Is it the 2010s? Because satchel bags are making a comeback

Paparazzi shots from the set of The Devil Wears Prada 2 have sparked conversation—not just about the fashion, but specifically about the satchel bags seen on Anne Hathaway’s arm in multiple photos. Its repeated presence suggests it may be Andy Sachs’s bag of choice in the upcoming film. Interestingly, it’s not a brand-new, “It-girl-approved” handbag, but a well-worn vintage Coach Metropolitan satchel that appears to have become her everyday companion.

While many of today’s trending handbags nod to the satchel bag aesthetic—Balenciaga’s laptop-friendly Rodeo or The Row’s Park N/S tote, a sleek update on the classic messenger—true satchels have been absent from the runway for some time. The kind of structured, functional bags designed to carry hardback novels, diaries, pens, and glasses cases have largely faded from the spotlight.

The year 2010 was a high point for the satchel bags in fashion. Alexa Chung released her namesake Mulberry bag, a crossbody satchel inspired by the brand’s Elkington briefcase, which quickly gained a cult following and a substantial waitlist. During the 2010 and 2011 show seasons, the Cambridge Satchel Company became a street-style favourite, with fashion week attendees carrying neon-coloured, school-style bags. With celebrity endorsements—Chung among them—the British label ushered in a satchel boom.

Ben A. Pruchnie

That’s not to say satchels have disappeared entirely. With the resurgence of 2010s trends, the satchel bag is quietly staging a comeback. However, the traditional, academia-inspired versions are harder to find. Many new iterations have shed their double buckles and rigid silhouettes in favor of a more relaxed design. Whether you lean toward Andy Sachs’s understated crossbody, a modern reinterpretation, or the vintage piece you once queued up for, the satchel bag is ready to reclaim its place in the fashion narrative.

Shop satchel bags and messenger bags:

Prada – Re-Nylon and Saffiano leather shoulder bag

Burberry – Embossed Check Messenger Bag with Buckles

This story first appeared on Vogue.fr.

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