Our trend compasses are to the east-west bag.
While doomscrolling on TikTok and Instagram (don’t worry, we’re not judging), you’ve probably noticed that the bags this season are getting longer and slimmer. Thin is in, at least when it comes to this season’s trending handbags.
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
Edward Berthelot/Getty Images
With Alaia Teckel or “sausage dog” bag tucked chicly under the arms of every celebrity from Margot Robbie to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley this summer, it’s not terribly surprising that the elongated bag shape is continuing to trend for autumn. Actually, the quirky oblong shape can actually be traced all the way back to 2004, when Jean Paul Gaultier designed an elongated Birkin when he first became creative director of Hermès, and it’s slowly making its comeback 10 years later. EBay has seen searches for ‘east west bags’ increase by 150% this year alone.
For the uninitiated, the east-west bag (cleverly named for how the bag looks like it’s stretched from east to west), is a slightly edgier spin on the classic baguette bag. Some can stretch so far they look like they could be flute cases!
These bags also fit right into our collective nostalgia for all things ‘90s, giving a little bit of Carrie Bradshaw Gen Z sister. What makes them modern, however, are all the new creative details, from the long straps to the contrast handles, so there’s something for everyone.
Personally, we love that they’re actually one of the more “practical” trends to come around, just in time for the holidays. Actually fitting the bill of a true multipurpose bag, the sleek style can be casual enough to go with a weekend look but also formal enough to live as an evening bag for all the festive events you’ve already been invited to. Depending on the material and sharpness of the lines, they could also give a relatively minimalist look a fashion-forward spin.
