My minimalist designer handbag collection

I’m so excited to show you my minimalist handbag collection that I curated over the years. You will quickly realise that I love handbags, hehe, especially colourful ones because they can spice up an outfit and make it so much more fun.

You’ll also see that my collection consists mostly of designer pieces, and that is because I really love how gorgeous they look and how detailed they are – they are like a piece of art to me. Plus, they’re of great quality, which means they will last me for years and years to come.

So yes, handbags are one of those areas where I spend a bit more money on them because my goal is to wear them for at least 10 years, if not 20. That’s why I have to make sure they’re really versatile, and a perfect fit for my wardrobe and the collection I have right now does exactly that. So without further ado, let me show you the bags 😉

1. ANGELA ROI VEGAN CHER TOTE

The first bag in my handbag collection is actually vegan, and it’s a Cher Tote from a vegan designer Angela Roi. I love it because it’s perfect for bringing my work station with me whenever I need to work remotely. The 13-inch laptop fits inside perfectly, which was really important to me when I was buying this bag.

This is actually the only tote or a big work bag that I own because I mostly work from home, so I don’t need more than one. And even though I bought it more than three years ago, it still looks brand new, so I’m very pleasantly surprised at how sturdy it is and how well it’s made. I put a lot of stuff in it (my laptop, planners, and even my water bottle), and because of that, it becomes a bit heavy, but the crossbody strap or handles have no problem carrying the weight. So it’s a great bag, and I just love it so so much!

If you’re looking for a vegan bag, this is definitely something I would recommend. They also have other designs and even smaller totes, so if you’re interested, you can check this brand out – I will link all the bags in the post so you can check them out easily 😉

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2. YSL LOULOU BAG SMALL

The next bag on my list is an absolute stunner. It’s from Saint Laurent, and I fell in love with it because it reminded me of a Chanel flap, but with a bit more affordable price tag. I love the fact that Saint Laurent offers bags with different types of hardware because, as someone who is not a fan of mixing metals, I appreciate that I can pick a style of bag that I love, but then I can also pick the hardware that makes the most sense for me and my wardrobe.

I decided to go for all-black hardware with this bag because I knew it’s going to be my go-to winter bag. I don’t know why exactly, but I rarely change my bags during the winter months unless I need a bigger or smaller size, so having one bag that I can mix with all of my clothes, shoes, and jewellery makes the most sense to me.

The size is amazing because it’s small enough for an elegant feel but big enough to put my wallet, keys, phone, pouch with necessities, lip balm, hand cream and even my small pocket planner in it easily.

I added this bag to my collection around 2 years ago and I sold two other black bags; one crossbody bag with silver hardware and a smaller tote with golden metals because I wanted it so much. So I’m thrilled with how versatile, stylish and sturdy it is – I’m not the one to baby my bags, but this bag still looks amazing and new.

3. KATE SPADE SMALL CROSSBODY BAG

The last black bag in my collection is this small crossbody bag from Kate Spade. I bought this one 5 years ago, and it’s still going strong. Yes, the metal parts are a bit scratched, and the leather piping is a bit loose in some places, but so far, that doesn’t bother me, and I will continue wearing this bag until it basically falls apart.

Whenever I want a black bag in the summer, this is the one I reach for because I feel that YSL is just a bit too wintery and heavy for hot sunny days. I love it because it’s dainty and cute, but also surprisingly spacious for a small bag. I can put my wallet, phone, keys, small wipes, pouch with necessities, lip balm, hand cream and even sunglasses without a case in this bag, which is amazing.

4. BVLGARI SERPENTI FOREVER TOP HANDLE CROSSBODY BAG

Now let me introduce you to my first colourful bag on my list, probably my favourite bag of all, and it’s a Bvlgari Serpenti top handle crossbody bag in Sea Star Coral. This bag is absolutely stunning, and after I spotted it in the store and I fell in love with it, my husband surprised me with it a few months later for my birthday 😉

It’s actually my go-to summer bag because the colour mixes with my summer capsule wardrobe perfectly. And by now, you may notice that I have a particular type of bag that I love – a crossbody bag with a flap cover. Personally, I love this design because I feel safe that nothing will fall out, they’re easy to open, and most importantly, they’re easy to carry around since I don’t need to carry them with my hands or on my arms.

So this is an absolute gem in my handbag collection, and I just enjoy wearing it so so much!

5. VALENTINO GARAVANI ROCKSTUD SPIKE BAG

Now the second colourful bag on my list is from the Valentino Rockstud Spike collection. I actually bought this bag spontaneously when I was outlet shopping with my husband and my mum, but I immediately fell in love with the colour and the design, so I decided to get it then and there.

It was very heavily discounted, and I’m happy with the purchase because it’s a great addition to my handbag collection, and I wear it a ton during spring and fall.

Again, it’s a crossbody bag with a flap cover, and I love it because it’s a gorgeous bag that I can wear to special occasions, but it’s also very spacious at the same time. I honestly love the Valentino Rockstud collection for both shoes and bags, so I acquired quite a few items from this collection over the years, and yes, that brings me to my next bag…

6. VALENTINO GARAVANI CANDYSTUD HANDLE BAG

Now the last colourful bag on my list is this red Candystud crossbody bag from Valentino. I got it for Christmas from my husband, and it’s just a perfect shade of red to wear in winter – that’s why it’s my go-to colourful winter bag.

The red actually perfectly matches my scarves because most of my scarves also have a little bit of red in them. So I love how details like that connect the outfit and make it more cohesive and stylish. I also love that the bag is big and spacious because sometimes small little dainty bags don’t look as cute styled with a big puffer or faux fur coat. But with a bag that is a bit bigger, everything looks proportional, and the bag still makes a dramatic effect.

7. VALENTINO GARAVANI CAMERA BAG POUDRE

Now, this bag is the last handbag on my list (except for the backpack down below), and it’s the latest addition to my bag collection. Because I don’t enjoy wearing black bags during summer months, and sometimes wearing colourful bags with colourful dresses can be a bit too much, I knew I wanted a neutral bag in a lighter shade.

So I added the Valentino Camera Bag in Poudre to my wishlist, and my generous husband got it for my birthday last year (again, thank you, husband)! I must say that I’m super delighted with this bag because since last year I wore it a ton already – even during the winter months, which I was not expecting at all! But that is a beauty of a neutral bag – it goes with absolutely everything.

My updated minimalist handbag collection for 2024:

8. RADLEY BLACK BACKPACK

The last item on my list is not technically a handbag, but I still wanted to mention it here, and it this stylish little backpack from Radley. I was actually looking at designer backpacks because I knew I wanted a stylish option that I can wear with my nice clothes, but honestly, none of them caught my eye.

But when I saw this one from Radley – it’s from leather, great size, stylish design and it was 50% off, I knew it was a match made in heaven! I love how it looks and ever since I got it, I wear it every time we go on a nice trip somewhere, when I’m on the bike or my electric scooter, so overall, I’m very pleased with my purchase 🙂

This is my handbag collection, and I really hope you enjoyed this post – if you did, I would be very grateful if you’d share it. Thank you! 🙂