This Incredibly Cool Bag Trend Is Cropping Up in Every Major Fashion City—Will It Dethrone Suede?

From the moment Jennifer Lawrence stepped out in New York last summer wearing ballet flats decorated in metal embellishments, I knew that the studded-bag trend would be quick to follow. And, perfect timing. The metallic embellishments feel so fitting for winter. Whilst this season is often dominated by luxuriously textured suede bags from the likes of DeMellier and Prada, I have a feeling studded bags will overtake this year, if not sit parallel to the popularity of suede. The studded-bag trend is an example of how a small twist on a tried-and-true classic can insert freshness to timeless shapes.

You see, the industry has an uncanny way of translating motifs that sell well in one format into others—see how Alaïa’s fishnet bag was picked up by Dua Lipa and Margot Robbie after its viral mesh flats exploded in popularity. And now, Khaite’s Benny Belt, a favourite amongst influencers like Lucy Williams and Abisola Omole and celebrities such as Selena Gomez, should’ve been an indication that studded bags were next.

The best studded bags not only speak to our desire for playfulness and youthful touches in what we wear but also our collective shift towards a more edgy style synonymous with the indie sleaze era. Look back at old Celine or Nicolas Ghesquière for Balenciaga, and you'll notice that studded bags were subtly (or not so subtly, if you were tuned in) woven throughout each collection.

Isabel Marant tapped into our appetite for nostalgia early by introducing the studded Oskan bag into fashion's vocabulary late last year. The moon shape feels contemporary, but the studded edge is a true homage to the early 2000s, as you can see on Elsa Hosk (pictured below). But square, structured options, slouchy silhouettes and small micro bags are all present too in a studded rendition, as seen on Laura Harrier above.

Despite its Y2K influence, the studded bag has cemented itself as a marker of this decade in its own right. Heed our warning—if the runways and streets of fashion month are any indicator, studded bags will be the style you spot everywhere and on everyone this season. Amongst the New York Fashion Week street style set, content creator and creative director Charlotte Groeneveld styled her rigid studded bag with a sheer white skirt, soft knit and sumptuous faux-fur coat to soften the toughness of the metallic accents (see below).

Ornamental by design, studded bags bring an air of grunge to otherwise polished shapes. Don't say we didn't warn you when they become the bag du jour. If you're intrigued by the look, shop our edit of the best studded bags below.

The Best Studded Bags to Shop This Winter and Beyond