THESE ARE THE BAGS TO KNOW NOW

Autumn is here, what better way to embrace the changes than with a brand-new bag? From versatile everyday bags from Gucci and Saint Laurent to petite, intricately adorned evening bags from Chloé, these are this season’s silhouettes to have on your radar.

For AW25, designers have upped the ante on the camera bag, making it your new go-to for elevating an office look into one that’s also date-night ready. Drawing inspiration from its own archives, Chloé offers the Leather Camera Bag, featuring the gleaming buckles the label is best known for. If you’re in the mood for something more compact, you can’t go wrong with Saint Laurent’s Lou Camera Bag, crafted from the brand’s signature matelassé leather.

Not just for nighttime, the clutch is a versatile bag option that slots as easily into your lifestyle as it does under your arm. Crafted from the brand’s signature Intrecciato weave, Bottega Veneta’s Andiamo Clutch is best paired with minimalist everyday looks to nail that ‘90s-style elegance à la Lauren Hutton in American Gigolo. As for Saint Laurent’s Uptown Pouch, the clue is in the name - it has just the right amount of sophistication to make you feel at home at even the most upscale events.

The shoulder bag came to prominence into the ‘90s and hasn’t strayed far from the zeitgeist since. For AW25, designers are taking this beloved silhouette to new dimensions. Mrs Prada and Mr Simons have taken Prada’s Soft Sound Leather shoulder bag into maximalist territory, adorning it with enough charms and golden chains to ensure that people will hear you coming from a few streets over. Over at Gucci, the mood is demure but no less memorable – the Softbit Maxi Shoulder bag is the kind of slouchy silhouette that only gets chicer with age.

Autumn means getting back into routine, and back to reality. The AW25 collections have made this a stress-free transition, blessing us with an array of tote bags we can throw the day’s essentials into before setting off in the morning. Sleek on the outside, roomy on the inside, Christian Louboutin’s Cabata bag is topped off with the brand’s signature lipstick-red trim. Miu Miu’s Aventure Suede is a slouchier option, arriving in rich autumnal tones that will allow you to match with the changing leaves outside. Chic!

Summer’s long gone and Christmas is week’s away, what better excuse to hit the club? Designers clearly agree, offering us a line-up of unapologetically impractical bags. We’re eyeing Chloé’s Small Bracelet Hobo, crafted from metallic leather and suspended from a golden bangle strap - ideal for martini-holding on the dancefloor. Balenciaga’s Le Cagole Shoulder Bag comes complete with a heart-shaped mirror charm, perfect for last-minute taxi touch-ups.

The shopper is often the go-to for relaxed weekend errands and summer holidays, however this season we’re seeing a new, grown-up iteration; one that’s just as appropriate for the boardroom as the beach. Made from soft, tumbled leather, Saint Laurent’s Saint Bold Shopper is just the right size to slip in your laptop and documents. Similarly, Alexander McQueen’s Alex Shopper hangs from double shoulder straps for assured day-long comfort, whilst its zipped interior compartment keeps prized possessions secure.

The colour of red wine and autumn leaves, this season we’re warming up our wardrobes with bags in a rich, burgundy-red hue. For daytime, the mood is timeless elegance, arriving in the form of Gucci’s Medium Tote bag. For evening, think small but perfectly formed. Chloé’s Treasures Cross-body and Saint Laurent’s Evening Satin pouch are petite, but are both detailed with enough charms, tassels and golden hardware to ensure they’ll never go under the radar.