This Is the Go-With-Everything Handbag Trend I'll Never Stop Buying

Until recently—and coinciding with the dawn of the midpriced handbag—I was much more of a shoe person. Designer handbags had always felt so far out of reach, and cheap bag styles didn't particularly appeal either. So I'd often buy vintage or secondhand bags, or be particularly picky about anything affordable.

However, one guiding rule always led me to something that looked chic and expensive, no matter the price tag or heritage… Tan handbags always look sophisticated, and the simpler, plainer styles will not only look classy, but they'll also be timeless, too—meaning you get more bang for whatever buck you've put down. 

I've always found that tan and brown accessories work better with everything in my wardrobe: Black can be too harsh (especially during the summer months), white flits in and out of trashy territory, navy is hard to come by and other neutrals are only available as and when they're in fashion. So tan has always been there, a supportive friend in times of great outfit need. 

Due to the trends aligning and the fashion gods or data crunchers perhaps seeing just how well women like me respond to tan bags when they're on the market, it's a category that has more options than ever before. 

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(Image credit: @hannahalmassi)

My latest tan bag addition: A raffia style from Elleme.

Last year, the look really hit its stride, with cult labels such as Staud, Loewe and Wandler creating the kind of tan bags that felt as classic as they did of-the-moment. I invested in a Staud Bissett bucket bag, but in all honesty I've been collecting different iterations for years now. Scroll down to see the styles I own, plus shop my edit of the best tan handbags to buy right now (and love forever and ever).

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Mulberry's mini drawstring style is one I often use for work.

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An unusual box-shaped style from Danse Lente.

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Monogrammed and personalised from Coach.

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Wandler's bags are a popular choice in the WWW office.

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I've been carrying this Staud bag for a few summers now.

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Not forgetting a more trend-driven alternative—a belt bag from & Other Stories.

The Best Tan Handbags Under £2000

The Best Tan Handbags Under £1000

Related: The One Product All Busy Girls Need in Their Handbag

Best Tan Handbags Under £500

The Best Tan Handbags Under £100

Hannah Almassi
Editor in Chief

Hannah Almassi is the Editor in Chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits. Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.