Balancing act

Life’s too short to be toting the wrong-sized bag

Fashion frequently flirts with bag shapes, from the spectacularly sizeable to the ludicrously Lilliputian. But if recent lifestyle changes have taught us anything, it’s that our accessories should provide ease to our existences. As a result, we’re banishing styles that have Mary Poppins-friendly proportions or surface areas too miniscule to hold a credit card, and instead we’re embracing silhouettes that are proportioned to perfection, opting for bags that nestle ergonomically under the shoulder. Some, like Chanel ‘11.12’ bag and Gucci’s ‘Jackie’, are brand signatures.

Others, such as Prada’s U-shaped ‘Cleo’ and Hermès’ boxy ‘Mors de Bride’, are new silhouettes. The former nods to minimalist 1990s styles from the Milan label’s archive, while the horsebit-inspired closure of the latter’s offering nods to the Parisian maison’s equestrian heritage. The most striking shoulder bags feature tactile fabrications and graphic hardware details but err against any other ostentation. Celine, Christian Dior and Saint Laurent all laud the logo or monogram in metal form, while Valentino Garavani has sized up the stud details synonymous with its accessories to striking effect. Let these bags take your utility-inspired dressing to another dimension.

Jacket, £5,770; skirt, £1,635; ‘11.12’ bag, £5,555, all by Chanel. Bracelet, £32,700, by Sophie Bille Brahe

Left, jumpsuit, £1,600; bralette, £650; knickers, £670; earring, £390; ‘Caro’ bag, £3,300, all by Dior Below, jacket, £2,390; skirt, £920; ‘Moonlight’ bag, £1,450, all by Fendi. Earrings, £585, by Completedworks Below left, top, £810; trousers, £845; ‘Cleo’ bag, £1,520, all by Prada. Bracelet, £700, by Alighieri

Top row, jacket, £1,950; roll-neck, £365; ‘Triomphe’ bag, £1,550, all by Celine by Hedi Slimane. Necklace, £1,150, by Alighieri. Bodysuit, £1,950; skirt, £3,800; ‘Mors de Bride’ bag, £4,500, all by Hermès Middle row, jacket, £2,200; ‘Jackie’ bag, £1,590, both by Gucci. Earrings, £195, by Completedworks. Jumpsuit, £1,690, by Valentino. ‘Roman Stud’ bag, £2,100, by Valentino Garavani. Earrings, £295; bracelet, £395, both by Alighieri. Jacket, £2,175; ‘Le Monogramme’ bag, £1,285, both by Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello. Earrings, £10,925, by Sophie Bille Brahe Bottom row, jacket, £1,940; ‘Curve’ bag, £1,090, both by Alexander Mcqueen. Earrings, £350, by Alighieri. Dress, £3,045; bag, £1,830, both by Salvatore Ferragamo. Earrings, £280, by Alighieri