Handbag Trends Winter 2025: Stylish Essentials for an Effortlessly Polished Look
With 2025 in full swing, let’s dive into this winter’s best handbags to perk up your style and give you a lift!
A fabulous handbag is a powerful accessory that can transform your look by adding polish and a seasonal touch to any outfit. This winter, we’re seeing a continuation of fall 2024 bag trends, plus a few new styles. There are fresh takes on classic silhouettes, bold textures, and gorgeous new colors to upgrade your wardrobe instantly.
Whether you’re drawn to statement bags or timeless styles, there’s no shortage of fabulous handbag trends to explore. Here’s a roundup of the latest, must-have bags to carry in Winter 2025.
Handbag Trends Winter 2025: Timeless Classics and Bold New Styles for Every Fashionista
Are you excited about getting a chic new winter handbag? First, you need to know what to look for!
Here’s how to tell what’s hot and what’s not so you can quickly identify trending fashion bags you like and then check back here for recommendations.
One of my new favorites is the Paris Baby bucket bag
Tips on How to Know What’s Trending in Handbags
Observe bags on the street-style scene
Street style can be a treasure chest of valuable style information. Fashionistas showcase the latest and most exciting handbag trends around the country, making this an easy way to discover which styles are hot.
Take a look in department stores for new arrivals.
Top stores, like Nordstrom, Saks, Dillards, and Macy’s, are always up to date on the latest styles/brands year-round. Just click on the new arrivals tab and study what’s new.
Could you look for common themes? Do certain shapes, colors, or textures jump out at you? Are bags structured or soft and relaxed? Are they plain or embellished? Look closely at modeling shots to see what bags are featured with different outfits.
Take note of the bags celebrities and influencers are carrying
Celebrities and influencers make it their job to be up to date with the latest handbag styles, and not just the over-the-top expensive designer ones. I’m noticing a real shift to more practical and affordable bags. I’ll buy the odd big-name- high-end bag as a treat, but generally, I like to stay under $500.<
Pay extra attention to handbag textures and colors you’re seeing
A lot of women focus on the latest bag size when shopping for a new purse. However, color and texture are important, too, and can make the difference between a fine-looking handbag and a fabulous one.
Leather, velvet, and eye-catching animal and snake prints are perfect in winter. This season, blue is trending. For example, this bright blue bucket bag is gorgeous and can easily transition into spring and summer. Suede bags are also having a moment and are selling like hotcakes!
Upscale bag- Leather-trimmed suede tote
Visit up-scale handbag-focused websites to see what is trending
As much as I love luxury handbags (like Gabriela Hearst’s unique handbags), it’s hard to justify spending that kind of money. That doesn’t mean that I can’t scroll through her website to get some fabulous inspo from the fall winter 2024/2025 section.
Bottega Veneta is another beautiful designer brand I like to follow. Their designs are always on point.
Luxury handbag websites are great for research because once you find a style you like, you can usually find a similar, more affordable option. Amazon is actually pretty good at this.
Browse fashion magazines, lookbooks, and runways to get the latest scoop
Follow reputable fashion sites with runways and editorials that look like Vogue.com, and even tune into live streams of major fashion shows to get a better sense of what’s trending and what is being filtered down into everyday style.
Keep up with blogs like Fabulous After 40
I share plenty of information on handbags and other topics to keep you in the know about looking stylish at 40, 50, and 60+. Read about Fall and Winter fashion trends, timeless style tips, and my favorite looks! Subscribe here for updates!
Which Handbags Are Trending For Winter 2025
Top-Handle Bags
Top-handle bags, or “office bags,” are classic, structured go-to options that always look professional, ladylike, and chic. The only thing you need to figure out is what kind of top-handle bag to get, given the variety of textures, patterns, sizes, and fabrics available!
If you haven’t already, check out my post on how to choose the right handbag for your body type. This can help you narrow down the exact style and size of bag you want!
Leather should always be included in fall and winter wardrobes. It’s sleek, luxurious, and goes with just about anything. This brown Teddy Blake bag at Nordstrom is a modern classic! Tory Burch is one of my favorite places to look for top-handle bags because there are so many incredible options! Take this small quilted leather top-handle bag, for example.
If you want a medium-sized, slightly bigger, and bolder option, this Sanne suede top-handle bag will exceed your expectations. How about something with an edge, like a leopard print top-handle bag or a green faux croc purse?
Textured Bags
Cozy and tactile fabrics are it this season. Soft materials pair perfectly with winter knits and coats, adding a cozy, comfy vibe.
Fringe Bags are the newest trend! They’re casual, fun, and have a relaxed boho vibe, like this studded western suede fringe bag.
Puffy padded bags that look and feel like clouds are also trending. I like this Amazon’s choice puffer tote and this blue one.
Woven bags are still going strong and transition well into spring. This beautiful woven bag with a curved shoulder strap is available in several colors.
Shearling bags are fun and can make a creative statement. This black-and-white shearling bag is different. Faux fur is similar, but it is less wooly and has a textural element.
This haircalf mini crossbody bag and this faux-fur shoulder bag from Macy’s are playful if you want a fluffy, fun bag.
Bowler Bags and Barrel Bags
Rounded structured bags are having their moment this season! They have a vintage-inspired flair and are extremely versatile. Bowler bags coordinate well with tailored coats and relaxed jeans, perfectly blending more structured and casual.
Typically, when we think of barrel bags, the first thing that comes to mind is overly bulky, enlarged, chunky handbags. These aren’t always the type of accessories we want to add to our tailored and polished looks!
That’s why this Tory Burch petite barrel bag is the perfect alternative. You still get the barrel bag that’s in season, but it’s not too big to the point of wanting to leave it at home instead!
East West Handbag
These cool-looking East-West bags have long, thin straps positioned towards the bag’s middle and a skinny horizontal or oblong shape, giving them a sculptural element. These are definitely a favorite and I can’t wait to get one!
Bucket Bags
If you’re the type of gal who can splurge on a bag because you know you’ll get your use out of it, this pleated wave bucket bag combines different textures and patterns to create the most stunning python-embossed leather option. This studded blue suede bag is poised to be a bestseller, and I love this green crossbody bucket bag.
Oversized Totes
Practical tote bags remain a solid option for their versatility and practicality. With their sleeker lines and subtle embellishments, they’re ideal for all-day wear—whether you’re running errands or just grabbing lunch!
Ulla Johnson has a fabulous collection of oversized tote bags that are gorgeous this season but a little pricier. This Albers tote, in light brown with the cute tassel, is so chic, and this J.Crew brown suede tote is a bestseller.
This whipstitch bag is more of a relaxed tote. This leads us into……
Large Slouchy Shoulder Bags
Large soft bags that are casual and comfy (but not sloppy) look effortlessly chic this season. This suede mushroom-colored slouchy shoulder bag is classy. If you prefer pebbled leather, this green slouchy shoulder bag from Coach is just in and very popular!
Charmed Bags & Double Bags
Bag charms made their mark this fall, and the trend continues this winter. Brands like Miu Miu and Coach are emphasizing fun, playful bag charms, which are a great way to showcase your personality. This signature bag charm adds a chic touch to a plain bag. If you want something a bit more lighthearted, you can opt for this adorable tabby bag charm! On a budget? Amazon has a cute Eiffel Tower bag charm and this chic tassel bag charm.
Double bags, new for winter, take the charmed bag idea one step further. To get the look, simply clip a mini bag to the outside of a large bag you may already own, or add a mini bag charm.
How to Keep Up With Fashion Trends in Handbags
Following along with my page is a great way to keep yourself updated on fashion trends. I always try to go the extra mile to deep dive into what looks are trending each season, what the best deals are, and how to really elevate your look.
To make sure you’re following along with all of my advice, inspo, and updated looks, stay up to date with my LTK storefront; this is the best way to find all of my affiliate links, look at my idea lists, and watch all of my live streams. Finally, meet up online with other age-amazing women in my private Facebook group called The Fabulous After 40 Dressing Room. See you there. Join here!
Which Winter 2025 handbag trend will you try?
With all these stunning options, there’s truly a bag for every taste and lifestyle this season. Embrace the trends that speak to your style, and remember, a great handbag can elevate any outfit with ease!
Keep checking back here for more updates and seasonal inspiration as we navigate the fabulous world of winter fashion together!
