We all know handbags are dangerous territory. They bring comfort, signal status, always fit no matter how we happen to feel about our bodies that day, and, unlike some shoes, they don’t give us blisters. In other words: a bag is a (sometimes very expensive) form of emotional support – with the added power of changing an outfit instantly.
I’m obvious not immune to their appeal and am constantly, endlessly, forever working on my bag collection. Over the past three to five years though, I’ve moved further and further away from classic designer handbags. Quite simply, they’ve become too expensive for me – and often too trend-driven and bougie. Instead, I’m increasingly drawn to mid-price brands like St.Agni, Liffner, Valesque, Freja and Wandler, while still happily picking up a high-street bag when the design and quality genuienly convince me.
Classic smooth leather has had plenty of company for a while now. Basket bags have become everyday staples, whether woven from raffia or leather à la Dragon Diffusion. Nylon bags are having another moment thanks to our ongoing nineties obsession. And now, just in time for fall and winter, something much softer is making its way into our wardrobes: crushed velvet.
What makes crushed velvet different from classic velvet? Well, it has even more texture. And texture might be exactly what our basic outfits need right now – when so many of them consist of drawstring pants, baseball tees, long sleeved tops, Bermuda shorts and flip flops and flats. Come winter, that same tactile contrast feels like a very welcome addition to cashmere knits and wool coats, too.
So let’s dive into fashion’s softest new bag obsession.
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This trend is still very much in its early stages. So far, I’ve only found two contemporary brands making crushed velvet bags that really caught my attention: Liffner and Valesque. There’s definitely more to find vintage, but among current collections, the selection is still surprisingly small.
And honestly, that’s exactly why I find it so interesting. Both brands seem to be slightly ahead of the curve here, and I have a feeling we’re going to see a lot more crushed velvet popping up over the next few seasons. So consider this less of a report on a trend that’s already everywhere – and more of an early prediction.
For a while, it felt like the easiest way to make a bag interesting was through its shape, colour or, of course, its logo. We had tiny bags, oversized bags, east-west bags, butter yellow, burgundy, red, leopard print – and years in which the right logo, monogram or instantly recognisable brand silhouette did the most of the talking. But lately I’ve found myself much more interested in texture or material.
Suede has already been everywhere for a few years, pony hair keeps popping up, woven and heavily grained leathers feel more relevant than they’ve ever used to – and not crushed velvet seems to be quietly joining the conversation.
And there’s another reason crushed velvet feels particularly relevant right now: it offers a great alternative to the fake-mink and faux-fur bags we’ve been seeing everywhere. You still get that softness, depth and slightly unexpected tactile element, but in a way that feels much cleaner and more understated. If (faux) fur is a little too fluffy (or simply too unethical) for your wardrobe, crushed velvet gives you a similar richness without taking over the entire look.
What I like about this is that it can make the simplest bag feel special, without relying on obvious branding or recognisable shape. A black velvet bag is still a black bag. A chocolate brown one still works with everything you’d normally wear with brown leather. But the uneven surface catches the light, changes slightly as you move and gives the colour so much more depth.
For those who prefer to keep things very minimal, you can of course stay simple with both the colour of the crushed velvet bag and the rest of the outfit, sticking to a colour scheme and letting the texture do all the talking.
Personally, though, I think it gets much more interesting when you start mixing accessories, colour and texture. Bermuda shorts and longsleeved top are pretty much my perfect transitional-weather formula, with a cashmere sweater tied around the waist and ready to throw on as soon as it gets a bit chilly. Here the crushed velvet bag from Valesque becomes your everyday friend rather than something precious – the kind of bag that works just as well for your coffee at 10AM as it does at the bar at 10PM.
Colour is my personal challenge right now and while I’ve sworn off buying anything lilac ever again, bright purple is absolutely allowed. I actually own a COS cashmere sweater from a few years ago in almost exactly that shade and paired with a yellow bag, it might be just my dream colour combination. There’s something about this outfit that still feels incredibly elegant and almost quiet luxury to me – despite combining two pretty bold colours. Maybe it’s the clean shapes, maybe it’s the textures, or maybe purple and yellow simply work much better together than they have any right to?! Either way, I’m slightly proud of this one and would happily wear it exactly like this tomorrow.
And of course velvet works beautifully as an evening fabric – no suprise! But what if instead of going all-out dressy, you use it to make a very minimalist outfit feel a little more playful and interesting? Between the crushed velvet, the tassel on the bag, the little emblems on the Toteme strappy sandals and the elegant black earrings, there’s actually so much personality and interest happening here – despite the complete absence of colour. And I think that’s exactly the point: an interesting outfit doesn’t always need colour.
So, is crushed velvet about to become THE bag texture of the season? I have a feeling we’re only seeing the beginning. Now I want to know what you think: would you wear a velvet bag during the day – and which one would you choose? Tell me in the comments.
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