Pillows, chains, fringe – these are the bag trends for 2021
In 2021 we celebrated three bag trends as the next big thing: slouchy bags, chunky chains and fringe. Four years later, it’s clear which of them became the true it-piece, and which one quietly disappeared into the back of the wardrobe.
In the winter of 2020/2021 we urged you to embrace three bag trends: the cozy slouchy bag, the bold chain as a handle, and fringe in the style of the Roaring Twenties. Back then, it was a bet on the future. Today, with the benefit of a few seasons’ hindsight, we can tally the results with cool detachment. Spoiler: one of them has become the most expensive bag on the catwalk in 2025, a second arrived and then quietly faded away, and the third has quietly settled in for the long haul. We’ll go through all three in turn.
- Slouchy bags were our insider tip in 2021 and today they’re the ultimate it-bag: Bottega Veneta’s Hop and Loewe’s Amazona 190 are leading the charge away from stiff, boxy shapes.
- Chunky chains as handles remained a detail rather than a lasting trend. Today they crop up more as an accent, for example on the Chanel 25, rather than as standalone bag designs.
- Fringe is the quiet winner: it returns every few years, and in 2025 Isabel Marant, Michael Kors, and Tory Burch are all leaning into it full force.
- Anyone who invested in a soft, easygoing bag in 2021 is sitting pretty today. Structure and stiffness are decidedly out right now.
- The golden rule hasn’t changed: supple leather, plenty of room, and a shape that molds to you instead of the other way around.
Karl Lagerfeld once said, “Luxury bags make your life more pleasant, make you dream, give you confidence, and show your neighbours you are doing well.” In plain terms: a great bag makes life more beautiful, lets you dream, boosts your confidence, and tells everyone around you that you’re thriving. Nothing about that statement has changed. What has changed is which silhouette currently stands for that promise. In 2021 we put forward three candidates. Let’s see who delivered.
Slouchy Bags: From Secret Tip to It-Bag
In 2021, we described the slouchy bag as the pillow among bags: soft leather, no fixed shape, adapts to everything and matches everything. Back then, it was more of a niche, while the market was still celebrating the stiff, architectural box bag. That bet paid off in full. By 2025, the soft, effortless bag is no longer just one option among many-it’s the defining silhouette of the season. Industry estimates project the share of slouchy models in the luxury bag market to rise from around one-fifth in 2024 to well over one-third in 2025.
The most prominent example is Bottega Veneta’s Hop Bag. Its silhouette traces back to a 2002 hobo classic from the house, reimagined with a pyramid-like shape and clean lines. That this bag has been on the market for years-and still ranks among the most coveted models-says a lot about the hunger for ease. At the other end of the spectrum sits Loewe’s Amazona 180, with its gathered leather and a handle that feels more like jewelry than a strap. Both bags tell the same story: the woman carrying them doesn’t need to look perfectly styled.
Anyone who invested in a soft bag in 2021 instead of chasing the stiff box trend is now wearing exactly what others are lining up to buy.
For you, that means a well-chosen slouchy bag isn’t a disposable seasonal item-it’s a purchase that stays relevant for years. Look for supple, draping leather, a size that holds more than just keys and phone, and a shape that gently folds when worn. Exactly what we recommended in 2021.
Chunky Chains: A Detail That Stuck Around
Our second bet was the bold, heavy chain as a handle. The idea: what once hung as statement jewelry around the neck now migrates to bags. This forecast only half came true. The chain never became a standalone bag. Instead, it settled in as an accent-a small, unexpected twist that elevates an otherwise quiet model. The Chanel 25, for instance, pairs a soft, trapezoidal silhouette with a single thick chain strap. That’s exactly how chains work today: as seasoning, not the main course.
If you have a chain in your closet, it’s not obsolete-it’s just quieter now. A heavy-link chain on a simple shoulder bag packs more punch than a bag built entirely around the chain theme. If you love playing with jewelry accents, check out our spring 2024 jewelry trend watch for more ways to style bold links and statement pieces.
Fringe: The Quiet Long-Term Winner
Our third bet was fringe, which we placed in the tradition of the 1920s back in 2021. The verdict: confirmed, and reliably recurring. Fringe isn’t a trend that flares up and fades away. It returns in waves, and 2025 is one of those waves. Houses like Isabel Marant, Michael Kors, and Tory Burch are leaning into fringe-heavy designs this season. The appeal remains the same: fringe injects motion into otherwise static shapes and lends a classic bag a handcrafted, playful touch.
The beauty lies in its consistency. A fringe bag you bought in 2021 won’t feel dated in 2025-it’ll feel fresh again. That cyclical nature makes fringe one of the safest investments if you’d rather skip the season’s signature look and bet on returns instead. Want to spot which patterns repeat season after season? Check out our fashion trend roundup for more examples of this pendulum swing.
What Stuck from 2021
Three bets, one clear picture. The slouchy bag made the biggest leap, from niche to runway darling. The chain shrank from trend to detail without disappearing entirely. Fringe remains what it always was: a reliable repeat performer. What ties all three together is the shift away from hard, perfect lines toward something softer, more personal. When you buy a bag today, there’s one question to ask yourself: Does it adapt to me, or do I have to adapt to it? In 2021, the answer was already clear. By 2025, it’s only more obvious.
Quick Answers
▸Are slouchy bags still in trend in 2025?
Yes, the soft, effortless bag remains the defining silhouette of the season. Models like the Bottega Veneta Hop and the Loewe Amazona 180 rank among the most coveted bags on the market. The industry has decisively moved away from rigid box shapes.
▸Is a bag with a chunky chain still worth it?
As an accent piece, yes; as a standalone statement, less so. The bold chain has evolved from its own trend into a detail. Today it works best as a single, heavy strap on an otherwise understated bag, following the Chanel 25 blueprint.
▸Do fringe bags ever come back in style?
Absolutely. Fringe is a cyclical trend that resurfaces every few years. In 2025, Isabel Marant, Michael Kors and Tory Burch are among the brands spotlighting fringe-heavy designs. An older fringe bag rarely feels truly dated.
▸What should I look for when buying a slouchy bag?
Seek soft, draping leather, a generous capacity and a shape that gently collapses as you carry it. A true slouchy adapts to you instead of forcing you into a rigid outline-precisely why it stays wearable across multiple seasons.
