Each print issue of Harper’s Bazaar features “In the Market,” a column highlighting the best new items of the season, shot exclusively behind the scenes in the Bazaar fashion closet. For the height of fall, senior fashion and accessories editor Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen gives us an up-close look at the season’s best investment bags, all in covetable shades of brown.
At the office this season, the Bazaar fashion team has been asking ourselves one question: Is brown the new everyday bag color?
Designers seem to think so. On the autumn/winter 2023 runways, houses from Bottega Veneta to Valentino remade their heritage bags in beautiful shades of rich, dark brown. I’ve since spotted these chocolate-hued bags all over street style and throughout the winter event circuit in NYC. The more I see them, the more I feel that these shades are a softer and more natural twist on a classic—the bag equivalent of changing your black mascara to the brown-black shade. There’s also an intriguing gradation of shades, from browns with purple and gray undertones to lighter, subtler tans. Whether paired with a tonal, all-beige look like at Fendi, or worn Celine-style with jeans, a collarless jacket, and bow blouse, these bags have been proven to have range.
Many of the season’s best brown bags came through the Bazaar fashion closet for our recent Fall and Winter print-issue photo shoots, so I curated 21 of my favorites that all serve their own purpose and function. Below, I break down the best designer brown bags across six essential categories to round out your bag collection, from wish-list investments to the ones I’m already carrying.
The Shopper Tote
ORIGAMI LEATHER TOTE
Fendi Origami Medium
BELTED SOFT TOTE
Celine Medium Anita Bag
CLASSIC STRUCTURED TOTE
Yvonne Koné Little Filippo Bag
We all need a carryall that lives up to its name. This season, designers are providing the most luxurious takes with strong curved handles, buttery-soft leather, and all the space. Whether you go for a more artful approach with Fendi’s origami tote, or a more ’70s feel with Celine’s belted soft shopper, these Mary Poppins–esque bags suddenly feel much more sophisticated.
The Top-Handle Bag
Soft Double-Handle Bag
The Row Margaux Bag
FRAME BAG
Brandon Blackwood Jasmine Bag
BOWLER BAG
Hermès Bowler Bag
Crafted Handle Bag
Ferragamo Prism Leather Top Handle Bag
Structured Half-Moon Bag
Max Mara Bag
Whether it’s paired with jeans and a blazer or trousers, a sweater, and an oversize wool coat, a brown top-handle bag gives any outfit a polished finish. From a classic bowler shape like Hermès (a wish-list investment) to Ferragamo’s sculpted handle frame shape, these bags lean formal without feeling too dressed up. Added bonus: Theit structure allows you to jam-pack them without ruining their shape.
The Spacious Hobo Bag
WOVEN CIRCLE HOBO
Bottega Veneta Medium Gemelli Bag
Il Bisonte Snodo Line
OVERSIZE CARRYALL HOBO
Gucci Jackie 1961 Large Shoulder Bag
Presenting the undercover commuter bag for the modern woman. Whether you’re catching a gym class on the way to work or traveling to the office from a weekend away, these hobos are easy to carry and discreetly hold everything you need. My favorites celebrate brand signatures such as Bottega’s woven leather and Gucci’s heritage Jackie silhouette (but extra oversize). Their sturdy handles make them easy to carry on your shoulder; some, like Il Bisonte’s version, also have an adjustable strap to wear crossbody.
The Effortless Crossbody Bags
SUEDE SADDLE CROSSBODY
Chloé Steph Medium Double Carry Bag
Chain and Embellished Crossbody
Dolce & Gabbana Devotion Shoulder Bag
QUILTED CLASSIC FLAP CROSSBODY
Chanel Classic Handbag
Crossbody bags give you the freedom to be hands-free when walking around a bookstore or going to an art gallery on the weekends. I also love their compact sizes. Sometimes, I pack one in my carryall tote to the office, so I can swap bags if I’m headed to an event in the evening. (They’re also useful if I pop out to an appointment midday.) Chloé’s version in suede or Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana’s quilted leather bags are as functional as they are luxurious.
The Elegant Hardware Clasp Bags
FRAME-CLASP BUCKET BAG
Victoria Beckham Frame Bucket Bag
CLASSIC SHOULDER CLASP BAG
Etro Vela Shoulder Bag
TRIANGLE CLASP SHOULDER BAG
Saint Laurent Gaia Small Patent Brushed Shoulder Bag
Brown bags with a refined hardware finish are the perfect update to clasp it all together. Each one has a hinged kiss-lock closure framing the top, adding a healthy dose of vintage charm. For something more sizable, try Victoria Beckham’s North–South bucket bag or Etro’s oversize shoulder bag; they can both fit your favorite on-the-go extras. (For me, the list includes a pink Vitaminwater, a Mason Pearson hairbrush, and a travel-size Drunk Elephant moisturizer.) If you’re heading out for the night and need only a few key items, Saint Laurent’s compact shoulder bag is a sophisticated finishing touch.
The Redefined Starter Bag
SUEDE CLASSIC STARTER BAG
Pierre Hardy Alpha Medium Suede Shoulder Bag
Now 30% Off
SCULPTURAL CIRCLE BAG
Telfar Round Circle Bag
CLUTCH SHOULDER BAG
Valentino Garavani V-Logo Mini Leather Shoulder Bag
Now 30% Off
STRUCTURED SHOULDER BAG
Vavvoune Efa Bag
Everyone remembers their first designer bag. This season, labels leaned into nostalgia by redefining the shoulder and handheld starter bags we know and love with graduated shapes and fabrics. Pierre Hardy coated its small shoulder bag in suede, while Telfar introduced a sculptural circle silhouette. Valentino balanced function and fashion with its logo-closure shoulder bag—it doubles as a clutch with a removable strap.
Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen is Harper's Bazaar's Senior Fashion & Accessories Editor. Outside of the office she can be found downtown with her twin sister, figure skating somewhere or on the hunt for the perfect striped top. Follow her on Instagram @jaclynalexandra
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