For several seasons, handbags seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, until some could barely fit a phone. Despite offering very little in terms of practicality, tiny bags became a symbol of style. But that era may be on its way out, at least for a while. At the Spring-Summer 2027 shows, the direction shifted completely, and handbags returned to a size that actually responds to the way we live: practical pieces that can hold office essentials, a few beauty products and, in some cases, even gym clothes.
Image1: 7For All Mankind, Image2: Dries Van Noten, TheImpression.com
On the Spring-Summer 2027 runways, designers gave handbags more space, more volume and, most importantly, more purpose. At Dries Van Noten, models carried large, soft-shaped bags close to their bodies, almost as if they were embracing something precious. The effect added a casual, slightly poetic quality to the looks. At 7 For All Mankind, the proportions were deliberately generous, with soft, slouchy shapes. Elisabetta Franchi took the idea even further, making the choice almost binary: either oversized handbags or very tiny ones.
Image: Courtesy of Fendi
There is something refreshing about this return. These big bags do not ask us to reduce our lives to a lipstick and a cardholder. They exist around one central idea: the modern woman has multiple roles and interests, and she wants to carry things with her. A tablet, sunglasses, a book, beauty products, a water bottle and perhaps a few sentimental things she cannot leave behind. In previous seasons, the handbag had become an additional accessory, its role often reduced to completing a look regardless of how useful it actually was. The new mood brings it back to its original purpose: a handbag is meant to be practical and to make everyday life easier.
Image1: Tod’s, Image2: Victoria Beckham, TheImpression.com
But practicality is only part of the story. Size itself has become a styling tool. A large bag can change the proportions of an entire look, making a simple dress feel more relaxed or giving formal clothes a livelier, less polished edge. We saw this at Victoria Beckham, where oversized bags were paired with loose tailoring and fluid silhouettes, reinforcing the collection’s sense of movement and freedom.
Image1: Maison Margiela, Image2: Hermès
There are plenty of other examples. Dries Van Noten’s oversized light-brown bag looks even bigger than it actually is, yet sits naturally alongside the collection’s soft, feminine looks. Hermès’ orange bag brings a new sense of casual chic to the outfit. At Tod’s, the large beige bag feels softer and more classic, but its generous proportions give it a distinctly modern elegance. Thom Browne takes the idea in a bolder, more contemporary direction, with oversized bags in red, burgundy and white that look made for long journeys. Maison Margiela, meanwhile, offers a simpler version in soft beige leather, perfectly suited to everyday workwear.
Image1: Elisabetta Franchi, Image2: Victoria Beckham
Then there is the way these bags are carried, which can be just as important as their size. Rather than being carefully hung from the shoulder or carried neatly by their handles, they are often tucked under the arm, held close to the body or carried low in the crook of the elbow. They look as though they belong to everyday life rather than existing purely for display. The effect is effortless and uncomplicated, giving the designs a sense of modern practicality at the same time.
Image1: Maison Margiela, Image2: Dries Van Noten,TheImpression.com
Perhaps that is exactly why the big bag feels right now. After years of micro bags, rigid designs and accessories created primarily for the camera, fashion seems ready for something practical, something we can actually use and live with comfortably. The Spring-Summer 2027 handbag is not simply bigger. It is more useful, more relaxed and, in its own way, more realistic.
