Review
Large, capacious bags are all the rage. Here are the best bags and accessories to achieve purse perfection
Here’s the only roundup you need to curate the perfect everyday handbag.
by Andriana Kourkoumelis
There is nothing that makes me feel more prepared for the day than a perfectly curated bag. Knowing I have just the thing for any situation that comes my way is a comforting feeling. As a lifelong maximalist, I love a huge, slouchy bag so this season's trend cycle is something that specifically resonates with me.
Maximalism, large bags, bold colors and not being afraid to get a little chaotic, are expected to stick around as we close out the year. This roundup will include something for everyone, with recommendations and tips from trend experts, stylists, and designers as well as my personal favorites, tried and tested.
What goes into curating the perfect bag?
Olga Kontos, an expert in fashion marketing and founder of Opal Archives can't live without a large, loud purse by her side.
“I like a little drama, so I feel like that kind of translates into my style. Every time I’m accessorizing I just want all the dramatics and to showcase my personality,” she says. “The bigger the better.”
Kontos’s style is the epitome of what’s to come when referencing the next couple months in accessory trends — she is a personal shopper for clients seeking items inspired by their dream Pinterest board. Evaluating these boards and servicing people with all different styles for Opal Archives, Kontos understands that maximalism is in and the “clean girl” aesthetic is seeing its way out.
“It’s hard to stand out and have your own personal style, I feel like a big bag is just a way for anyone that looks at you to be able to tell your vibe,” she says.
According to Kontos, small bags are not on the list of trends we will be seeing. We should expect to see playful patterns and animal prints as well as jewel tones like deep purple and dark blue as a transition from this past “teal summer.” With the early 2010’s coming back, zebra print is something she says to look out for.
As someone who puts a lot of emphasis on accessorizing in my day to day, I agree with Kontos. I have never regretted a bag purchase that lends me a fun way to add something special to an outfit. Plus, a great bag can be a conversation starter.
Right now, I’m drawn to in-your-face colors and bag charms that are personal to me, which is why I spoke to designer Michelle Palacio, founder of fashion brand Es Venganza.
“I’m trying to push other women to wear brighter colors and not depend on their typical seasonal palette,” she says.
A recent campaign of hers highlighted a new bag releasing this fall part of her “Metamorphosis” collection, displaying fun colors, a unique crochet pattern, and a large rectangular silhouette. Once you’ve chosen your bag, whether it's a one of a kind satchel like Es Venganza or a little more understated, it’s time to personalize and wear it in. Palacio had this aspect in mind when creating this new edition to her line.
“I made it on purpose, like circular, so it’s easy for you to put charms and accessorize the bag, so you could decorate it however you want with no struggle,” she says.
Whether you have a keychain from your travels, an old brooch that needs a purpose or want to find something that screams you to adorn your purse, full creativity is welcomed when it comes to building your bag. My bag currently has a keychain from a recent trip to Portugal, a clip-on fidget toy and a Jelly Cat plush bunny. Just looking at it makes my day.
Once the bag is all set up, all that’s to be done is fill it.
A non-negotiable for Kontos is her daily lip combination and oversized sunglasses. For me, I always carry a small pouch with essentials that would save me from any emergency.
Here is a breakdown of categories you could cover when it comes to choosing what to leave the house with:
- Non-negotiables: Here is where your phone, wallet, keys, or medications belong. These are things that would make your day slightly more difficult if forgotten.
- Life savers: If you stain your shirt or need to freshen up, a pouch with some life saving products can be a huge help. For me, a detergent stick and a spray deodorant are with me at all times.
- Just for fun: Have a long train ride? Bring a book with you. Novelty items fall into this category and could be packed last, this is the part of the process where you can switch up the items on the day to day. I always have a magazine in my bag to look at throughout the day, and I change it out when I get a new one. I also carry a tiny travel journal to jot down ideas no matter where I am.
Below, I listed expert recommendations and personal favorite purse brands, charms, and must-haves to inspire you when curating your own large, capacious bag this fall.
Everything you need to curate your fall bag
Best Handbags
This bag has been with me through every life stage, my first day of college, first internship, work and my travels. It is the most comfortable, open concept canvas bag and it comes in a ton of colors to match anyone's taste. I have the large tote in the Cognac color, which for me, feels like the perfect neutral to go with any outfit. When talking about “large, capacious bags,” this one is certainly the most classic and first to come to mind. Purse organizers are also a great way to separate everything in your Longchamp so everything is neat and easily accessible.
Kontos loves a hobo style bag, and it's a chic, classy silhouette that we should be seeing a lot of this fall. This one from Anthropology in the rich, wine red leather makes a statement without being loud. Casual, though still trendy, this is a piece you can break out each and every year for the season. A bag like this is great for a daytime coffee with friends or a casual dinner perfect, for a day to night transition. I am obsessed with Anthropologie bags, especially since they are high quality for a lower cost.
Made to order, and based in Chicago, Rebellion makes a variety of fun, but practical bags. As zebra print creeps back into the trend cycle, this crossbody handbag hybrid is a must if you are a maximalist that loves funky bags or you want to give elevated accessorizing a try. If I want more comfort when carrying my large bag, the detachable strap is a huge help. Since these bags are carefully produced, you can also choose the color of the hardware. Since I wear mostly gold jewelry, I chose gold hardware to match my look, head to toe.
Kontos and I both agree when it comes to vintage bags, the brand to look for is Isabella Fiore. This vintage purple leather large handbag is a great unique addition to your closet if you’re looking for a colorful, but wearable piece. Most Isabella Fiore bags feature elements like fringe, suede, leather, studs, and fun colors and patterns for a great price second hand. “A brand that I always look up is Isabella Fiore, because it is always 100% genuine leather and the hardware is of very high quality, they’re heavy duty bags,” Kontos says.
Best Non-Negotiables to Fill Your Bag
I recently took a trip abroad and found myself wandering the streets all day, causing my phone to die quickly. Thankfully, I had this pocket sized portable charger on me by Anker which not only kept my phone alive but charged it fast. What I love most about this charger though is that there are no cords. Just plug it into your charging port and hold your phone as normal. This way, I was able to take photos and videos of my adventures without having to worry about getting tangled up in my portable. It also comes in cute colors, which is always a plus.
A pill organizer is always a must for on the go, especially if you have to take your medication in the middle of the day to stay on track. This one by Dosey labels each day of the week for easy organization. It also has a mirror which is great for touch-ups, making it a two-in-one product. The sleek design makes it aesthetically pleasing compared to other pill cases. The case fits up to eight pills daily and has a very secure closure to guarantee medications won’t fly around your purse.
Another hybrid product, this practical phone holder, wallet, and mini pouch keeps everything in one place for easy access. Topologie specializes in bag systems, making this mini bag a function forward product. If you want to leave your bag behind and just bring your card, your phone, and keys, the brand makes interchangeable straps meant to work with all their lines. I have this wallet in a bright purple color, but there are plenty of vibrant colorways to choose from. While testing this pouch out I have zero complaints, as someone who was always digging to find my phone and keys, I haven’t had that issue with the phone sarouche.
Best Life-Savers
Whether you need to sew a hole in your shirt, freshen up your breath, or give your hair a comb through the Pinch Provisions Minimergency Kit does all that, while taking up little space. I have been using and repurchasing this product for years, and I have used every product inside it at least once. Though tiny, this is seventeen piece emergency kit comes with a satin remover towelette, an emery board, double-sided tape, a pill container, safety pin, a lip balm, a mending kit, a mini comb, hair bands, dental floss, earring backs, adhesive bandages, nail polish remover pad, deodorant towelette, extra buttons, a compact mirror and breath drops. If you choose anything to throw in your bag on the lifesaver list, let it be this product.
Having an on the go detergent makes me feel at ease whenever I know my clothes could have a possibility of getting stained. A stain can ruin an entire outfit, and I would rather ensure that I could mitigate the issue as soon as it happens. I find that these detergent pads by Shout work the best — they are disposable and single use, which I love, since you can bring as many as you want at a time and just get rid of them when you’re done. The towlette itself covers a lot of surface area and can lift any stain in 30 seconds. The product also works on items beyond just clothes as well, and I use these pads on my car seats as well for a quick detailing.
Best Just for Fun
I am a stationary snob and looked far and wide to find the perfect planner for me. This weekly planner by Leuchtturm1917 has been my go-to since 2020, and I haven’t felt more organized. It's compact and easy to navigate, great for jotting down all daily tasks and obligations. If I forget my planner at home, it’s not the end of the world; but I always prefer that it lives in my bag in case I need to plan anything out while on the go.
Best lip product: Ulta Automatic Retractable Lip Liner
This is one of Olga Kontos’s must have, just for fun products to keep in her bag — and after testing it, I highly recommend Ulta’s Automatic Retractable Lip Liner for anyone who loves a daily lip combo. It has a very long wear time and doesn’t require sharpening which is why it's great as an out and about option. I love carrying a lipliner since it’s a product that can be multipurpose. When I’ve been in a rush, I’ve used lip liner as a lipstick, blush, and eyeliner for a quick and easy makeup look. For the quality, this product is also really affordable and currently on sale.
To add some personality to the outside of your bag, consider a fun bag charm to change up the look. One of Palacio’s style inspirations is Betsey Johnson which is reflected in the loud colors and accessorizing she incorporates into her brand. A bag charm can also be a great conversation starter, and you can add to them as you build experiences so your purse can tell a story. Think of it like a little collection you can bring with you anywhere.
Meet the experts
- Olga Kontos is the founder of style bundle brand Olga Kontos and an expert in fashion marketing. She is a content creator on TikTok and Instagram specializing in maximalism, finding your own style, second-hand shopping, and upcycling. She works with clients to build their dream outfits by perfectly curating looks based on their inspiration and preferences.
- Michelle Palacio is a Columbian designer based in NYC and founder of fashion brand Es Venganza. Es Venganza focuses on feminine confidence and compassion, with pieces inspired by nature.
This article is written and edited by a fashion writer who selects the products and ensures the information provided is accurate. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the publication date. We may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases made through these links.