This fall, I decided to pull bags I already own, which fit into the current fall handbag trends, and put together a capsule wardrobe; instead of buying a new bag to add to my collection. While there are bags I would like to purchase, I am undecided on which one to actually buy; so I am going to wait until next season to decide. I am eyeing the Bottega Veneta Cassette Bag in black, the Givenchy Antigona Soft in grey, a few bags from Staud, and a few bags on Miirta. It’s hard to pick just one!
The fall handbag trends for 2020 include heavy chain straps, bucket bags, pouch clutches, hard clutches (due to shelter-in-place, I don’t have a place to wear this trend), geometric shape bags, and top handle satchels or totes.
The Givenchy Antigona is celebrating ten years, so it’s a fun bag to wear this year. My Chanel Boy bag takes care of the heavy chain trend, and of course Mansur Gavriel’s bags are always on pointe. I am wearing my Chloe Marcie because it fits the satchel trend, and it is also a fabulous casual bag for everyday use. Sometimes practical can be fabulous too 😉
Shop my fall 2020 handbag capsule wardrobe online:
Shop my wish list and alternatives online:
If you are looking for classic bags with longevity, all of these bags have it! I have owned these bags for several years, and one bag, over a decade! The only new-ish bag is my Mansur Gavriel Cloud Clutch which I have had since late winter. Handbags rarely wear out, so it is always a good idea to invest in a handbag with a timeless vibe; that way you can pull it in and out of your closet. Investment dressing is always the way to go!
Almost every season we have a stand-out IT bag. Often times an IT bags travels through a few seasons before running it’s course. IT bags normally live roughly two to three years before ending up on the resale market, and ultimately getting marked down on store shelves. When this happens, those of us who invested in a designer IT bag, which ends up on clearance and is ultimately discontinued; we die a little inside.
How much money did I spend? Can I resell it now? How much can I get if I resell it? These are the questions which race through our heads as we realize we held on to a fly-by-night IT bag too long. We can be really careful when we purchase an IT bag, but we truly never know how long it will last. Will it have a life after it has achieved IT status? If I wear the bag after it has peaked, will people give me side eye? Unless someone has a crystal ball, we really are playing guessing games!
Well, if playing IT bag roulette isn’t your thing, and you find classic IT bags boring, then you’re in luck! You don’t have to invest in a Chanel, Louis Vuitton, or Hermes bag to rock a classic IT bag. You can still have an IT bag with longevity and cutting-edge style, without feeling cliche. After all, not everyone wants to wear a classic IT bag that has been around for fifty years. Some of us want a little bit of flair, without throwing money away; or at least variety in our bag wardrobe.
If you want more pizzazz in your IT bag, then you are in luck! There are currently four IT bags which have withstood the test of time. These four bags are still on retailers top seller lists, after their peak, and years after their debut. If you want an IT bag that will last, and which isn’t plastered in logos, these are your four bags!
Chloe Marcie (shown in small)
(old picture from 2014, my photos have come a long way over the years!)
Let’s start with the Chloe Marcie. This casual and soft IT bag debuted back in 2009. That’s over a decade of IT status. Whaaaaat??? Yes. This bag offers cutting-edge, casual style without the fear of it being over next year. The Chloe Marcie has withstood the test of time. To top things off, it comes in many sizes, colors, and variations. If you plan to invest in the Chloe Marcie, go with a neutral color. Seasonal colors only last a season or two. There is a Chloe Marcie for everyone. I own a small black satchel which I love! I purchased it back in 2009, well before I started handbag reviews. Stay tuned, I am planning to review her soon!
Givenchy Antigona (shown in small)
Are you surprised the Givenchy Antigona is on the list? Of course not. If you haven’t spotted it all over the streets, then you have read about this beauty here. This doctor style satchel has been on the market for ten years, and still retains her IT status. This is a strong, high quality, workhorse bag. If you don’t have one, what are you waiting for?
Mansur Gavriel bucket bag (shown in black/flamma-regular size)
Ah! The Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag. This is a rare IT bag priced well under $1000. Not only that, this is an IT bag by an American Designer; another rarity. The Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag went from wait list to IT bag classic. If you don’t have one in your closet, you’re missing out. It holds everything and the kitchen sink without looking huge. This bag is also extremely durable; another workhorse. I recommend grabbing the black with flamma interior for your first bucket bag. It had the longest wait list back in the day, and is the most popular color combo on the streets today. Love!
Loewe Puzzle Tote
The Loewe Puzzle Tote is another IT bag classic. Debuting in 2014, this beauty is standard in tan and black. You can also find it in seasonal hues as well as seasonal color blocking. The Puzzle tote comes in various sizes too. Plus, this bag is unisex! It can be worn by men and women; making it very versatile! I have always wanted one, but haven’t purchased one just yet. I plan to add one to my collection someday. I would love one in tan or grey.
There is a common theme with these four IT bags which have jumped from being trendy to being classic. They are all roomy enough to fit what we need day-to-day, and they offer sturdy construction so we can lug around heavy items such as full water bottles. In addition, these bags can be worn with casual clothing or office attire. They also are comfortable to wear. These bags don’t have weird handles which poke into our hands, and they don’t have uncomfortable chains or odd fabrications on their straps. What makes an IT bag? Comfort, practicality, strong quality, and chic style. These four have IT.
Do you own any of these IT bags? Are you planning to invest in any of them?
It’s been ten years! Let’s see, ten years ago I started my blog, and ten years ago Givenchy launched their iconic Antigona handbag; which has become a classic IT bag everyone must-have in their closet. I love this bag so much, after owning the black one for a few months, I purchased another one in baby blue! Yup, I’m addicted!
My Givenchy Antigona has gone to almost every New York Fashion Week with me. It has also traveled on vacation with me, as well as been reached for on a regular basis for day-to-day life. This bag is strong, and has just the right amount of room inside for everything I need to carry with me. You can see my original review here. My two Antigona’s are size small. I feel like this is the perfect size for the structured version of this bag. Of course, now that Givenchy has launched a soft version to celebrate ten years. . .my size preference could change!
OK, you read that right. In case you haven’t heard, Givenchy launched a soft version of their iconic Antigona bag in order to freshen up the style, as well as celebrate ten years of being fabulous. I am hooked! The soft version is equally fabulous, and I definitely need to purchase one for my collection. The question is, which size?
The Givenchy Antigona Soft comes in three sizes right now; small, medium, and large. While I am normally drawn to smaller versions of a handbag style, the medium appears a little bit more floppy; and floppy is catching my eye. I feel like the small version would be ideal for what I normally carry around with me. That being said, the medium has the perfect silhouette out of the three sizes. I’m not sure how I would fill up the medium, but I feel like it is the size I need. I mean, more interior capacity can’t hurt, right?
If you don’t already own a Givenchy Antigona, what are you waiting for? It’s an IT bag classic. Also, what do you think of the new soft version? It is starting to emerge as one of fall 2020’s new IT bags!
