Extreme Measures: The Two Big (and Small) Handbags You Need This Season

By Chris Frey
November 12, 2010

Derek Lam & Fendi

Derek Lam (Photo by Chris Moore/Catwalking/Getty Images); Fendi (Photo by Venturelli/WireImage)

This season has yielded two distinct handbag trends that simultaneously manage to be both totally of-the-moment and timeless. They are the satchel and the mini clutch (the box clutch or miniauduere, in particular). The two purse styles vary wildly in size, but share a time-honored status. Get one of each and we guarantee your personal style is set for day and evening (and years to come.)

Fashion magazine editors and celebrities have taken to the classic silhouettes reminding, us that it’s often the simplest handbag designs that are the most chic. Jen Ford, Fashion News Editor at Lucky Magazine told The Inside Source that what feels fresh right now is "elegant simplicity." Style.com’s Candy Pratts Price furthers the sentiment in her influential Fall fashion accessory round-up, stating that the beauty of classic accessories is: "You wear it—it doesn't wear you."

Fashion designer Marc Jacobs opened his Fall 2010 collection for Louis Vuitton with a structured crocodile satchel, and the following 10 fashion models carried variations on the same shape in different fabrications—tapestry, fur, and quilted leather as well as versions in multiple colors embroidered with the LV logo. There were preppy takes from Ralph Lauren, Fendi and Marc by Marc Jacobs and more refined, lady-like designer handbag styles at Prada, Gucci and Phillip Lim. Celebs including Sarah Jessica Parker, Victoria Beckham, Rachel Bilson and Jessica Alba have also been seen toting trendy satchels in various shades to occasions both fancy and everyday.

The miniature clutch, or box clutch, is as stylish as the satchel, albeit smaller in stature. The handbag style is often embellished, but always sleek. A red carpet fashion staple for years (Gwyneth Paltrow, Chloe Sevigny, Halle Berry and countless others have made recent appearances with them in-hand), the mini clutch is now an option for day as well. Designers like Dries Van Noten and Chloe showed mini clutches with separates, while houses like Fendi and Bottega Veneta stayed true to form and paired the handbag with cocktail dresses.

We like that despite a Fall runway season that included embellishments, metallics and trendy patterns it’s the classic handbag styles that have taken hold. We compared eBay listings and online sales for of items in the Women's Handbags category with the terms "box clutch" and "satchel" over the past 30 days with a 30-day period six months ago and found that listings for "box clutch" had multiplied 14-fold and sales had increased by 35 percent, while listings for "satchel" had increased by 21 percent and sales had stayed flat.

Clearly both eBay buyers and sellers understand that there’s something entirely satisfying about a purchase that’s a timely investment—a piece that’s on-trend but will make many repeat appearances down the road. With the holidays fast approaching, these handbag styles are can’t-miss gifts. They can also prime you for the parties and endless holiday errands around the corner.

STYLISH SATCHELS

Victoria Beckham (Photo by Christopher Peterson/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic); Marc by Marc Jacobs (Photo by Karl Prouse/Catwalking/Getty Images); Rachel Bilson (Photo by Venturelli/WireImage)

Satchels

NEW Tory Burch Norah Satchel

(buy it now price, $299)
NEW Alexander McQueen Leather Eclipse Satchel

(buy it now price, $610.76)
NEW Balenciaga Camel Satchel

(buy it now price, $1,150)
Burberry Leather Nella Bag

(buy it now price, $850)
NEW Celine “Boogie” Quilted Satchel

(buy it now price, $659.99)
NEW Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Satchel

(buy it now price, $399)
Valentino Leather Bow Handbag

(buy it now price, $524.99)

TRENDY CLUTCHES

Halle Berry (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage for DKMS); Bottega Veneta (Photo credit should read FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP/Getty Images); Demi Moore (Photo by Andreas Rentz/GC/Getty Images)