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After the spring/summer 2026’s designer debuts finally hit the market, one question was at the forefront of our minds: what is the bag of the moment? To answer it, we asked fashion stylists to share the handbags they rely on daily. After all, the perfect bag carries a lot of weight—it needs to be spacious enough for the essentials, versatile enough to go anywhere, and chic enough to reflect personal style.
The Fashion Stylist-Approved Handbag Checklist:
Of course, the idea of the perfect bag is deeply personal. It is the accessory that moves with you most, from mornings at the office to after-hours drinks to international travel. For the industry’s top stylists, the standard is even higher: a bag must withstand long days on set, countless flights, and still speak to a discerning point of view.
With an expert eye for both fashion and function, each stylist has found their ideal match. These are the bags that feel timeless and effortless, but practical too. “It is like the Ikea bag exalted: discreet, utilitarian, unfussy, and available in amazing colors. I always make a point of buying more when I am in Paris,” says contributing fashion editor Alex Harrington about his collectsion of Hervé Chapelier totes. It’s a testament to the kind of bag that doesn’t just complete a look, but anchors a lifestyle.
Below, shop fashion stylists’s favorite everyday handbags.
Harry Lambert
“I carry this bag daily! It the perfect size for my laptop, gym kit, toiletries…. everything. I have found brown suede goes with basically every outfit I wear. Even though it’s suede, it has stood the test of time as I have had it for over a year and it still looks good as new. It truly is the perfect bag. So much so I am looking into getting it in another color.”
Kate Young
“[My Prada buckle bucket bag] is very practical. I like it because it fits absolutely everything and is chic and discreet enough. It was a Christmas gift from Prada.”
Yohana Lebasi
“My everyday is the above Phoebe Celine bag which looks unavailable in the resale market but I’d include this updated Phoebe Philo version. It has the same practicality with a twist through the design. I carry my iPad, a book or my notebook, several pairs of eye and sunglasses, often times a little snack, and all the usuals: phone, keys, wallet and also hand sanitizer, headphones. I have also built an arsenal of lipsticks, glosses and balms and having such a spacious bag allows me to bring them all along!”
Edward Bowleg
“I purchased this bag back in 2012, sort of my first big boy bag, as I began traveling while assisting. It has held up very well over the past 14 years, having gone on countless trips. It holds everything from several days’ worth of clothing and toiletries and is super functional. I love pockets, especially a pocket with a zipper, which this has. It tends to always hold my passport, keys, loose change in different currencies, gum/mints (fresh breath is always important!), tissues, mini lint roller, lens cloth, and various random receipts I accumulate on each trip.”
Alex Harrington
“I think this has to be the Hervé Chapelier waxed tote. It is like the IKEA bag exalted: discreet, utilitarian, unfussy, and available in amazing colors. I always make a point of buying more when I am in Paris. I even sometimes nest multiple bags into each other russian doll style so there is always an extra bag on hand for the inevitable location change on a photoshoot carting accessories or for a real-life trip to the grocery store.”
Luca Galasso
“[My] Celine bag is the perfect balance of classic and contemporary—I love the supple leather, the way it sits ergonomically against the body, and the subtle tension created by the Triomphe closure, which adds such a thoughtful design detail. The Chanel Maxi is my larger carry-all for busier days—when I need to fit my laptop, iPad, and more. Despite its size, it maintains that timeless, minimal elegance, and the softness makes it surprisingly comfortable to wear.
I often layer my bags—either nesting a smaller one inside or wearing both together. Inside, I keep the essentials: a wallet, a book, and a few pouches. I especially love a Caravaggio pouch I picked up at an exhibition, which holds my daily staples—K-beauty SPF 50 (non-negotiable, must reapply throughout the day!), hand sanitizer, hand cream, mints, and a travel perfume. I also carry a small stylist kit with mini scissors, safety pins, double-sided tape, and a needle and thread, along with a small agenda (with another Caravaggio painting on it) and a few pens.”
Tabitha Simmons
“I love, love my large blue Chanel bag. I also have one in brown suede that I take everywhere with me and is cheap as chips, but I can put loads in it.”
Jorden Bickham
“I love my TWP Howard Street Bag for traveling and carrying my computer around. I tend to bring either a lot or virtually nothing. So on the days I have my laptop, research, water, etc, it’s this bag or bust. On days when I only need my phone and wallet, I love this Prada pouch in the palest grey nappa leather. You can wear it as a crossbody or carry it as a pouch.”
Max Ortega
“My Hermès Garden Party tote’s leather has cracked and peeled to near perfection. I have been carrying it for over five years and recently have tried my hand at other similar totes for my daily needs. I don’t think I really needed to explore whether Hermès has it all figured out above all the rest, but I did and I came running straight back.
The straps are not big enough to put this bag on my shoulder but that’s because the small straps can really bear the weight of everything I need while remaining light (plus no one really looks good with a bag on their shoulders anyway...) I’m considering buying a second one to start letting decay in the background for when this one bites the dust...”
Carlos Nazario
“I have carried The Row’s Park XL Leather Tote in black for about a year now. Like most people in fashion, I have always been obsessed with bags. Before this one, I rotated constantly, sometimes monthly, sometimes weekly. They were almost always huge and almost exclusively black (aside from a brief three-week stint with a chocolate Loewe tote), and I could always find a way to justify the next one. Then I found this bag. It is, quite literally, perfect for me. First of all, it is a bottomless pit and fits everything: my laptop, gym clothes, a 1.5 liter water bottle, an extra layer or two sinceI am perpetually cold. It’s deceptively minimal, almost utilitarian, but incredibly considered. It is incredibly durable and, much like myself, has only gotten better looking with age. The interior is thoughtfully designed, with a built in pouch that keeps essentials in place, and it doubles as the perfect carry on for my frequent travels, sitting perfectly atop my suitcase.I promise I am not being paid to say this, but it is the quintessential bag for the boy (and girl) on the go.”
Elizabeth Saltzman
“I love my Métier duffle bag so much—and so does my Charlie, as he stole mine from me. I carried it everywhere, now he carries it everywhere. I truly love what Melissa is doing with Métier. I love quality and style. This is the best of both. The L.L. Bean Boat and Tote is another must-have; the zip version is my favorite. The one I have is a special edition that I found at the L.L. Bean store in Virginia. I love to gift them with monograms for newborns, weddings, thank yous, birthdays, Christmas, you name it. Every day I also use my Nili Lotan Jerry clutch. It comes with me everywhere, holding all of my necessities. It’s my day-to-night.”
Becky Akinyode
“I love my Chanel bag because it’s the perfect size. I can wear it in the day and also at night. When I bought it, I felt like a true fashion girl.... It’s such a classic, and it’s worth every penny!
The Row’s ’90s bag is the perfect going-out bag, too! It fits in the crook of my elbow, so I can dance without feeling restricted. Plus, it’s so chic and minimalist that it goes with everything.
I don’t technically own the Louis Vuitton Noé—it belongs to my sister, but we did a bag trade, so I have it at the moment. When I’m out prepping for a job, this is the bag I like to carry because I can throw anything and everything in it. I love how LV bags age over time, and this one, in particular, ages beautifully! It’s for the girls who put their bags to work—it can really take a beating!
I just got the Mulberry Boston a few weeks ago, but it’s already become my new go-to. I like the shape and the pebbled leather. Also, I just took it on a work trip and was able to fit so many things in it, including my MacBook Air, toiletries, and Bose headphones. Honestly, I doubt that’s how it’s meant to be used, but I love that it can fit so much!”
Natasha Colvin
“I recently purchased a vintage Chanel executive handbag as my everyday bag and I’m obsessed. It’s the perfect size–fits my laptop and iPad–and is timeless and versatile. I wanted a new everyday bag that not everyone was carrying, and surprisingly I don’t see this one around too often. Except everyone now gets it confused with Matthieu’s new Maxi Flap Bag that is sold out everywhere. I always carry with me my laptop, my iPad for checking Replica Handbag Store Runway, my 100 lipliners, wallet, AirPods, keys, and mints.”
