Just the Classics: Here Are the 7 Essential It Bags for Winter 2025
At Who What Wear UK, we understand the significance of thoughtfully considering your next designer handbag acquisition. It is, after all, an investment piece that you’ll likely carry every day for many years ahead. With its higher price point compared to most items in your closet, a luxury handbag comes with increased expectations and demands, and we believe it should also possess a timeless quality.
When evaluating which handbags are truly making an impact, I often turn to the contemporary style icons. Fashion influencers like Alexa Chung, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Sienna Miller, as well as internet sensations Elsa Hosk, Neelam Gill, and Annabel Rosendahl, recognize the influence of a great handbag, often seen with the same pieces time and again.
I've been monitoring handbag trends for some time now and have pinpointed seven essential styles from our favorite luxury brands that are currently taking the lead. Featuring vintage-inspired designs from Balenciaga, Gucci, and Chloé, alongside emerging cult favorites from The Row, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, and Prada, there are standout options that both celebrities and influencers are favoring and investing in right now.
From my perspective as a fashion editor, what stands out most about these handbag trends is their lack of overt trendiness. Emphasizing understated silhouettes, muted colors, and luxurious suede and leather materials, along with heirloom-like hardware, these handbags expertly balance classic elegance with modern appeal. This is precisely what those with a refined taste are seeking, isn’t it?
Continue reading to explore and shop the seven handbags that have achieved It-bag status this winter.
1. **Bottega Veneta Andiamo Chain**
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley carries a Bottega Veneta Andiamo bag.
**Style Notes:** With celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Dakota Johnson, Hailey Bieber, and Jacob Elordi all spotted with this bag, it is clear that it has attained true cult status. Launched in 2023 and gaining popularity, the Andiamo has become a staple for style-savvy shoppers. Utilizing Bottega Veneta's renowned intrecciato technique (tightly woven strips of luxurious leather) and featuring a knotted metal emblem, this bag is unmistakably the brand’s signature. The Andiamo is available in various forms, including a clutch and east-west style, but the Chain variant is perfect for those wanting to wear it on the shoulder or crossbody thanks to its versatile strap. Offered in small, medium, and large sizes, this bag boasts a subtly structured tote shape that will elevate any look.
- **Shop the Bottega Veneta Andiamo Chain:**
- Small Andiamo Chain in Dark Barolo (This dark cherry shade is perfect for winter.)
- Small Andiamo Chain in Black (You can't go wrong with classic black leather and gold hardware.)
- Andiamo in Mud (This suede version in khaki is a favorite.)
2. **Saint Laurent Le 5 À 7 Bea**
Hailey Bieber wears the Saint Laurent Le 5 À 7 Bea.
**Style Notes:** For those in search of a bag that offers a soft ease and an effortlessly stylish appeal, look to Saint Laurent. Their Le 5 À 7 Bea tote frequently sells out, and it’s easy to see why. Hailey Bieber, Zoë Kravitz, Laura Harrier, and supermodel Kate Moss are ardent fans of this bag, often seen in variations of leopard and classic black grained leather. For winter, the Le 5 À 7 Bea is offered in burgundy pony hair, rich merlot-hued leather, and cool-toned suede. The distinctive YSL Cassandre logo is prominently displayed, and inside, an adjustable inner clip allows you to modify the bag's shape. This bag is perfect for casual, off-duty days and comfortably accommodates your daily essentials.
- **Shop the Saint Laurent Le 5 À 7 Bea:**
- Le 5 À 7 Bea in Suede (This soft tan suede is entirely timeless.)
- Le 5 À 7 Bea in Suede (This chocolate brown screams luxury.)
- Le 5 À 7 Bea in Grained Leather (Burgundy leather with gold hardware is unbeatable.)
3. **Gucci Giglio**
Sienna Miller carries a Gucci Giglio Large Tote Bag.
**Style Notes:** First introduced at the Gucci Cruise 2026 show in Florence this past May, the Giglio bag has already distinguished itself with Sienna Miller, Suki Waterhouse, and Emily Ratajkowski among its wearers. As a nod to Gucci's Italian heritage, the Giglio features an interlocking double-G monogram and classic red and green webbing, along with a convenient pouch inside for smaller items. Its generous slouchy silhouette makes it ideal
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Just the Classics: Here Are the 7 Essential It Bags for Winter 2025
Have confidence in Alexa, Hailey, and Elsa.