Maybe it's down to the fact that we've had mini '90s-inspired shoulder bags nestled under our armpits for the past few months, but suddenly—almost out of fashion Siberia—the clutch has made a strong return.
Many editors would actually put it down to one It item seizing the entire industry: Look at almost any one of Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's street style ensembles (which she so kindly documents on Instagram on a very regular basis) and you'll notice that her Bottega Veneta clutch bag (she has multiple colourways) is ever-present. The model and beauty guru is a maestro when it comes to re-wearing investment items, but this one handbag style has seen more action than anything else she owns over the past few months.
The phenomenon of this seemingly simple, luxe, ruched leather pouch has been spreading across the globe, with many of the revitalised heritage brand's accessories showing up as permanently sold out online and proving to be incredibly hard to get hold of.
Copenhagen Fashion Week's coolest girls occasionally threw a clutch into the mix on the days when they weren't committed to their top-handle styles or baguettes. We've seen pouches being packed for chic getaways and girls heading to work with them stuffed full and wedged under a bent arm. However, unlike the clutch's most recent resurgence back in about 2009, the new breed is bigger and roomier than before.
Of course, clutches have become quite a staple piece in any given wardrobe and can come in handy for weddings and events, but they haven't been the fashion crew's preferred bag of choice on a day-to-day basis for some time now.
Many women we know are hunting down vintage versions (the Bottega certainly echoes the kind of clutch bag you'd often find in the 1980s), while some women are even taking their squidgiest totes and folding them over for the very same effect.
You have options, and I suggest you get involved. Keep scrolling to see the coolest clutch-bag outfits I've noticed recently and then get to shopping.
