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The Trending Croissant Bag Is Every Practical Fashion Lover's Dream
As irresistible as the edible original.
Who knew that baked goods were such a regular feature on fashion designers' mood-boards? First came the iconic Fendi Baguette, and now it seems that yet another French patisserie classic is behind summer 2024's biggest handbag trend. Meet the 'croissant' bag, named after the delectable breakfast pastry and resembling it both in shape and desirability.
Sometimes referred to as a sling, half-moon or crescent bag, the curved croissant silhouette is delightfully roomy, slouchy and designed to be worn hands-free, slung casually across the body. In short: perfect for everything from festivals and city breaks to the endless errands of day-to-day life. Given it's such a rarity for fashion trends to be both chic and genuinely practical, it's little surprise that the croissant bag has been such a big hit: Net-A-Porter reports a 128% increase in searches for the term on its website over the last six months, while Depop saw searches soar by 28% in May alone.
'The popularity of croissant bags owes to the resurgence of the timeless hobo bag,' explains Libby Page, Net-A-Porter's Market Director. 'Practical yet refined, they make the perfect addition to an elevated everyday wardrobe. Lemaire’s Fortune Croissant knotted leather shoulder bag is a personal favourite.'
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Indeed, it's the French maison's design that has the closest likeness to everyone's favourite buttery treat, with its perfectly-placed vertical seams and supple leather construction. But a number of high-street and designer brands have recently launched their own interpretations, too, and they're every bit as delicious-looking.
First of all, there's the most affordable 'It' bag of the century: Uniqlo's ubiquitous Round Mini bag, that comes in endless colours and materials, and is constantly sold out for a reason. COS and Arket have also gone big on the croissant trend with their own stylish sling bag designs, while The Row and Khaite have given the silhouette their usual understated but ultra-luxurious spin.
These are the best croissant bags to shop now:
Lemaire's cult croissant bag now comes in an array of chic shades and sizes, including this mini version in a pale pistachio green. Don't be fooled, though: it's still surprisingly capacious, and can easily fit your phone, wallet, keys and all manner of accoutrements.
Perfectly puffy, pastry-shaped and in a beautiful shade of bright red, COS' take on the croissant bag ticks off multiple trends in one go. Pair with head-to-toe summer neutrals or black to make it really pop.
Louis Vuitton has recently re-released its croissant-shaped shoulder bags in modern varnished leather and denim iterations, but we still have a soft spot for the brand's monogrammed Noughties original: a vintage bag worth investing in.
This might technically be called a 'kidney' bag, but Damson Madder's design still has all the slouchy, cross-body sling vibes we're after. The ruffled strap and subtly embroidered roses make it look far more expensive than it is, too.
Tucked under your arm, this curved hobo-style bag in chalk will instantly elevate even the most basic of outfits. It will also fit the majority of your possessions, so it's a great work bag too.
We can always rely on Reformation to come out with bang-on-trend designs that hit that intersection between affordable and luxury. This snake print Rosetta bag is made of quality leather and has a nifty magnetic closure, but still retails at less than £400.
We couldn't not include the original Fortune Croissant bag from the brand that launched the trend in the first place. Made from butter-soft brown leather and featuring top-stitched panels that nod to the French pastry's flaky layers, this is as croissant-like as you can get.
Uniqlo's sell-out nylon cross-body bag is great for day-to-day casual looks, but for the summer, we'd recommend upgrading to the brand's new crochet style. For festival season, there's no bag better.
Arket's croissant bag is one of the most versatile on the market, with its extendable strap that means it can be worn either cross-body or perched on your shoulder. The burgundy colourway sold out with days, so you'll need to be fast if you want to secure the just-released green version.
Nanushka's Anja bag makes quite the statement with its scrunched look and high-shine patent finish.
Few do effortless chic quite like Khaite, and the brand's latest bag style is the perfect example. The Olivia is decidedly croissant-like in shape, made using silver leather and kept unstructured so as to sit casually in the crook of your arm.
Of course Parisian brand Rouje has nailed the croissant bag brief with its just-released Le Parigot design in soft red suede... Well, it comes with the territory, doesn't it?
For a timeless investment piece, look no further than The Row's so-called 'banana' bag. It's a favourite of Jennifer Lawrence's, which is just about all you need to know.
Lulu Guinness' playful take on the croissant trend comes in the form of this sleek leather Cleo, that snaps together at the top thanks to a hidden magnet closure. A great little evening bag that will go with absolutely everything.
Clementina Jackson is the Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health UK, covering everything from and catwalk trends to buzzy brands and the cult products you need to know about (and shop before they sell out). She also commissions first-person and long-form fashion features, oversees and tests out the latest industry innovations. Clementina previously worked as Digital Fashion Editor at , during which time she profiled high-end designers, interviewed everyone from Priyanka Chopra to Jane Fonda, and launched the franchise to shine a light on size-inclusive fashion. During this time, she was also named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner. Having worked in journalism for more than six years, Clementina has also written for the likes of , , , and , covering everything from luxury travel, lifestyle and restaurants to photography and interiors.
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