The perfect bag or purse is the most essential aspect of an outfit—and practicality is only part of the reason! The right bag can pull together multiple items to make an outfit look perfectly put together and super stylish. So let’s see what this season has in store for this vital accessory!

Woman on the catwalk wearing funky backpack

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Backpacks
These are no schoolyard backpacks, these backpacks are all grown up! From funky prints to chic professional leather backpacks, this is one trend that I can really get behind…or should I say in front (I had to). They’re coming in all varieties this season and can be used to either dress up an outfit, or dress down your look with a casual placement over your shoulder. I’ve always loved the look of a nice backpack, and think that they’re perfect for city living (a girl’s got a lot of stuff she’s gotta lug around!).

Woman stands outside holding yellow tote bag

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Totes
I have been absolutely drooling over Bao Bao Issey Miyake’s ‘W’ geometric tote, making me very partial to this trendy look. Following the boxy structure of a lot of this season’s other trends, this look has size on its side as well. Perfect for going out to run some errands, a sturdy tote will never let you down.

Woman on runway with yellow bucket bag

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Bucket
Designers are taking this slouchy silhouette in a new direction with leather, high-shine and geometrical cut-out versions of this style. The right bucket bag would be the perfect thing to sling over your shoulder on the festival circuit this year, bringing a casual yet chic air to any outfit.

Woman holds structured blue purse on the street

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Structured for Ladies
The retro style of these structure bags look like they’re tailor-made for classy ladies like Aubrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly. Whether you prefer a briefcase-style for a day at the office, or my personal favorite bowler bag for a night out, rocking this trend will up your class-level for sure.

Look for detailing like fringe or block coloring, or trendy floral, tribal, and jungle-inspired prints are also a must-have. And for straps, either really short, hand-held straps or cross-over bags are the way to go this summer!