The 7 handbags every woman should own.

And the brands to shop if you don't have a Birkin budget.

Jul 24, 2024

I don’t know you, but I bet you fall into one of two camps.

You either have one trusty handbag you cart with you everywhere or you change your bag as often as you change your underwear (which is daily, I hope).

Handbags can either be a status symbol (like the iconic Birkin and Chanel Classic Flap) or a functional accessory to tie your entire outfit together.

And you don’t have to spend thousands on the right one for you. In fact, Nothing To Wear host Leigh Campbell rounded up her favourite budget-friendly bags for under $100 and they’re all so chic.

On this week’s episode of Nothing To Wear, Leigh was joined by fashion journalist Damien Woolnough to talk all things handbags, from designer dupes to the seven styles every woman should own.

Image: Instagram @damienwoolnough.

As style editor at Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Damien really knows his stuff when it comes to fashion. He’s previously worked for Vogue Australia, Elle Australia, Channel 7 and The Australian.

You can listen to the full episode of the podcast below.

So let’s dive into what Damien and Leigh had to say about bags.

What makes an ‘It bag’?

Every few years a new ‘It bag’ comes out onto the market. The most recent design that comes to mind is the Loewe Puzzle Bag, and before that it was the Bottega Veneta Cassette bag. But what makes a handbag so coveted?

“It’s a really clear way of showing your taste. You’re sort of saying, ‘I love Hermes, I can afford Hermes’. It’s a status symbol for women, just like watches are for men,” said Damien.

Dupes, fakes and ‘super fakes’.

Fashion trends usually start at the top. Our everyday clothing often takes cues from runway shows and high-end designer brands, which are then adapted by mainstream labels to be more affordable.

While dupes offer an affordable way for people to explore specific designs and styles without the hefty price tag, Damien pointed out that there's a fine line between being inspired and outright copying.

“I’m fine with inspired-by pieces. Those allow most of us who don’t have an Hermes budget to embrace a trend, but I like it when the brand who has been inspired puts their own twist on it,” Damien said.

What about handbags for men?

If you're tired of your partner asking you to carry their things in your handbag, you're not alone. Damien believes the tide is turning, with handbags no longer seen as exclusively feminine, leading more men to want bags of their own.

“Men have had to rely on pockets for so long, so they aren’t used to carrying bags. There’s also a lot of dated heteronormative beliefs that surround men and handbags. Which is slowly disappearing, with the rise of totes,” he said.