The Mini Bag Trend
Mini bags started to become popular in the late 90s and early 2000s and they have made their way back to the fashion market since as early as 2015; being featured in one of Fendi’s collections of that year. While this is not a trend that is super practical, exclusivity and high price points are driving this trend. The influence of many different celebrities and social media stars have really helped the mini bag to blow up and become popular for all classes. The idea of not having to carry as much around with you, is said to be liberating and can encourage one to live a more minimalist lifestyle.
The History
Mini Bags, in specific, shoulder bags started to become popular in the late 90s- early 2000s. While it wasn’t the most practical bag to bring with you to the long day at the office, it was perfect for making any outfit look chic. In 1997, the Fendi Baguette bag started to take off and after being seen on celebrities such as Madonna, Naomi Campbell & Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw; it was said that women were wiling to pay more to get their hands on this bag than they were to pay rent. This bag only continued to get popular in the 2000s and we start to see “one of the most iconic’” silhouettes come to life with the Dior Saddle Bag. Another style that was popular during this time was the Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag.
In more recent years, while mini shoulder bags have become a major trend once again, we are also seeing another variation of mini bags emerge back from the 1900s. Jacquemus being the most popular with the release of the “Le Chiquito ''; various other brands such as Chanel, Staud, and BOYY have come out with their own high-end-takes on the mini bag. These bags have been seen on many different celebrities, such as Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid; as well as on instagramers Devon Lee Carlson and Aimee Song.
Zeitgeist Mapping
INFLUENCERS/SOCIAL MEDIA
Many social media stars or influencers have been going crazy over these mini bags. Some use them for practicality, some are used simply as an accessory to add to a photo or outfit, and some are used to add to monochrome looks. There are many more uses for these bags however, when looking at mini bags on instagram, these photos below represent a lot of what I was seeing. Practicality or not, these bags are IT right now.
CELEBS IN STREET STYLE
Gucci, Louis, Jacquemus, Prada, etc. seems to be all the celebs are wearing on the streets right now. We have Gigi and Kendall wearing more casual, daytime looks using their #minibags to add pops of color to the look. On the other hand, we have Rihanna dressing up her mini bag on the streets with her Jacquemus Le Chiquito bag to add to her monochromatic look. The bags in these photos are definitely not being worn for because it can fit all their belongings, they are being worn for the fashion.
DESIGNER COLLECTIONS
Mini bags have been everywhere; we have seen them all over the streets, social media, fashion blogs and even on trend reports. Some of the designers responsible for selling these trendy bags are Louis Vuitton, Jacquemus, and Prada, as seen in the photos below.
TREND ALERT
While it is unknown how long this trend is going to go on, WGSN has reported some of the trends they see coming further on in 2021. We are going to see a lot of knit incorporated into the mini bag trend; whether that be in mini crossbody bags or shoulder bags. Another thing trend that has already slowly made their way into the fashion world is the idea of soft volume. This will include bags that have puffed up straps. Lastly, very detailed hardware will be seen within mini bags.
Trend Board
Forecasting Board
