A shift in fashion and practicality has led to a decline in the use of luxury handbags among celebrities and everyday women. From Victoria Beckham's minimalist World Cup appearance to Kim Kardashian carrying only her phone at the Monaco Grand Prix, high-profile figures are embracing a bag-free lifestyle. This trend is driven by factors including advanced technology like ApplePay, improved pocket designs in women's clothing, and the rise of affordable alternatives like Uniqlo's sling bag. The trend also challenges traditional gender assumptions about carrying items and signals a broader cultural move toward minimalism and convenience.
Is Victoria Beckham carrying her phone in her bra like the 73 per cent of Gen Zs who admitted to doing just that in a report this week?
Probably not. But her pared-back style at the World Cup was a far cry from the WAG-era of 2006 where she was never seen without an oversized Hermes Birkin bag on the crook of her elbow. It does make one wonder what on earth Victoria, now 52, was carrying in those capacious leather totes 20 years ago. My guess is a pair of flat shoes to switch into when the paps weren't looking.
Different times. But like Victoria, stars who would have once never been seen dead on the street without a designer handbag to accessorise their look are now opting for the simple bag-free life. Kim Kardashian, 45, was at Monaco's Grand Prix last month to support her racing driver boyfriend Lewis Hamilton, 41, carrying just her phone. Model and poster girl for Balenciaga's Le City bag Kate Moss, 52, opted to go bagless in Paris in June for men's fashion week.
Meanwhile, the actress Sienna Miller, 44, who was famed in the Noughties for her designer bag collection from the likes of Gucci, Prada and Chanel was pictured at Wimbledon this month with no bag, although her loose-fitting three-piece suit did have roomy pockets with space for a few essentials. There was once a time when Victoria Beckham was never seen without an oversized Hermes Birkin bag on the crook of her elbow (seen in 2006) Her pared-back style at the World Cup was a far cry from the WAG-era of 2006 (pictured in July 2026) Even having a bag named after you isn't enough to persuade you to carry one in 2026.
Alexa Chung, 42, whose namesake Mulberry leather cross-body satchel was a sell-out in 2010, was snapped recently with nothing but her smartphone in hand. Ten years ago, fashion editors were singing the praises of hands-free crossbody bags; we have now progressed to singing the praises of simply the hand. Perhaps when the world's most famous handbag lover, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away in 2022, the designer handbag died with her.
In fact, sales of luxury handbags have slumped 10 per cent since 2023. Of course, celebrities usually come with the privilege of a car and a driver, leaving other essentials such as keys, water bottles, make-up and hairbrushes in the vehicle, or in the arms of an assistant, as they step out to an event. But that's not to say that the rest of us aren't eschewing heavy leather handbags in favour of a cheaper, lighter, more practical alternative.
Take a look the next time you are on a bus or train: the women around you are more likely to be carrying a rucksack or a cotton tote they got from their local bookstore or bakery to carry their laptop and lunchbox, than they are a designer handbag. Technology is clearly playing a part in the demise of the handbag (thank you, ApplePay), but pockets have undoubtedly played a big part.
Women's pockets were once too small to put anything in. Even an actual hand. Now it's far easier to find garments with larger pockets, some even roomy enough to fit a phone.
In addition, viral smaller bags have played a part in our journey to a bag-free life. Uniqlo launched its ubiquitous £14.90 sling bag in spring 2022 and it became an instant bestseller. After so many women discovered the joy of wearing a light easy-to-carry bag at such an affordable price, it was hard to justify forking out for a luxury handbag for the same price as a holiday.
For many of us even the cross-body bag is being relegated, if not to the back of the wardrobe, to inside the cotton tote, because everyone hates rummaging to find their essentials. Other clever accessories that have helped us on our way to ditching the handbag for good include phone lanyards for those occasions when you don't have pockets, and even chic, slimline water bottle bags.
Etsy is full of affordable leather designs to carry your Chilly Bottle that look just as stylish as those from Loewe and Fendi. One final thought. Ask yourself this: how many times, as a woman, have you been asked to carry something on behalf of a man who just assumed you will not only be taking a bag out with you, but will have the space and be willing to carry their sunglasses/wallet/car keys on their behalf? Ditto children.
So perhaps going bag-free, as well as being the new ultimate celebrity status symbol, also signifies a sense of mid-life freedom. Because nothing says successful like a woman without a bag. Just ask Victoria Beckham
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