10 Definitive It-Bags Of 2023

From Victoria Beckham's powder box to Chanel's side pack, these are the styles to invest in this year

If ever there were an expert qualified to list the most desirable bags to invest in right now, it's Anna Vitiello, co-founder of And Finally - an online go-to accessories destination, offering an encyclopaedic knowledge of the industry. Here, she introduces the 10 bags to invest in this year.

Just a few years ago, it might have seemed too obvious, or bad taste, even, to sport such a recognisable accessory - a mood that gave rise to a number of brilliant new brands that pride themselves on invisible branding understated design. But the tides have shifted and our thirst for ‘It-bags has returned. So what do the next 12 months hold for these cult-status, wait list-inducing handbags that seemingly sell out faster than we can reach the queue for them? The answer, in short, is a bright future: behold a new breed, prepare to fall over yourselves to get your hands on one.

1.Prada

Trust Mrs. Prada to take the retro silhouette of the season and make it the most decisively unique, iconic bag of spring/summer. Add to that the tie dye print so evocative of Mrs. Prada’s cultural story telling within her creations and you have an accessory that does so much more than complete your outfit. We’d juxtapose the Sidonie’s tie-dye motif with some strong, structured clothes for an ultramodern approach.

2.Victoria Beckham

Beckham’s powder box bag barely hit the proverbial e-commerce shelves before selling out. Did the Duchess of Sussex’s outing with it a month ago as part of a full VB look help drive its success? Probably, yes, but there’s no denying that this compact (literally - it has a mirror and lipstick pocket inside) handbag would have found success all on its own. Get your lipstick at the ready and queue up for the restock - we suspect it’ll be around long enough to blink and you’ll miss it.

3.Celine

So much controversy accompanied Hedi Slimane’s handbag debut for Celine, but looking past all the noise, you’ll find an inherently elegant, timeless bag that ticks all the heirloom boxes. It’s an investment, for sure, but also a piece of history (and history is worth paying for, right?) Worn with some vintage wash jeans and a garbadine trench, you can’t fail to to emulate Christy Turlington circa 1989.

4.By Far

The mid-range label’s shoes have been some of the most Instagrammed in recent memory. So, when By Far dropped a debut range of handbags, they were bound to fly off the shelves (or e-commerce equivalent) in no time at all. The sell-out Rachel bag - aptly named after the 90s Friends character - was followed by one of our favourite styles of the season, rendered in patents, mock crocs and leathers and stealing our hearts with their miniature proportions. Our favourite? The pistachio green that touches on the off-pastel hues that we’re loving for S/S 2019.

5.Fendi

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix, just make it even better. Continuing the label’s string of cult status bags to come out in recent seasons, Fendi has taken a true classic - the Peekaboo - and made it unapologetically cool with the addition of the ‘defender’. With useful compartments plastered all over the ready-to-wear as well as the bags (labelled for those seeking unambiguous efficiency) the chic colour ways and functional elements feel experimental and timeless in equal measure. Utility is going to be one of the season’s biggest trends, so why not go the whole hog and pair it with neutral cargo pants and a crisp shirt.

6.Bally

No one makes elegance look as cool as Bally, and the Janelle bag - a timeless crossbody with a metal buckle opening - exemplifies the label’s uniquely luxe, modern aesthetic. Steering clear of the millenial-driven logo mania of recent seasons, it quietly exudes sophistication much like its cross-body peers from Celine and Saint Laurent. We love the pinky-nude that feels like a neutral, but acts like a colour, giving a denim get up a feminine touch.

7.Chanel

Chanel’s runway show sur la plage was memorable for many reasons - not least the actual waves rolling up on the man-made beach and the lifeguards sat atop their towers - but even the jaw-dropping setting couldn’t steal the limelight from the incredible accessories. Most notable was the side pack - Chanel’s bag of the season - comprising of two bags in one, joined midway by their chains and designed to wear on each side: a twist on a classic that we’re more than on board with.

8.Little Liffner

If out and out 90s isn’t your thing, then Little Liffner’s baguette bag - a sell-out within days on Net-a-Porter - could be your bag of the season. It packs all the punch of a luxury accessory with a mid range price tag but you’ll have to add your name to the wait lists if you’re to join the legion of fans that the Stockholm-based brand has quickly accrued.

9.Givenchy

Once upon a time, we were digging around vintage shops for old school Givenchy, but trust Clare Waight Keller to bring back an icon. The label’s new line of accessories feature the iconic logo, injecting a dose of 80s Parisian glamour to your wardrobe. We love the belt bag, in particular, worn with high waist tailored trousers and a silk blouse.

10.Chloé

Few fashion houses could take a beautifully simple handbag silhouette, apply a single initial and come up with a cult accessory, but such is the influence of Chloé’s handbags (and the loyal hashtag Chloé girls that don them) that the label’s C baghas become one of our favourite street style stars. Its chic understatedness makes it one of the most versatile bags of the season, perfect for pairing with casual denim or a silk slip dress for summer.