The best designer handbag brands for 2026 The Times Rosie Davenport, Deputy Editor, Luxx Shopping shopping The best designer handbag brands for 2026 These are the standout designs to buy today Ferragamo Hug soft medium leather shoulder bag Rosie Davenport , Deputy Editor, Luxx Shopping Friday October 16 2026, 4.00am BST , The Times Listen 0:00 / · 10:32 min Share Share this article Email Twitter Facebook Link Save Puzzles Challenge yourself with today's puzzles. Nothing cements my disdain for Nate, the true villain of The Devil Wears Prada film, quite so much as his dismissal of designer handbags. Thankfully his ignorant question — “Why do women need so many bags? You have one, you put your junk in it, and that's it” — is effectively quashed by his open-minded friend Doug. Fashion is not merely about utility, says Doug. An accessory is a piece of iconography, a means of expressing individual identity. Plus, handbags are undeniably pretty. Men, be more like Doug. All recommendations within this article are informed by expert editorial opinion. If you click on a link in this story we will earn affiliate revenue Whether Doug knew it or not, he was on to something: designer handbags keep the fashion world spinning. These luxury leather goods are forecast to be the fastest-growing sector, expanding by 4 to 6 per cent between 2025 and 2027 (compared with 2 to 4 per cent for clothing). Handbags also lead the way in the resale market, which is growing three times faster than the first-hand market, while at the same time retaining their high value. So there is no better time to showcase the signature silhouettes and quintessential classics. More articles we think you'll like The best white T-shirts to buy now The tank-top takeover The best designer denim brands Best designer bag brands Gucci Starlet Advertising feature The Starlet is the latest bag from Gucci's La Famiglia collection. Made from classic monogram canvas with horsebit hardware, its curved silhouette is cool and relaxed without looking too slouchy or undone — a hallmark of Demna's new era at Gucci. Sling it cross-body over a trench by day, then slip it beneath your arm come evening. ￡1,720, Gucci Advertisement Alaïa Le Click East West Azzedine Alaïa was known for his celebration of all things sculptural and his heart-shaped Le Cœur bag is one of the most recognised styles around. For an everyday equivalent that'll stand the test of time, however, the Le Click shoulder bag is the ideal choice. It drapes naturally to snuggle perfectly under the shoulder, and the magnetic fastening means no fussy zipping or fancy folding is required to keep your possessions safe. ￡1,750, Alaïa at Mytheresa Jimmy Choo Cinch Jimmy Choo's elongated bucket bag gains its name from the diamond-shaped drawstring that cinches its soft silhouette. Introduced in 2024, it may be a relatively new addition to the handbag hall of fame, but it has already found its way into the wardrobes of Sienna Miller and Olivia Dean. ￡1,550, Jimmy Choo The Row Marlo 12 The Row is making a strong case for moving beyond the recent mini-bag obsession and embracing the tote. The Marlo is a prime example: a spacious “throw it all in”, with a softly structured silhouette, gusseted side panels and prominent top handles. It's just as handy as its canvas counterparts but far chicer. ￡3,340, The Row at Mytheresa Ferragamo Hug Is there anything more endearing than a hug bag? You'd expect this Ferragamo design to be teddy bear-like and crafted from shearling, but the name refers to the sculptural silhouette rather than the composition. The unique structured design has two “arms”, leather straps finished with adjustable signature Gancini clasp closures, which wrap around the side to the front panel, embracing the main tote. ￡1,800, Ferragamo at Mytheresa Phoebe Philo gig bag The launch of Phoebe Philo's own LVMH-backed brand in October 2023 was arguably the most awaited fashion comeback of the decade. Her tenure at Celine in the 2010s had garnered a cult, minimalist-minded following, and her loyal fans were not disappointed with her new venture. The small gig bag epitomises her elegant aesthetic. It features a luxurious suede lining, tonal stitching, silver hardware and leather tie details. ￡2,100, Phoebe Philo Advertisement Toteme bucket bag On the spectrum of luxury leather totes, Toteme's bucket bag is among the more structured, thanks to an adjustable belt detail — complete with gold hardware — which allows you to change the width of the suede-lined bucket. ￡950, Toteme at Mytheresa Savette Slim Symmetry Savette is logo-less, but its bags are immediately recognisable due to their distinct signature hardware turn-lock closure. The brand was founded in 2020 by Amy Zurek, and the women in her family are a constant source of inspiration — Savette was her mother's maiden name. The bags are conceived as modern heirlooms, designed to be passed down through generations. ￡1,360, Savette at Mytheresa Neous Scorpius Neous was founded by Vanissa Antonious, a former fashion editor at Harper's Bazaar UK and Australia, now known for her sought-after leather bags featuring clean lines and organic folds. Each bag is meticulously handcrafted in Italy in independent, family-owned factories. The Scorpius is a smaller, crossbody version of the brand's celebrated carry-all, perfectly sized for everyday necessities such as a phone, wallet, keys, sunglasses and a small notebook. ￡775, Neous Gucci Jackie 1961 This signature crescent silhouette, renamed after the fashion icon and former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis in the 1960s, has earned its place in the handbag hall of fame. Crafted from supple Italian leather dyed in the shade of the season, it is a timeless choice with outstanding day-to-night capacity. ￡2,820, Gucci Chloé Paddington There's more than a touch of nostalgia to the resurgence of Chloé's chunky lock-adorned Paddington bag. The studded shoulder bag first captured the hearts of the fashion set in 2005 and is instantly recognisable by its east-west shape, weighty padlock and relaxed, cool-girl leather aesthetic. The current version is much lighter than the original, however, and pairing it with skinny jeans and a Noughties-era baby tee is your choice entirely. ￡2,250, Chloe at Mytheresa Advertisement Loewe Featherlight Puzzle The Loewe Puzzle bag, created by Jonathan Anderson, is arguably one of the most well-known handbag designs of recent times. Realising the distinct cuboid shape and flat-pack, geometric construction is a painstaking process: each bag is handmade in Madrid from 75 separate pieces of leather and takes nine hours to assemble. It was the Spanish fashion house's first new silhouette since the 1980s when it was launched in 2015, and it remains one of its most enduring. ￡3,250, Loewe at Mytheresa Mulberry Boston Mulberry has recently looked to its archive for new seasonal inspiration, creating retro, often 1990s-influenced silhouettes with a refined, modern twist. A prime example is the new Boston bag. This spacious handbag showcases beautiful heavy-grained leather and equestrian-inspired buckled straps. ￡1,395, Mulberry Prada Galleria The Prada Galleria takes its name from the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Italy's oldest shopping mall, where Mario Prada founded the brand's first boutique in 1913, and is one of the most recognisable top-handle bags available today. Its structure derives from the historic Saffiano technique, which involves hot-pressing the calf leather, finishing it with a cross-hatch texture, then coating it with wax to make it both scratch and water-resistant. ￡3,300, Prada at Mytheresa Louis Vuitton Side Trunk PM The Side Trunk PM bag is a timeless homage to vintage Louis Vuitton luggage. It is crafted from elegant leather and finished with sophisticated gold-coloured hardware, including the distinctive S-lock and other details inspired by classic trunks. ￡2,980, Louis Vuitton Why trust Times LUXX Shopping? Times LUXX Shopping is brought to you by the award-winning team behind Times LUXX magazine. For nearly 20 years our experts have curated an unrivalled selection of the best in fashion, jewellery, travel, tech, cars, design, food, drink and more. That same rigour, taste and insider industry knowledge underpins Times LUXX Shopping. Every product and experience we recommend is thoroughly researched and vetted by our team. 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