Finding a handbag that feels timeless and of-the-moment is tough. No one ever wants to splurge on something that they'll get tired of looking at in a couple of months. Yet at the same time, it's natural to crave something that feels modernly cool. Well, I'm here to tell you that you can have your handbag and carry it too, especially if you add one of these coveted styles to your collection.
Ahead, you'll find the need-to-know totes, satchels, and more coveted styles that are quickly becoming modern-day classics, thanks to silhouettes that quietly command attention without the distractions of fleeting trends. What's even better? The versatility and seasonless curation mean you can carry these styles over and over again for years to come. In other words, the cost per wear is totally justified in the long run.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
For more can't-miss shopping stories delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our Most Wanted newsletter. Summer is quintessentially synonymous with raffia totes. If you're thinking about investing in a style to take on every trip on your calendar, I suggest looking for options that come reinforced with quality leather — like the straps on this carryall by Saint Laurent. That subtle detail adds durability to the bags and polished touch to all your vacation outfits.
Saint Laurent Panier Raffia Tote, $, available at Net-A-PorterFor the minimalists who are looking for entry point luxury, you can never go wrong with a Coach handbag. Made with natural grain leather and a suede lining, it's the expertly crafted piece to add to your collection at a fraction of the price. Plus, the comfortable strap means no digging into your shoulders — an added bonus for wearing it on repeat.
Coach Chelsea Shoulder Bag, $, available at CoachThere's something about the summer that just makes me want to add more color to my wardrobe. One of the easiest ways to do so is with a soft butter yellow hue. It commands attention in the most subtle of ways and you'd be surprised how many outfits you could pair around the bag.
DeMellier London The Stockholm Shoulder, $, available at DeMellierConsider this your conversation starter. The crescent silhouette and intricate crochet work make it the kind of piece that sells itself, no outfit required. Wear it with a white maxi dress or a linen pant set and just watch all the compliments start rolling in.
Miu Miu Aventure Nappa Leather Shoulder Bag, $, available at Saks Fifth AvenueBaguette bags never really left. They just patiently waited for us to catch up. This neutral version threads the needle between vintage-cool and effortlessly modern. And that little gold charm detail is the kind of thing you notice on second glance and can't stop thinking about.
Jacquemus Le Bisou Perle Croc Embossed Suede Shoulder Bag, $, available at NordstromIf you're like me, and are having a Goth Girl summer, you need a classic black handbag in your collection. The pony hair adds rich texture that brings any minimalist outfits to life. While everyone else leans into color, this sleek east-west silhouette brings an ease and intention to any warm-weather look.
LIÉ STUDIO The Lou Calf Hair Bag, $, available at Net-A-PorterThis is the bag you pack specifically because it photographs well. Eventually, you'll realize how many outfits it actually pairs well with, from airy maxi skirts paired with swimsuits to vacation dresses. The graphic stripe pattern is summer in a bottle: bold, a little playful, and completely committed to the bit.
Loeffler Randall Bailey Crochet Clutch, $, available at NordstromDeep jewel tones in summer feel counterintuitive until you're actually wearing them. This burgundy crescent bag is the antidote to beige season, rich enough to feel intentional, compact enough to never weigh you down.
AMINA MUADDI Ami Bag, $, available at FWRDCrochet is always the moment, and this multi-color hue is the dopamine-inducing bag will that bring joy every time you reach for it. In a continued partnership with Paula’s Ibiza, Loewe continues to prove that you can't beat artisan-level quality. Wear yours with everything, from white jeans to a printed sundress.
Loewe Puzzle Edge Bag, $, available at Net-A-PorterNot every summer bag needs to shout. This slouchy olive hobo brings a cool, almost offhand energy to your rotation. Counting Dua Lipa as a fan, it's the kind of bag that looks like it's been everywhere and is ready for whatever adventure you're planning next.
The Attico La Passeggiata Suede Tote, $, available at Net-A-PorterThink of this one as the bag equivalent of a classic stripe linen shirt. It's eternally relevant, effortless to style, and somehow always exactly right. The graphic contrast stripe elevates a utilitarian silhouette into something you'll end up carrying everywhere.
Prada Route Tote Bag, $, available at Saks Fifth AvenueKeeping logomania appreciation alive, Gucci's Giglio bag is the playful piece to have in rotation all year round. Carry it to the office in the summer or loop it over your carry-on while traveling the world. It's the versatile piece you won't want to put down.
In the video and styling, the 23-year-old channels a a free-spiritedness evocative of ’60s icons like Twiggy and Jane Birkin. But it’s actually the punk lineage of the style that Rodrigo appears most drawn to.
“I really love the idea of a babydoll [dress],” Rodrigo recently told Vogue. “I just remember being younger and having pictures of Courtney Love and Kat Bjelland from all these riot grrrl punk bands in their babydoll dresses, just owning it.”
The discourse continued, alleging that Rodrigo was “dressing like a baby,” invoking Lolita-esque imagery and capitalizing on the sexualization of youth. Fashion enthusiasts quickly pushed back, pointing to the babydoll’s long lineage in fashion — from the mod girls of the ’60s to the riot grrrls of the ’90s. But the backlash persisted.
This is not the first time the babydoll dress has been the subject of controversy. Emerging in the 1940s as a shortened form of adult sleepwear during wartime fabric shortages, the silhouette was popularized by the 1956 filmBaby Doll written by Tennessee Williams. In the film, actress Caroll Bakerportrays a sexualized young woman who wears a babydoll nightgown, sleeps in a crib and sucks her thumb, helping calcify the garment’s mixed associations as both innocent and sexy.
In the ’60s, the silhouette returned when mod women embraced loose clothing and shorter hemlines that became synonymous with the burgeoning sexual revolution. And decades later, riot grrrl and grunge musicians brought back the babydoll once more — subverting the garment’s associations with ‘innocent’ femininity by juxtaposing it with the darker themes of their music and pairing it with ripped stockings, smeared lipstick, and smudged eye makeup. The babydoll has always been a charged object in fashion. That part hasn’t changed. What has changed is the sheer intensity of the response to a woman simply wearing one. Because in our current cultural moment, it is no longer just about the dress.
The babydoll dress has become a folk devil, precisely because the real devil persists elsewhere.
Elizabeth Whitehead
The criticisms levelled against Rodrigo were, for the most part, driven by over exaggeration and projection. And on the surface, the fixation on whether a certain cut of dress counts as some agent of moral destruction sounds completely irrational. Paranoid, even. But beneath the outrage sits a very real cultural anxiety, rooted in real events. It has simply been aimed at the wrong target.
In the wake of revelations about institutional corruption and abuse, we are living through the absurdity of a business-as-usual approach to life amid deeply destabilising truths about power. The release of the Epstein files exposed not only the systematic abuse of young girls, but the proximity of that abuse to wealth and political power. It is a rupture our culture is still reckoning with — one for which there remains little to no accountability.
When there is no meaningful way to address the fact that one of the most powerful leaders in the world is allegedly mentioned in the Epstein files more times than God is in the Bible, it seems almost inevitable that outrage will begin to leak out sideways instead. After all, it is far easier to litigate the morality of a young woman’s outfit than it is to demand accountability from institutional power that originated these fears.
Moral panics gain traction because they offer people a sense of control over fears that feel far out of our control, or even our understanding. But moral panics rarely direct their energy toward the true source of social fear. The Satanic Panic of the 1980s projected similar anxieties onto heavy metal music, goth aesthetics, and even games like Dungeons & Dragons.
In sociology, this is what is known as a folk devil. A folk devil is when social anxieties get collapsed into a symbolic object: often a subculture, style of dress, or form of music. A folk devil gives a face to something that is otherwise faceless; creating a simplified narrative that is easier to metabolise than the true source of the fear.
Fashion and pop culture have always made effective targets for folk devils because they are visual and present in the public imagination. Institutions, by contrast, are faceless abstractions — difficult to locate, difficult to confront, and even more difficult to hold accountable.
And in our current cultural moment, it makes sense that the babydoll dress has become something larger than itself — a tenterhook that has caught very real anxieties of a cultural landscape still reckoning with high-profile revelations of trafficking, abuse of minors and institutional failure. But the babydoll dress has become a folk devil, precisely because the real devil persists elsewhere.
We may just have to deem jelly sandals the official shoe of the summer, especially after previewing the upcoming Melissa x Ganni collaboration. The recycled plastic shoe brand and the sustainable Copenhagen-based fashion house have teamed up on a seriously stylish collection that’s summer-ready and editor-approved.
Since Melissa is no stranger to high-fashion collaborations (think: Jean Paul Gaultier, Marc Jacobs, Telfar, and Diesel), this partnership with Ganni feels like an obvious (and exciting) next step. Plus, from PVC footwear to jelly ballet flats trending this year, these shoes are the perfect way to dip your toe into the *jelly* waters.
“Ganni brings a distinctly original perspective to dressing, balancing attitude with a sense of playful irreverence that both reflects and reimagines everyday Danish style,” said Melissa’s brand director Paulo Pedó in a press release. “By infusing this vision into Melissa’s DNA and signature materiality, the collaboration came together organically, translating the defining codes of both brands into products with a strong point of view and undeniable appeal.”
Blending Melissa’s iconic jelly shoes and vibrant colors with Ganni’s signature ruffles and graphic prints, both brands are making a splash. The collection features a classic slim flip-flop and a trendy thong kitten heel that are ready to grace any poolside or dance floor.
The flip flops and kitten heels will each come in cherry red, bright yellow, aqua blue, classic black, and Ganni’s leopard print. And they’re truly perfect to pair with Ganni’s new summer collection or any of Melissa’s jelly handbags.
After getting the opportunity to personally test out these shoes ahead of launch, I opted for the blue heels… and I’m very obsessed with the playful design and cushioned soles. I’m already planning to wear them throughout Miami Swim Week and pack them for my Aruba vacation.
So if you’re also ready to join the jelly shoe gang, plan your purchase and come back to cart up your own limited-edition pair once they drop.
Shop the full Melissa x Ganni collaboration on both brands’ websites on May 18 at 7 a.m. ET.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Last summer, European soccer dominated sports bars and our Instagram feeds, plus women’s soccer particularly gained more global momentum. Since then, sporty fashion has taken over the runways and the fourth season announcement of Ted Lasso have brought soccer even more into the cultural spotlight. And this summer, the sport is going to be even more present as the FIFA World Cup touches down in North America between June 11 and July 19.
From celebrity-approved track shorts and cleats to sold-out collaborations like from Adidas and Asos, the soccer aesthetic has officially taken over. And TikTok has crowned the ultimate summer MVP of the sporty trend: the soccer jersey.
I first noticed the look last year while scrolling on Pinterest and TikTok — girls styling soccer jerseys for more than just game day. Then I started spotting them IRL across NYC, worn to brunch, drinks, and just about everything in between. As someone who grew up watching and playing soccer, the resurgence made me nostalgic and sartorially intrigued.
Ahead, see how I styled a few jerseys for everyday settings, from casual errands to the office and even nights out with capris, maxi skirts, sneakers, and ballet flats in the mix. While I own many country-specific jerseys, luckily, so many of our favorite retailers are selling cropped, collared, and oversized jerseys that you can effortlessly wear, even if you don’t rep a specific team. But, hey, we’re not being performative! We’re styling these jerseys, gathering our friends, and heading to sports bars or holding viewing parties all summer long (starting now)!
DashDividers_1_500x100
How To Style Soccer Jerseys: Trousers & Cleats
To test the jersey-at-work theory, I wore my butter yellow cropped Puma jersey to the office. It didn’t feel too casual or out of place, thanks to a few key styling choices: I paired it with belted black trousers, plus my sleek Adidas Taekwondo sneakers — no cleats in my closet (yet). But if you’re skeptical about the emerging trend, ballet sneakers (aka sneakerinas) offer a more wearable twist.
For accessories, I added a watch, colorful beaded jewelry, my go-to Mansur Gavirel leather hobo bag, and a playful bag charm for just the right touch of (office-appropriate) personality.
DashDividers_1_500x100
How To Style Soccer Jerseys: Maxi Skirt & Kitten Heels
Inspired by the fashion girlies styling boxy jerseys with hyper-feminine staples, I decided to pair mine with a white maxi skirt and thong kitten heels — two summer wardrobe MVPs. Since this jersey is quite long and oversized, I draped and tucked it into the waistband, which gave the look a relaxed balance. Looking back, I’d add a chain belt to level it up even more for a night out.
How To Style Soccer Jerseys: Track Shorts & Sneakers
Sure, trendy jorts and baggy jeans are the go-to styling companions for soccer jerseys, but I wanted to channel the trendy Adidas sprinter short vibe. For this look, I leaned into pattern and color: a checkered jersey, striped elastic-waistband shorts, and gingham Nike Cortez sneakers. A bright sling bag from T.J. Maxx and my beloved plush Monchhichi keychain brought it together, giving me all the playful, comfy feels. It 100% made my inner child very happy — and officially cemented soccer jerseys as a go-to style for game days and casual days out.
DashDividers_1_500x100
How To Style Soccer Jerseys: Capris & Ballet Flats
I’ve officially joined the capri comeback — and I’m not mad about it. For a weekend look, I paired a bold jersey with black capris and Mary Jane ballet flats, leaning into the retro feel. But I also think one of my new pairs of trendy wedges would also look great with this look. Yellow vintage-style sunglasses from Guess and an easy crossbody bag (not pictured) made it feel practical and fun. Add your everyday jewelry and take on the day.
DashDividers_1_500x100
How To Style Soccer Jerseys: Linen Pants & Sneakers
For a casual shopping day out in Mexico City, I styled a thrifted Juventus soccer jersey for a print- and color-forward ‘fit. To play off of the stripes, I kept it bold with pink linen pants (to try the shocking pink color trend) along with matching sunglasses, a fun leather purple tote bag, and a colorful necklace and earrings that complimented the palette without looking too kitsch-y. I stuck with my Adidas sneakers, but think a pair of leather sandals that either match the jersey or handbag would also be a great option.
DashDividers_1_500x100
Shop more soccer jerseys:
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
