Could anything feel more perfectly autumnal than shopping for a new handbag? Well, only shopping for a glossy brown bag, perhaps. The polished texture has fast become the choice of the season, and it’s easy to understand why.
Patent leather—be it in black, brown, or vibrant colors—has long been more directional than classic grain or matte leather finishes, and is infinitely smarter than suede. It signals sleek polish with no extra effort, adding an additional texture (the secret to all the best outfits) with just grab-and-go application. It feels perfect for that “back-to-school” feeling that never leaves us, speaking to the elevation that we crave for our wardrobes when we say goodbye to summer’s relaxed silhouettes.
Tory Burch AW26.
Just ask Jennifer Aniston. The actor was quick to adopt September’s key bag trend on only the second day of the month. She was photographed in New York clutching a brown patent box bag, which, against the contrast of her dark gray dress, stood out with stealth polish thanks to the shining texture of the bag. As is often the case with Aniston’s laid-back approach, it was an effective styling tip that’s easy to adopt.
While Aniston kept her brown patent bag in small proportions for an evening ’do, the best way for the majority of us to carry this trend into the new season is with a tote that can be filled with everyday essentials. Look to Tory Burch’s latest edition of the Romy bag. The style is that perfectly dark, deep chocolate brown that goes with everything. Yes, we’re into the black and brown pairing your mother warned you about.
Fill it with your laptop and desktop water bottle for weekdays, and with gym kits or a copy of The Lion Inside on Saturdays, depending on how your weekends look these days.
Those who prefer a lighter touch should look to Balenciaga’s shiny tan take of its Rodeo bag, which will punctuate dark winter shades well. Or, for something more simple and priced under $50, bags don’t come better than ASOS’s scoop tote.
Simply put: If you’re wanting to invest in a new bag this season or similarly are looking to move your wardrobe on from summer to winter swiftly, then only a brown patent bag will do. Let’s get glossy!
