Handbag Trends That Are Totally Dating You

Although we all have our favorite handbags, for example, those big, oversized bags from the early aughts that many of us can't give up, it doesn't mean that's actually the best bag for you. With so many handbag styles and trends, you may not realize that, in addition to probably doing a number on your posture, that oversized catch-all is also totally dating you. After all, only Jennifer Aniston can rock '90s trends and still make them work.

"Over the past few years, I've seen handbag trends evolve not just in style, but in how essential they've become in everyday life," fashion stylist and founder of Rosa Cabin, Karen Rose, exclusively tells Women. "Today, more people are using handbags as a key personal accessory, almost like a daily essential that goes beyond just fashion." As Rose further explains, because handbags are an essential part of everyone's day-to-day look, practicality has taken precedence over bags being statement accessories.

While no one is saying you need to toss out your favorite bags, if you're feeling out of the loop and want to get back in on the current trends, then switching your bag can help. This is especially the case if you've been using the same handbag since Taylor Swift released her first album. Change may not be easy, but it's good for the soul. It's also a great way to prevent yourself from looking like the elder millennial that you are — not that there's anything wrong with that!

Even if you can't fathom surrendering your fringe bags, if you don't want to date yourself and look like you're living in a bygone era, then it's time to put them away. At least for now. "Fringe-adorned bags are fading out, as the trend shifts toward cleaner, more streamlined aesthetics," says Karen Rose, adding that the boho vibe that fringes bring to the equation is being dropped for more polished lines. Although we saw funky fringe making the rounds in summer 2023, as quiet luxury took over in 2024, embellishments like fringes started to lose their appeal. 

While huge handbags from the early 2000s are officially over, on the flipside of that, so are microbags. "In 2025, microbags are losing relevance as practicality becomes a priority," Karen Rose exclusively tells Women. "People are opting for roomier, more functional bags." While in theory a microbag may make sense for an evening out on the town, when you only have your phone, credit card, and a tube of lipstick, it's still a passé trend. Even worse, it dates you. With that in mind, it's better to level up to a properly sized bag that doesn't have anything micro about it.

Just barely a step up from fanny packs, a retro accessory that was briefly cool again in 2023, are belt bags. Granted, belt bags are far more chic and usually made of higher quality materials than classic fanny packs, but in 2025, they no longer have a place. "[Belt bags] are being replaced by more traditional crossbody or shoulder bags that offer both style and versatility," Karen Rose tells Women. If you fear that you'll miss the convenience of a hands-free bag, then you're in luck: crossbody bags offer that very same feature. Crossbody bags also bring your entire look into the present, which is where you want to be to avoid dating yourself.

As fun as novelty bags were for a hot minute — even Carrie Bradshaw carried around the JW Anderson Pigeon Clutch Bag that retailed for $890 in 2022 during Season Two of "And Just Like That..." — it's another trend that has fizzled. "Novelty bags with playful shapes and embellishments are becoming less popular, as 2025 embraces classic and understated luxury," says Karen Rose. However, if you're planning on dressing up as an iconically fashionable female character for Halloween, like Carrie Bradshaw, for example, then a novelty bag is a must to complete your look. Luckily, there's a pigeon clutch dupe you can score for a fraction of the cost of the real thing.

As Karen Rose exclusively explains to Women, handbag trends are now about self-expression, as opposed to keeping up with the Joneses, so to speak. "Instead of simply chasing status symbols, people are now choosing bags that reflect their unique personality," says Rose. "Whether that means embracing artisanal quality, distinctive designs, or even well-known luxury labels in a more individual way." Because of this, there's no longer a one-size-fits-all bag that's driven by status, but rather a return to authenticity when it comes to finding the right handbag. "[It's about] leaning into what truly resonates with each person's sense of self," says Rose.