The ultimate guide to shoulder bags

bag styles

A bag is a bag, right? Wrong! There are many different styles out there. Here’s a quick look at the most popular styles right now.

the shoulder bag

With the exception of handbags and tote bags (bags with handles too small or short to carry on the shoulder), most bags fall into this category. Every woman should have at least one shoulder bag in her closet. They’re practical (but that doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish!) and handy for shopping, running errands, or the office. They free your hands to carry other items.

Here are examples of shoulder bags:

Hobo bags: A crescent-shaped bag, usually without structure. But that is not always the case. Modern variations include more structured hobo bags, drawstring hobos, skinny styles, even square hobos and bucket hobos.

Totalizers: Totes are roomy bags, usually rectangular with single or double straps. Totes are available in structured and unstructured styles.

Wallets: Satchel bags are usually small to medium sized zipper bags that are usually wider than they are long. They can be structured or unstructured and carry a shoulder strap or be carried by hand. Clutches are often referred to as bowler bags, such as the and the

barrel bag: As its name implies, a barrel bag is cylindrical and resembles a barrel laid on its side, often with a long, thin shoulder strap.

Flap closure bagsFlap shoulder bags have a flap that folds down, usually halfway down the front of the bag, with a clasp, turnkey, snap, or other closure. Check out the Flatiron Long Shoulder Bag.

Belted and drawstring bags: The belted or drawstring bag is a fun variation on the shoulder bag. They gather at the top instead of a flap or zipper. Bulga Brown’s leather ‘Krystal’ belted bag and Christian Dior’s black lambskin ‘Cannage’ large quilted tote are a few examples.

padded bags: Quilted leather bags are a popular leather bag style that incorporates the quilted texture in fine leather, such as the small ivory quilted goatskin “Matelasse” bag from Balenciaga (pictured below).

It can be mind-blowing when shopping for a bag. I hope this shoulder bag guide is helpful. Happy shopping!

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