18 Of The Hottest Handbag Trends You'll Want To Carry With You Everywhere In 2024

Perhaps surprisingly, many of the world's top trendsetters aren't quite ready to let go of fall/winter 2023's top handbag trends. Yes, this means that 2024's most influential bag trends are shaping up to be a continuation or evolution of previously established ones. Beyond that, there are multiple contradictory handbag trends we expect to see dominating peoples' closets in 2024. Practicality will be one of the year's prevailing trends, but we'll also see an opposing theme of playful frivolity. Minimalist and maximalist styles will both have their places in our ensembles throughout 2024, and handbag sizes will run the gamut from minuscule to colossal. 

More specifically, novelty statement bags are going to be wardrobe essentials. The latest "shiny objects" to obsess over literally sparkle and gleam, meaning you'll want to have at least one handbag that gets you in on the broader metallics trend. This is a basic overview of our expectations for the year's handbag trends, but let's take a closer look at the nitty-gritty details you'll want to be aware of when shopping for handbags in 2024.

Red is one of the trendiest colors taking center stage in 2024. Red is a fantastic color to wear when you want to stand out but can be a tough color to put on otherwise. If you don't want to dress ostentatiously, small red accessories could be the way to go when you're accessorizing outfits that feature muted color choices like black and beige. For instance, a red handbag gives you just a bit of fiery color that's perfect for setting off polka dots, which are also trending for 2024.

Structured bags are a failsafe — a go-to style you can rely on for work, meetings, or dressy outings. We'd generally consider structured bags to be more of a classic than a trend. Still, in 2024, you're likely to see plenty of structured, top-handled bags made from the usual crocodile, leather, calfskin, lambskin, and faux leather fabrications. However, what's new for 2024 is that we also expect to see innovative iterations of this style in materials like straw and wicker.

One fall 2023 trend carrying over into 2024 is the colossal tote bag. The tote bag trend fits in with the larger lifestyle trend of buying sustainable goods; as people limit their consumption of single-use plastic shopping bags, big tote bags make sensible replacements. There are numerous iterations of the giant tote; some are unstructured and understated, while others resemble larger versions of structured top-handle bags. A related trend is carrying a second bag, which lets you use one as a purse and the other as a grocery, book, or beach bag.

At the other extreme, a mini bag forces you to carefully curate, prioritize, and limit the number of items you carry with you. Although you can't fit your cell phone in bags of this size, these little cuties could be useful for carrying sundries such as a money clip, credit card, driver's license, safety pins, barrettes, and lip balm. If you don't need to lug much more than that around with you, a mini handbag is a great way to travel light.

In 2024, you don't have to choose between carrying a big bag and a tiny one. When in doubt, carry them both. You can choose bags with shapes that relate to each other, but that isn't critical. Moreover, you can wear two different bag shapes, like a mini bag and a giant tote, and still be on trend. Clipping your bags together is extra cute, but it's ultimately optional. Another possibility is pairing a hands-free style like a crossbody bag with a clutch you have to hold.

Ombré and gradient patterns have been popular for a while now. They're showing up on everything from manicures to handmade greeting cards, so it isn't surprising that people also want to include color gradations on their handbags. Chanel is just one of the brands flaunting this trend with several ombré bag offerings in its 2024 Cruise collection. Available silhouettes include a hobo bag and multiple shopping bag-style totes featuring this unique style of color shading. 

Gold bags and other metallic-colored bags are part of a broader trend of embracing metallic materials such as gold leather, lamé, and brocade. This trend has already been going strong, and it shows no signs of slowing anytime soon. Brands like Chanel, Givenchy, Prada, and Michael Kors have all released gold bags that fit this trend, so you've got plenty of options.

Closely related to the metallic trend is that of bags being made using shimmery, lustrous, pearlescent, and iridescent materials. For example, Chanel is selling a solid-colored pearly lambskin top-handle bag as part of its Cruise 2024 collection. Furthermore, multiple fashion designers are featuring garments constructed from strips of fabric or leather in their 2024 collections, and you can even carry a handbag that's made of strips of shimmering material. 

Raffia bags and other accessories were popular in 2023, and they're likely to be even bigger in 2024. You can style your double denim outfits with a raffia tote bag and two-toned shoes. Another styling option is pairing it with a printed sundress and beachy espadrilles. Adding other raffia bits, like headbands or earrings, to really bring the look together is optional, but we recommend it.

Is it a basket, or is it a bag? Expect to ponder this question frequently in 2024 as you gaze at the receptacles fashionable people are carrying with them. When choosing a bag-basket hybrid to add to your 2024 wardrobe, you have many fabric options. Leather basket bags can take you in a timeless, classic direction, or you might opt for a more intriguing combination like the foam rubber, calfskin, and fabric Anagram bag design Loewe is offering for spring/summer 2024. In fact, colorful basket bags pair well with white trousers for spring and summer looks.

If you're interested in finding a bag that's both pretty and distinctive, you might want to carry a floral bag. One popular botanical bag is a round design made to resemble a camellia blossom, but this year brings many intriguing flower-inspired silhouettes. You're likely to also see bags shaped like daisies, carnations, and other blooms.

"Barbie" star Margot Robbie's style is ever-evolving. One of her chicest looks is a simple pair of jeans paired with a dark gray blazer, a couple of layers of white, and a stunning black Bottega Veneta woven-textured handbag. This look — in particular, the handbag — epitomizes the "quiet luxury" trend that's still on track to remain popular in 2024, and it's one you can easily get in on.

Continuing with the texture theme, pearl-accented handbags are au courant for 2024. A textured pearl bag looks spectacular when coupled with a textured matelassé fabric and a heart-shaped coin purse, and it would make an elegant accessory to carry with you to weddings, prom, parties, or evenings out.

Many other adornments are trending outside of pearls, too. The year's popular purses also incorporate eyelets, beads, crystals, diamonds, embroidery work, fringe, seashells, paillettes, sequins, spangles, charms, and similar baubles. You might think that these bags are intended to be dressy, and you wouldn't be wrong. However, it's also possible to use them in less formal clothing styles. If you have a casual outfit you want to elevate beyond the ordinary, a shiny, embellished handbag and complementary silver shoes could be just what you need to break the mold.

The versatile bucket bag offers you infinite styling possibilities, with some of the hottest bucket bag materials to consider in 2024 including leather and chainmail. These bags are available in many sizes, but the look for 2024 is, as we've learned, leaning toward the generous end of the scale.

Crocodile textures and embossed leather looks are yet another trend that will carry over from fall/winter 2023 into 2024 — and likely beyond. This enduring look is popular because of its richness, elegance, and versatility, so if you purchase one of these bags, you'll find many opportunities to carry it with you.

Trendsetters on and off the runways at 2024's spring/summer fashion week events accessorized with belt bags. Back in the '80s and '90s, they were functional but not necessarily pretty. Now, that's changed; 2024's fanny bags are both useful and aesthetically appealing. On this, professional stylist Hallie Abrams of The Wardrobe Consultant wrote, "These past few seasons, fanny packs have become more than just mainstream, I'd even say they've become chic!" If you pair your belt bag with a handbag, you can maximize your space without hauling around one of the larger trending totes.

Heart-shaped bags are yet another 2024 trend that was already well-established before 2024. Well-known personalities, including Selena Gomez and Dua Lipa, fueled this trend after having been spotted carrying Alaïa's heart-shaped Le Cœur handbag, and the trend is still going strong. Heart-shaped bags are popular across a broad spectrum of sizes and silhouettes, including handbags, heart wristlets, coin purses, and other bag shapes, giving you a dazzling variety of styling options.