Nostalgia has a tight grip on fashion these days as social media thrusts "old-school" trends back into the public eye. Nowhere is that more evident than in handbags, where the coveted "it bags" of the early 2000s have officially earned the label of vintage, a mere two decades later.
Whether young people are rummaging through their mothers’ closets or hunting for purses in thrift shops, it’s clear that the cultural phenomenon is catching the attention of the fashion labels. Luxury fashion brands such as Coach, Burberry, Louis Vuitton and others have revived shoulder bags with studs, tassels and Y2K-inspired embellishments, even enlisting the millennial era's own style icons, including Paris Hilton and Alexa Chung, to model them. Talk about a throwback.
Just because Gen Z has rediscovered the trend doesn't mean everyone has to embrace it, reassures Lauren Slama of Dusk Boutique in Queen Creek.
"I don't personally follow bag trends. I just like what I like," she says.
Slama believes the right handbag can completely transform an outfit. A bright pop of color or an oversized slouchy bag can upgrade a simple, casual look.
"I'm definitely not a matchy-matchy bag girl, but I love a big statement,” she adds.
Alongside vintage-inspired designer bags, she's seeing customers gravitate toward bold shades, especially green, as well as structured hard-shell bags, wristlets and clutches with shorter straps.
For shoppers considering a designer investment, she believes that many luxury handbags tend to hold their value over time. Trends may come and go, but choosing a bag that speaks to your personal style means you're more likely to carry it for longer.
If you're looking for a designer-inspired purse at a more affordable price, Dusk Boutique recently added several fun options to refresh your wardrobe: the Bridget Bag, Audrey Acrylic Clutch and Vera Shoulder Bag.
As for the Y2K purse revival? Slama just laughs. "Obviously, we wore it first."
Pull One:
The youth are rummaging through their mothers' closets and thrifting early 2000s "it bags," which have officially earned vintage status, a mere two decades later.
Pull two:
Trends may come and go, but choosing a bag that speaks to your personal style means you're more likely to carry it for longer.