The most popular designer handbags of 2023 so far

WORDS Jasmine Pirovic PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of Bottega Veneta PUBLISHED Mon, 20 Nov 2023 – 3:02 pm

We’re getting down to the pointy end of 2023 and if there’s one thing we’ve learned from this years, it’s that oversized bags have reentered the chat. Arguably the designer handbag of the season has been Bottega Veneta’s beloved Andiamo for this reason, although anything the Italian house crafts tends to rise to the top of our wishlists. By all accounts, mini accessories have taken a step back, at least for now.

Blame it on the noughties nostalgia, we certainly will. It’s clear we’re all lusting after the days when handbags were large enough to fit a Chihuahua (Marc Jacobs relaunched Stam Bag comes to mind). One need only Google Jane Birkin’s overstuffed Birkin and Mary Kate Olsen’s wine-stained mint-hued Balenciaga City for further inspo. The shift has been a long time coming if the secondhand market is anything to go off, with vintage YSL Mombasas snatched up like hotcakes and an appetite for droopy vintage Bottega Veneta Hobo shoulder bags according to Pinterest.

So what else is new as far as designer handbags go? We love the look of Loewe’s Squeeze bag with its adjustable chain and everything-but-the-kitchen-sink packing potential. Daniel Lee reminds us that he’s the king of accessories at the newly revamped Burberry, while Phoebe Philo’s return has us wondering if we can claim her exorbitantly priced (and sold out) Cabas totes as a tax deduction for work… A girl can dream.

It’s not all about hammock-like hobo bags either. There’s an undeniable shift towards top handle bags too. We’ll always hold a soft spot for the Lady Dior and it’s mini iteration is the right balance of new and old. Maximillian Davis is refreshing the accessories department at Ferragamo, the Louis Vuitton Speedy is back with a vengeance, and few of us are immune to the magic of Ms Prada’s deceptively-simple top handle option from Miu Miu AW23.

For all the best and most popular designer handbags to emerge in 2023 so far, keep scrolling.