite with influencers and celebrities.
The Gucci 1955 Horsebit bag is destined to be a modern classic, as the new addition has already been spotted on so many influencers. It has a real vintage feel thanks to the gold clasp and classic silhouette and use of the house’s signature logo print.
Khaite is a brand that is quickly transitioning from a new label to a power player (this is the designer behind that Katie Holmes knitted cardigan and bra set), and for 2020, its handbags will be getting a lot of attention. These are a new addition for Khaite, and the circle leather tote bags are already getting an impressive reception.
Originally released in 2005, Prada’s Re-Edition Nylon and Saffiano Leather Mini Bag taps into our collective obsession with nostalgia. While many models and celebrities (read: Bella Hadid) have already been seen toting vintage versions of the bag, Prada’s decision to reissue the original design with a few updated 2020 details is certainly proving successful with the fashion set.
The Triomphe is a new bag bearing the original Celine logo created by founder Céline Vipiana in 1971 and is a style that has already been spotted on countless celebs, including Angelina Jolie and Lucy Boynton.
Designed to mimic the shape of Chloé’s iconic padlock hardware, the Aby Crossbody Bag has already garnered the attention of It-girl influencers, including Aimee Song.
