Why do women buy luxury bags? There are many reasons.
Designer Bags: What Women Want
For most, luxury bags from big-name designer brands are a status symbol. They’re expensive and, thus, inaccessible to most. This translates to exclusivity, which is why they have become a symbol of wealth, status and affluence to display and carry.
Furthermore, if you are indeed what you wear, a designer bag hanging off your arm allows you to bask in the reflected glory of the brand image. If it stands for relaxed Parisian chic, wearing it means you embody the chic Parisian aesthetic and style.
Luxury bags — if chosen well — can also be an investment. You do not expect their value to increase over time, but you expect them to last many years. In other words, a high-quality bag can deliver greater value for money than its less costly alternatives.
Whatever the reason, women want luxury bags. This is especially true among women 25-34 in the United States and Great Britain, and 18-24 globally.
How about you? If you fit the profile and plan to purchase another luxury bag soon, what type should you buy?
Different Types of Women’s Bags
Below is a list of four categories of women’s bags you can find in major high-end fashion houses. Read them to judge which type of bag to buy next from your favourite designer brand.
1. Tote Bags
The luxury tote is a versatile and essential accessory, marrying fashion with everyday functionality. It’s spacious, so you can use it to carry larger items like laptops, documents and even a change of clothes, making it ideal for work or travel. It’s a good choice whether you’re off to the office, a weekend getaway, the supermarket, or the department store.
The open-top design, often secured with a simple clasp or zip, allows for easy access to your belongings, while the solid and wide straps provide support and comfort, even when the bag is fully loaded. Some designs also include interior pockets or compartments to keep smaller items organised, ensuring essentials are always within reach.
Totes can be crafted from leather and durable canvas, but those from luxury fashion houses exude elegance. Many feature subtle yet exquisite details like reinforced stitching, polished hardware and a lined interior that add to their durability and appeal. Designer-brand totes are typically monogrammed, trademark heat-stamped or carry distinctive labelling hardware.
2. Crossbody Bags
The crossbody bag is a good choice for women who value mobility and convenience. Its defining feature is a single adjustable strap, like the one on a typical shoulder bag. However, unlike a shoulder bag, a crossbody bag is worn across the body — i.e., the bag end sits on the hip opposite the shoulder from which the strap hangs — instead of the strap and bag remaining all on one side.
The crossbody design distributes weight evenly, making it suitable for extended wear. You can also change which shoulder to hang the strap from to wear it comfortably the whole day.
You don’t need to hold on to a crossbody bag. It keeps your hands free, which makes it an excellent choice when navigating a crowded city or exploring a new destination.
Many crossbody bags feature compact, rectangular or round shapes with multiple interior compartments for essentials like your phone, wallet and passport. Some designs incorporate a front flap with a magnetic snap for quick access to the bags’ contents, while others have zippers. Some have small exterior pockets for easy access to train cards, bus cards and petty cash.
3. Backpacks
Backpacks have always been the practical choice for people on the go, but the luxury market has given them a fresh and sophisticated spin. Designer backpacks may have borrowed from the functionality of their urban and street siblings, but the similarities end there.
In the luxury market, women’s backpacks are typically made of leather. They have a structured body with clean lines, featuring a flap or zippered closure with polished hardware and a trademark heat-stamp for branding.
Inside, you’ll find thoughtfully placed compartments and pockets. Some designs also feature exterior zippered pockets, perfect for frequently accessed items like your phone and keys.
The resulting design is sleek and practical, which is why backpacks are some of the best Longchamp women’s accessories.
They have enough space to carry a small laptop, tablet, and other daily essentials, but their sharp lines and distinctive construction elevate them from the typical. Crafted from high-quality leather, with a zip closure and two outside zippered pockets, they’re a stylish yet practical accessory for school, work or casual outings.
4. Clutch Bags
What are clutch bags? The answer lies in the name.
Clutch bags are meant to be used without straps. You hold — i.e., clutch — them with your hand or tuck them under your arm. That said, some clutches include a discreet, detachable wrist strap or a hidden chain, allowing for versatile styling options without compromising their silhouette.
They stand out for their compact size —usually rectangular, but there are round and oval clutches, too. They need to be small, or they won’t be so easily grasped (or clutched). As such, they can hold just the essentials — your phone, a credit card, and perhaps a tube of lipstick, making them ideal for parties, evening events or formal gatherings.
Clutch bags can be made of various materials, such as satin, velvet and leather, and they can come in many designs. Refined options feature jewelled clasps, intricate embroidery and other embellishments that complement sophisticated styles.
A Designer Bag for Every Occasion
Luxury bags are great arm or hand candy.
If you’re shopping for one soon, consider a tote bag for everyday versatility, a crossbody for convenience and security, a backpack for structured style, and a clutch bag for carrying only the essentials.
Buy the right bag from the right brand, and you can ensure the perfect marriage of function and style.
