Pictured (L-R): Kendall Jenner carrying Chanel, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley carrying Alaïa, Daisy Edgar-Jones carrying Chloé
If your camera roll is full of screenshots of Kendall Jenner’s latest looks as she walks around Beverly Hills, you already know: in 2026, the outfit is almost secondary. The real status signal is what is hanging from her arm.
Handbags have always been tiny billboards for taste, but this year the celebrity It-bags feel especially pointed — less quiet luxury, more “I know exactly what I am doing”. The fun twist is that the hottest celebrity handbags so far in 2026 are split between revivals and brand new obsessions. Chemena Kamali is resurrecting Chloé’s most nostalgic hit, Matthieu Blazy is softening the Chanel flap, and Demna is pushing a very specific east-west silhouette at Gucci.
It-Bags Defining 2026 Style:
If you are trying to decide which one belongs on your wish list, consider this your cheat sheet to the seven bags your favorite celebrities are already wearing on repeat.
What Actually Makes a 2026 Celebrity It-Bag?
Not every expensive bag is an It-bag. In 2026, the true celebrity It-bags all tick the same boxes.
First, there is pedigree. These are designs from heavyweight houses like Chanel, Gucci, Chloé, Prada, Saint Laurent, Alaïa, and The Row — brands with decades of craft and instantly recognizable signatures.
Second, the silhouette does the talking. Whether it is an exaggerated hobo like the Saint Laurent Mombasa or the slim east-west proportions of the Alaïa Le Teckel, you can clock these bags from across a restaurant.
Third, the receipts. We are talking actual paparazzi shots, front row moments, and campaign images — Kendall in Beverly Hills, Dua Lipa at the airport, Daisy Edgar‑Jones in yet another slouchy Chloé.
Finally, they feel very now. 2026 is obsessed with two things at once: utility and nostalgia. Think cargo pockets on a Prada Route bag, or the early aughts romance of a reissued Chloé Paddington swinging from Katie Holmes’s elbow.
7 Handbags Your Favorite Celebrities Are Already Carrying In 2026:
Gucci Borsetto Bag — The East-West Star Of Spring
Photo Credit: @dualipa/Instagram
Demna’s first big bag for Gucci, introduced with the Spring/Summer 2026 collection, is tailored to the moment. The Borsetto is a sleek, east-west, bowling‑style Boston bag with horsebit hardware and that unmistakable green‑red webbing.
Dua Lipa has carried it with a bomber jacket and sheer skirt, Tyla has styled hers with low-rise army green capris, while Demi Moore and Kate Moss have opted for the more classic GG canvas.
It looks glam, but the shape is surprisingly practical — you can slide in a laptop, a book, and two lip glosses without playing Tetris at the checkout counter. If you love a logo and travel constantly, this is the celebrity It-bag for 2026 that does both duty and drama.
Chanel 2026 Slouchy Flap — Kendall Jenner’s New Power Bag
Photo Credit: Backgrid
Matthieu Blazy looked at the sacred Chanel flap and decided it could loosen up a little. For Spring/Summer 2026, he stripped away the classic quilting, cut the body in smooth napa leather, and relaxed the structure into something softer and roomier.
Kendall Jenner has already turned the new flap into her unofficial briefcase, wearing a burgundy version to a Beverly Hills work meeting with a sharp The Row jacket, boot‑cut jeans, and square‑toe flats. Hailey Bieber and Blackpink’s Jennie have been spotted with similar styles, slung casually over the shoulder, like they have owned them for years.
It sits in the same universe as the Chanel 25 that Margot Robbie champions, but feels even more undone. If you want something that reads boardroom and brunch, this is the one.
Saint Laurent Mombasa Bag — The Y2K Hobo With Cult Energy
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 14: Bella Hadid is seen in SoHo on January 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
Originally launched in 2002 in the Tom Ford era, the Saint Laurent Mombasa was reissued this year and has already been called the first It-bag of 2026. The curved hobo shape, often finished with that sculptural horn‑like handle, hits the sweet spot between boho and razor‑sharp. Bella Hadid has been photographed racing around New York with the small size tucked under her arm, while Rosé has worn the medium over slinky tailoring in Seoul.
On the street, it reads as vintage, even when it is fresh from the boutique, which is precisely the point. If you still have Sienna Miller’s old paparazzi pictures pinned on Pinterest, the Mombasa is your modern upgrade.
Chloé Paddington — The Padlock Icon Gen Z Is Stealing From Their Moms
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 16: Daisy Edgar-Jones is seen in the SoHo on April 16, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by TheStewartofNY/GC Images)
The Chloé Paddington has lived several lives. Debuted in 2005 by Phoebe Philo, it became shorthand for boho heiress style on Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, and Jennifer Lopez. Under Chemena Kamali, Chloé brought it back for Fall/Winter 2025 — same slouchy, elongated shape and padlock, but with lighter hardware, a single zip, and adjustable straps.
Daisy Edgar‑Jones was spotted with a deep blue version months before it hit stores. Katie Holmes carried hers on the set of Happy Hours, and Alexa Chung, naturally, has adopted it like she never stopped. A new campaign has looped in Kendall Jenner, Aimee Lou Wood, and K‑pop star Anna from Meovv, while younger names like Doechii, Amelia Gray, and Tate McRae have made the Paddington a TikTok regular.
If you are padding between meetings and after‑work drinks, it has just enough room and romance to do both.
The Row Marlo Bag — Quiet Luxury, Still Standing
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 05: Kendall Jenner seen on Upper East Side on May 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Aeon/GC Images)
The Row refuses to chase trends, which is ironic considering how many It-bags it has created. In 2026, the Marlo is the insider choice. Medium in size, softly structured, with a top handle and a functional zip, it feels like the Margaux’s chicer little sister.
Kendall Jenner has been photographed with hers on off‑duty days when she still looks mysteriously expensive but not “try hard”. There are no screaming logos, just gently slouchy leather and impeccable proportions.
If your wardrobe is ninety percent black, navy, and white, the Marlo is quiet‑luxury armor that will not date by the time SS27 rolls around.
Prada Route Bag — Cargo Pants, But Make It A Purse
Photo Credit: @alexachung/Instagram
The Prada Route is for people who treat their bag like a portable apartment. It is a rectangular, top‑handle style with a gratifying number of pockets inside and out, giving off polished cargo‑pant energy.
Initially divisive, it started to make sense the second Alexa Chung was seen carrying it. Emma Chamberlain and Ruby Lyn followed, pairing it with everything from pleated minis to slouchy denim. It feels particularly 2026 — functionality as aesthetic, not an afterthought.
If you are forever digging for your keys at the bottom of a tote, the Route might save your sanity and your outfit.
Alaïa Le Teckel Bag — The Sausage Dog That Refused To Retire
PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 04: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley attends the Alaïa Womenswear Fall/Winter 2026-2027 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on March 04, 2026 in Paris, France. (Photo by Marc Piasecki/WireImage)
When Alaïa released the Le Teckel in 2024, fashion people lost it. The elongated east-west proportions and neat top handle made it look like the chicest dachshund in town. Two years later, it has refused to fade into trend oblivion.
Rosie Huntington‑Whiteley and Hailey Bieber both own it in multiple colorways, while Rihanna and Tracee Ellis Ross have leaned into bolder, sculptural versions. What could have been a micro‑bag gimmick has settled into “future classic” territory thanks to its clean lines and luxurious finishes.
If your nights are more martinis than meetings, this is the one to have tucked in your elbow.
How To Choose Your 2026 Celebrity It-Bag
Think less about hype and more about your actual life.
If you live in blazers and spreadsheets, the Chanel slouchy flap or The Row Marlo slot seamlessly into an office‑to‑dinner routine. If your heart belongs to early‑aughts festival photos, the Chloé Paddington or Saint Laurent Mombasa will scratch that boho itch without feeling like costume. Utility obsessives and overpackers should look to the Gucci Borsetto or Prada Route — both are travel‑friendly and can handle a New York commute. If you only carry phone, cardholder, and lip liner, the Alaïa Le Teckel is a small but mighty flex.
And remember, these celebrity handbags in 2026 are not just for red carpets. The right one should look just as good next to your iced coffee on a random Tuesday as it does in your saved Instagram folder.
topics:
It Bag, spring 2026, celebrity fashion, Luxury Handbags, Trending, Gucci, Gucci Bag, Chanel, Saint Laurent, Chloe, The Row, Prada, Alaia, shopping