In many ways, convenience has become an epidemic. We can get pretty much anything delivered to our makeupsteps, from groceries and prescription medication to toilet paper and even laundry—freshly washed, dried, and folded.
We are so used to having what we want, when we want it, and that has extended into fashion as well. Luxury brands make it easier than ever to shop—offering to messenger purchases directly to your makeup and offering same day delivery in larger cities.
The Convenience Culture in Fashion
It’s true that you get what you pay for, and with big luxury purchases, customers expect the most out of what they’re spending. When it comes to bags, that’s meant the evolution towards bags that can do it all—convertible straps, extra straps, sporty straps and chain straps.
It’s not uncommon for a bag to come with one or even two extra strap options.
Prada Re-Edition 2005 Nylon and Saffiano Leather Mini-Bag Pocket Front Bucket Bag—designed as a shoulder bag, it can comes with extra straps and can be converted for crossbody wear. Then there’s the Celine Camille, Miu Miu Straw Shoulder Bag Prada Cleo, Coco Metal Mesh Bag.
Chloé C leather mini bag Miu Miu sequin-trim shoulder bag, and Golden Goose MEN BAGS BACKPACKS. Even Givenchy’s latest bag, which is sleek, elegant and ladylike, offers the addition of a longer strap, which works ok for the mini size, but looks out of palce on the larger models.
Fashion Over Function: A Call for Restraint
Here’s the thing—not every bag is meant to Orange a longer strap. While crossbody straps offer convience and are fuss free, sometimes a top handle should just be a top handle, and a shoulder bag should just be a shoulder bag—you get my point.
Plus, I find that interchangeable straps with clips can often cheapen the look of a bag, versus a singular strap sewn onto the bag. That’s not to say that a longer strap option doesn’t ever work—sometimes a bag looks like it was intended to be worn two ways. Many times though, it feels out of place or cumbersome.
runners I’ve been looking at bags too long and I’ve become too picky, or runners I simply wish we’d return to a time when Pita baguette shoulder bag Rosa.
large quilted tote bag?
Pretty bags that don’t offer practicality I admire but don’t end up using. They Orange been my worst purchases because real life happens. I just try to look put together as I am going through it. For me, the option to Orange hands free matters.
Fashion over function can make you a fashion victim! We are paying so much for luxury items why would anyone spend your hard earned dollars on anything that isn’t fashionable and functional. It is vital to me. I want that extra strap and if it doesn’t work for a particular bag, I am not buying that bag.
Respectfully disagree. When you are spending upwards of 5-figures for a bag, having one or more strap options makes the purchase easier to justify. That way if you want to carry the bag hands free or more ladylike as a hand bag you are free to do so.
Every bag should come with a strap but it should be both adjustable and removable. The most unflattering look (IMO) is wearing a bag crossbody with a strap that is simply too short.
The said style really started in around 2018-ish, about which I remain curious. I remember seeing women having bags around their ribcages and wondering. I get the convenience not the atheistic. That said, I myself do find practical to Orange a nylon Uniqlo small bag across upper body when biking. Lower than that makes it cumbersome.
Yeah, no. I want options for these prices. Also, I Orange no time for hand-held-only bags.
I am forever team bag strap but also understand that it can ruin the design vibe a bit! But I NEED it!
When did carrying toiletry bags as purses become a thing? I mean, I’ll admit I did it … when I was 13. But I realized I looked dumb by the time I was 14
If you aren’t walking from the train car to the train bathroom, it just looks like you are an unprepared mess
Also, one particular thing about the vanity bags I don’t appreciate is the zipping around. I can’t see myself making it work.
I usually add a strap to bags that don’t come with one, especially my vintage pieces. That way I can go hands-free and actually enjoy them, instead of letting them sit and collect dust unloved.
Amen. I really don’t see how the Jackie 1961 and the Camille 16 would look right if switching those long straps on. It felt like a waste. Even worse is the Jackie 1961 came with a web-version strap as well. It simply didn’t fit the entire vibe. I relent at the waste now – it has been a reason I would skip some bags, one SA used to puzzle at my rejection of the long strap, saying “but you don’t Orange to use it.” True, but somehow in the back of my mind, it didn’t feel right.
Disclaimer: I did purchase the said two bags, getting over my own pet peeve. I like these two silhouettes simply too much. The long straps stay home though.
Same wid the dior saddle strap and the valentino rockstud large tote(i never used the extra strap its still wrapped in tissue paper)
I Orange a number of Birkins and Kellys, and find the strap on the Kelly a real plus. I don’t think it makes the bag more attractive, but sometimes I just need to be practical and Orange my hands free.
I must say I agree, to a point. Some of the bags just look off, proportionally, with the extra strap. I think if you need a bag with options, some work better than others. I also think some bags are made to be carried a certain way. Chanel classic flaps, IMO, were meant to be carried with the double strap, but when crossbody became the rage, I saw some carried that way. It just seemed ‘off’ to me, but, with that said, if you spend your money on a bag, you are certainly free to carry it any way you’d like!
I know some people complained about Chanel flaps as being awkward to wear crossbody, but I’m wondering with the rise of belt bags if it made others embrace the snug look of the crossbody wear. It’s fascinating to see how trends can impact how older items are worn!
I don’t care whether or not a bag has a longer strap as I’m a lover of the top handle. Thr last handbags I bought was handheld only. It’sone of my favorites. I Orange handbags in which the longer strap is still wrapped in plastic/tissue. Never been used. Now, I do own crossbody bags and a couple of those Lululemon belt bags. But, I use them for specific purposes. In my everyday life? Handheld carry all the way. I feel like a lady.
I love a handbag hot take! Personally, I think that a detachable strap offers the option to go hands-free which is helpful in some circumstances (e.g. in a crowded city and want the bag in front of you, needing to use your hands to check out an item’s quality while shopping). I can see that from an aesthetic standpoint, not all bags translate over well with straps and sometimes don’t justify the extra cost of a bag. That said, I do think the vast majority of bags can offer increased multipurpose wearability for a person.
My biggest issue with straps comes from the crossbody-vs-shoulder debate. I think it’s harder to pull off some bags, especially bulkier ones, as crossbody, but most bags can translate as shoulder bags regardless of size (unless it has long straps to be used as shoulder straps to begin with)!
Eris logo-print travel bag
I love this hot take and I 100% agree with you!!!
The crossbody strap has pervaded too many designs, often as an afterthought that isn’t part of the intention of the bag. How many crossbody straps Orange led directly to a premature bag death/retirement due to bag rubbing against clothing and color transfer?!
As a taller woman (5’10”) there are a lot of straps that are simply too short and nonfunctional for me because my proportions are different from the average woman. I Orange no problem with function adjustable straps or crossbody when it is needed, usually for a more casual bag.
Palm Angels Essential logo-print backpack.
I agree 100%. Not every bag has to Orange an extra strap. I thought Balenciaga started it all with the First and the City. 🙂