Bags of Style

This Season’s Hottest Bags by Joana Branco

In fashion, handbags are the piece de resistance, the glorious cherry on top of the sundae of couture. The right bag can instantly update everything from downtime denim to more formal attire and will quickly become the most frequentlyused accessory. From carry-all totes to cross body bags, we asked Joana Branco, our Style Editor and the founder of the fashion app CHIC to reveal the best designer bags worth investing in this autumn.

Farfetch is my go to – you can easily find an impressive edit from brands like Chloe, Prada and Saint Laurent, there are plenty of iconic styles on offer.

In autumn, the colours of turning leaves always come to my mind. From different shades of dark red and green, to brown and pumpkin orange; these colours will give the perfect natural touch. Textures like leather and silver or gold-tone hardware will give a luxurious and warm finish to any look.

For a statement look with an eye-catching pattern the Obi Ichimatsu bag, by Lastframe, is the coolest choice. Using traditional Japanese techniques to create a knitted construction and a checked pattern, elevated by a single-knotted top handle, this bag will be perfect for a fun night out with the girls.

The Origami bucket bag, by Coperni, is the best choice for all the tech and fashion girls out there. With an architectural structure that was inspired by the iPhone photos app icon, this bucket bag is crafted from smooth black Italian leather that gives it a luxurious vibe. Perfect for a lunch meeting. The Saint Laurent Cassandra quilted shoulder bag and the Roseau bag from Longchamp are the perfect evening bags to treasure forever. Saint Laurent will give a more classic and elegant vibe to any look and Longchamp’s sleek finish and minimalistic shape make it ultra-wearable.

For a day in the office, the emblematic piece of the Paco Rabanne vault, the Pacoïo bag and fringe-trim leather tote bag from Marni are an investment you won’t regret. These carry-all tote bags are the perfect choice if you prefer more room in your handbag. The fringes and the silver-tone hardware, both will give your outfit extra flair. Functional and fabulous!

“My personal favourite is the Mara leather soldier bag by See by Chloé. Because I’m always on the run between meetings and picking up the kids from school I need a bag that is practical, and at the same time can add a chic and elegant vibe to my look.”

For a Sunday brunch, the knot tote bag from JW Anderson, and the Bon Bon bucket bag from Jimmy Choo can’t go wrong. The JW Anderson bag with multiple overlaid straps reminds me of a straw picnic basket. The Bon Bon bucket bag in burgundy is the perfect colour for autumn, you can wear it with a single circular top handle or as a cross-body bag with an adjustable detachable shoulder strap.

CHIC APP

Do you want to know how to style these autumn designer bags like a pro? CHIC Outfit Planner is the fashion app you are looking for. Featured by Apple as ‘App of the day’ and ‘New apps we love’ in more than 26 countries, this app is already one of the most popular fashion apps among the fashion tech industry.

When looking for the perfect look, for a business interview, dinner with the girls or even to a yoga class, what do you do? Maybe you first panic and say I don’t have anything to wear, even with an impressive closet, well no judging we’ve all been there. Or you do a general Google search for ‘dinner look’ or ‘wedding guest look’. Inevitably, that will lead you to random, non-curated results. So then maybe you go to a few popular clothing retailers to endlessly browse their selections to see what’s out there. If choosing what to wear every morning feels like a time-consuming task, CHIC was designed to make the process a whole lot easier, and a lot more fun.

CHIC is the first of its kind, an e-commerce platform that creates a curated shopping experience. A shopper’s dream app, it’s completely free. The plus is that every look will be suggested according to your local weather conditions.