I’ve always thought there was something intriguing about seeing a woman without a handbag – as if it were a sign somehow of her being entirely self-contained.
It wasn’t always like that. As a child, for instance, I couldn’t wait to sneak into my mother’s bedroom once she had left for work, steal a bag or two from her wardrobe, and stage a mini catwalk presentation around the perimeter of her bed for my grandma. Whether festooned in sequins or just a practical tote, it didn’t matter: it just had to make me feel grown up.
I now find myself trapped between the desire to wear one or the other of those things: to truffle out something fabulously eye-catching, or totally anonymous.
I’m not alone when it comes to the latter. Minimalist bags are enjoying a revival alongside everything else associated with ’90s fashion, a decade that equated elegance with simplicity and clean lines. Blame Love Story, the Ryan Murphy series that brought Carolyn Bessette Kennedy – icon of restrained, excess-free style – back into the spotlight. The former Calvin Klein publicist is portrayed by Sarah Pidgeon, who both on and off screen embodies this renewed love for minimalism. The look – built around discreetly logo-ed, sophisticated basics – feels appealing not because it actively seeks attention, but because it attracts it regardless.
With that in mind, I’ve selected the best minimalist bags to shop, below.
