
Chain Reaction: New Season Handbags With Personality
Chain straps and gleaming embellishment add edge and glamour to timeless handbag silhouettes this season
Vicky Bag, Saint Laurent
Invest in Saint Laurent’s Vicky bag, crafted from glossy, quilted Italian leather. Vicky is compact, robust and timeless, stamped with the brand’s iconic interlocking YSL logo and finished with a gleaming gold chain. Throw her on with jeans for insouciant glamour.
£1,725, ysl.com
Cube Chain bag, THE VOLON
THE VOLON is a cult Korean accessories label launched by interior designer and architecture enthusiast Eujung Jang in 2013. Fans include Man Repeller and Olivia Palermo, who praise the brand’s clean lines and striking colours. The instantly uplifting Cube Chain bag is made from pastel-hued leather with and a chunky chain shoulder strap, while the Cindy clutch is this season’s must-have party bag, skillfully designed in velvet and metallic leather and finished with wafting feathers.
From £667, net-a-porter.com
Village England
Village England is a British leather accessories brand with an ethical conscience, founded by Julia Dobson, who worked previously with Céline and Bally. This season, hand-hammered brass studs and detachable chain straps add an edge to the brand’s bestselling styles, made in England from supple Italian leather.
From £250, villageengland.com
Reversible Falabella Tote, Stella McCartney
The newest addition to Stella McCartney’s Falabella family is the tan reversible tote, crafted from faux leather with a light blue suede interior. The roomy style is trimmed with contrasting brass chains and is the ideal palette for transitioning into autumn.
£815, stellamccartney.com
Micro Hat Box, Aspinal of London
The retro appeal of Aspinal’s popular hatbox-style silhouette is enhanced by a lustrous leather-plaited chin strap, which is fully detachable. The ladylike, quintessentially British silhouette is crafted from croc print Italian calf leather and available in a spectrum of vivid hues, including gleaming amber and alluring topaz. It just big enough to fit your lipstick and credit card.
£395, aspinal.com
Gabrielle Backpack, Chanel
This round-up wouldn’t be complete without highlighting Chanel, the original purveyor of the woven chain strap. We particularly love the dinky Gabrielle Backpack, which launched last year to a fanfare reception and is presented for autumn in tactile tweed and ivory leather.
£2,700, chanel.com