A Great Black Bag Is A Wardrobe Essential – Shop Vogue’s Edit Of The Best
Black bags are an accessory that many people hold dear in their wardrobes, but like a good pair of jeans or a white T-shirt, it’s good to have a couple of options on rotation that can cater to different occasions. Tote bags are ideal for holding a laptop, make-up bag and work knick-knacks; shoulder bags are better suited to housing a scaled-down edit of personals; a cross-body boasts handsfree appeal, while party bags do what they say on the tin – they're the accessory you need to hold your essentials whenever you're dressing up.
If you’re in the market for a black bag, you can rest assured there are plenty of options available right now. There’s iconic styles like Bottega Veneta’s Andiamo as well as Saint Laurent's Le 5 à 7, Mulberry’s Mini Alexa or Gucci’s XL Giglio tote – and, if the spring/summer 2026 shows are anything to go by, they’re set to be big going forwards too (Chanel and Valentino are two brands who showed them – but more on that later.)
The good news? Whichever you choose, the colour means it’s guaranteed to work with nearly everything in your wardrobe making it a versatile investment you’ll wear over and over. So, keep scrolling to browse Vogue’s edit of the best black handbags to buy and cherish as well as some inspiration on how to wear them yourself with the help of our favourite It-Girls.
- Best carry-all tote bag: Totême Suede Lounge Tote Bag, £1235
- Best sleek shoulder bag: Saint Laurent Le 5 à 7, £1755
- Best hands-free crossbody bag: DeMellier Vancouver Crossbody Bag, £425
- Best party bag: Prada Crystal-Embellished Satin Tote Bag, £1720
- Best accessibly-priced bag: & Other Stories Dual Leather Crossbody Bag, £169
Tote bags
Black leather tote bags have become an It-girl staple. It could be the Hermès Birkin effect. Maybe it’s the sheer practicality of having a bag which looks chic even when it’s packed with everything from laptop to your notebook and your make-up bag. Either way, it’s not going anywhere for 2026 – and our top pick right now is Totême’s slouchy suede take.
Shoulder bags
When you only need a few essentials – think phone, card holder, mini fragrance and lipstick – a shoulder bag is your best option. It’s one of the sleeker silhouettes which looks best when it’s not over-full. Follow the lead of Zoë Kravitz and Elizabeth Olsen and opt for a design that’s elevated with metal hardware.
Crossbody bags
If the spring/summer 2026 shows are anything to go by – which they always are – it’s the season where the black crossbody is making a comeback. Matthieu Blazy showed them at his first Chanel show, as did Pierpaolo Piccioli for his debut at Balenciaga. Seeing as two of the most influential creative directors are on board, we're expecting the industry to follow suit. Avoid anything too bulky and go for those that are sleek and understated, and which sit close to the body, instead.
Party bags
Theres space for a black party bag in every girl’s wardrobe because it’s a silhouette that ticks a box not many can. Though you can get away with colour or metallics for party szn, going for something that’s black just feels cooler. You could try a Hailey Bieber-coded long, slim east-west or a mini top handle à la Alexa Chung – or, if you want something even smaller, a pouch or clutch could work, too.
