Whether classic or following the latest trend, there are so many styles of bags out there that you should know how to choose the right one for your outfit and occasion. Different types of bags meet the very varied needs of today’s lifestyles.
If you are a professional and need a large bag to keep documents and devices, or you are going to a party or a lounge bar, or you are simply going out to do your grocery shopping, for each of these different personal styles and occasions there is the right bag for you. Our loyalest sidekick on journeys and adventures, our bags are an expression of ourselves and can say a lot about your personality. They reflect our style, our energy and imagination, and are always full of surprises. You never know what you can find in a person’s bag…
The baguette bag
In 1997 Silvia Venturini Fendi, creative director of accessories for the family firm along with Karl Lagerfeld, launched her it bag, shocking the fashion world of the time. Small in size, it’s called baguette as – just like the famous French loaf of bread – you carry it under your arm. Its elongated yet compact shape measures a trim ten by six inches. It also includes an adjustable shoulder strap, but the unwritten rule requires it to be kept as short as possible. Over the top by nature, it doesn’t come in any simple or basic versions. Its materials of choice are leather, fur, crocodile, lizard and pony skin, denim and velvet, embellished with beads, pearls, sequins, fringes and crystals. The slogan ‘It’s not a bag, it’s a baguette!’ featured in an episode of Sex and The City – as Carrie Bradshaw yells at a thief who orders her to give him the bag – is a highlight in the history of the baguette bag.
The bowling bag and the doctor’s bag
Cylindrical in shape, the bowling bag is a typical daytime accessory, very roomy with a long top zipper and with both short handles and a built-in strap to carry it on the shoulder. Very convenient for those who use their bags as a second home, although they also come in smaller sizes. They work perfectly in a 50s inspired outfit with jeans, blouse and oxfords.
The doctor’s bag belongs to the category of city bags, and takes its name from the bags traditionally carried by physicians. Extremely spacious and with a semi-rigid geometric structure with short handles, it’s almost entirely made of leather and characterized by a signature metallic closure, often with a buckle or clasp strap on top.
The clutch bag
It’s mini in size; but not mini in style: very small, rigid and designed to be carried in your hand, with a clip or interlocking closure.
Clutches and pochettes are small, handy and especially suitable for the evening: the world of mini-bags is full of elegant and exquisite options.
What’s the difference between a clutch and a pochette?
The pochette is similar to the clutch bag, but also has a small strap. The latest trends on the catwalks showed pochettes in fantastically large sizes. The maxi pochettes are the new it bags of the moment, an accessory to show off at all times and on the most varied occasions. Handy, glamorous and suitable for outfits that range from casual to sporty and chic. Basically, you cannot not have one! Our advice? Get one in a neutral tone, minimal yet with some decorative details, so you can make the most of it and wear it at fancy dinner parties, but also for lunch or informal drinks with friends.
The hobo bag
The term ‘hobo bag’ obviously comes from the idea of the traditional hobo taking everything needed with him in his bag. With its trapezoidal shape and enveloping, capacious design with top closure and internal compartments, the hobo bag is more than suitable for any occasion. It is recognizable for its signature half-moon shape, which gives it the ability to hold a great number of items, making it ideal for daytime activities, especially for those who lead a very busy life. Its shape makes it versatile and ideal for carrying around all day, in any environment. The hobo bag has become such an icon thanks to Gucci. It was first created by the brand in the 1950s and named Constance, a minimal soft leather bag with a comfortable shoulder strap to turn it into a shoulder bag. The turning point came during the 60s, thanks to Jackie Kennedy Onassis, who sported one as part of her unmistakable signature style. That’s how Gucci decided to rename it after her to the Jackie O bag, one that is still a legend. In 2014, the Jackie O was restyled and presented as the New Jackie bag, with Kate Moss as spokesmodel.
The postina bag
This postina bag (lit. postman’s bag) is perfectly suited to students bringing to class a few notebooks and books. The postina is usually made of light leather, and more recently also produced in pastel colors and finished with studs to make it really intriguing. The unique feature of the postina bag is that it’s particularly soft and adapts to the body when wearing it as shoulder bag. It’s a classic and always in fashion model that it is a perfect mix of capacity, practicality and style, with its flap opening, external pockets and long shoulder strap. Suitable for those who are always on the go and pay attention to details.
The Saddle bag
The saddle bag takes its name from the art of saddler, as its shape resembles that of a horse riding saddle. Normally medium sized and made of genuine leather, saddle bags are also provided with a shoulder strap. Ideally worn during daytime, and matched with informal clothing styles, although more elegant and formal versions for evening can also be found.
The Shopper and Tote bag
The shopper is one of the most useful bags during the day. It’s called a shopper because its shape is reminiscent of shopping bags, and it’s roomy and runs straight down, normally with short rectangular handles. It can be made with any material, and it’s ideal for shopping especially because its handles make it possible to carry it both by hand or on the shoulder, according to the need of the moment.
The Tote bag
The tote is a trapezoid in shape and is produced in various sizes. It’s ideal for carrying a number of things with you as it’s very large and roomy. First created in the 1940s, it’s very handy for any occasion and use, whether shopping or going to work, to literally tote your things around. A tote bag is therefore a shopping bag born as a large and practical bag where you can put a bit of everything, a real must-have in your wardrobe. It’s simply a large and simple sort of sack open at the top and with no closures or zips (and therefore not necessarily loved by all), equipped with two parallel handles, long and wide enough to be worn on the shoulder. Tote bags are by no means a recent invention: they were already widespread before they were first named, and especially used by sailors because of how strong, roomy and practical they were, by paperboys to carry their packs of newspapers to deliver to people’s doors, and even by wealthy ladies on yachts who just needed to be practical. Over time, all American women from all walks of life started using them, cementing them as an indispensable accessory. The 50s is the era when totes started to become available as more developed handbags, even flaunted by celebrities!
The Bucket bag
The bucket bag was particularly fashionable in the 80s, and bears this name because it literally has the shape of a small bucket. It is extremely roomy, with a signature closure made of two laces fixed with a toggle.