There was a time when a small hand bag/fanny pack would be enough to hold most of our essentials. A tiny shoulder bag, micro purses, clutch and a simple phone bag became the accessory of choice, carrying little more than a phone, a cardholder and perhaps a lipstick. From affordable Rs 1,000-odd oversized totes to luxury versions crossing Rs 6 lakh, the maxi-bag trend comes with a price tag as expansive as its proportions.
Now fashionistas have flocked to the opposite direction from oversized totes to supersized bags! Celebrities have taken a liking towards the huge lumpy bag.
Bigger Is Better
The appeal of the oversized bag is partly practical, it can hold your waller, lipstick, Stanley and your EX! Celebrities spend their days moving from one shoot location to another, meetings, workouts, airports, events, etc. which is why the maxi bag has become a fan favourites too! Unlike the micro-bag trend, where functionality was often sacrificed for aesthetics, the maxi bag has room to carry considerably more.
“I think it’s because life is fast and we’re carrying more than ever. Micro bags are cute, but you can barely fit anything in them. A maxi bag can actually carry your life from a shoot to the gym, meetings and last-minute travel,” says Tania Gupta, Assistant Professor, Fashion Styling, Bengaluru, and Creative Director.
But practicality alone cannot explain why these bags have become such a visible part of celebrity dressing. After all, fashion has rarely been just about convenience.
Speak Volumes
A huge bag can compensate for what a mini bag can’t, it alters the proportions of an outfit, turning what could have been a relatively simple look into something more forward. “It creates tension, and that’s what makes it interesting. Put an enormous bag with a relatively simple outfit and suddenly the proportions become the story,” explains Gupta. While it is functional the bag becomes part of the silhouette.
“I’m honestly over tiny bags because they look cute but are so impractical. With a maxi bag, I can carry my laptop, makeup, charger, water bottle and basically everything I need for the day. I also like that it instantly makes a simple outfit look more styled without trying too hard,” says Aanya Mehta, 22, fashion student, Mumbai.
It can be paired with a black dress, heels/white shoes, fitted trousers, simple crop top and jeans can provide the perfect canvas for an exaggerated look. The bag does not necessarily need to match everything, in fact it can stand out by bringing a pop of colour to the outfit. “That little bit of contrast is often what makes the whole look feel fresh and modern,” explains Gupta.
The Anti-Micro-Bag
Fashion enthusiasts are tired of the micro bag trend that might go so tiny that it would not be noticeable. But this shift in tide reflects a bigger change towards oversized coats, relaxed trousers, voluminous jackets and looser silhouettes have all become part of the fashion conversation, making a giant handbag feel like a natural extension of the trend. “The new maxi bag is more about volume than simply making a traditional handbag bigger,” notes Gupta.
Soft, slouchy leather, suede and unstructured designs work particularly well because they move with the body instead of appearing stiff or boxy. Deep browns, burgundy, black and neutrals keep the oversized silhouette sophisticated, while brighter shades can turn the bag into the focal point of the look. “For me, the oversized bag is more about the attitude than the storage. There’s something cool about carrying a huge, slightly slouchy bag with a very simple outfit. It feels effortless and a little chaotic, which is much more interesting than everything being perfectly coordinated,” says Rachel Fernandes, 24, social media professional, Bengaluru.
The Maxi Look
There is something so playful about the most oversized versions of the handbag that becomes almost comically large, its purpose changes. “Honestly, the slight absurdity is part of the appeal. Once a bag becomes almost too large, it stops being purely functional and becomes fashionable,” says Gupta. That does not mean every oversized bag needs to be practical. In celebrity styling, exaggeration can be the entire point. Carried under the arm, allowed to sit low against the body or paired with another oversized element, the bag becomes part of the overall silhouette.
The key is making the excess look intentional. “If the bag looks like it is carrying the person rather than the other way around, you’ve probably gone far enough,” she says.
For now, the maxi bag seems to be doing more than simply making room for our everyday essentials. It is bringing drama back to an accessory that had become almost impossibly small — proving that when it comes to bags, fashion may once again believe that bigger really is better.
OVERSIZED PURSE-ONALITY
• Celebrities including Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, Rihanna, Cynthia Erivo, Kendall Jenner, Jacob Elordi, Harry Styles, Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Bad Bunny, Erling Haaland, and Lewis Hamilton have all embraced the huge, slouchy and sometimes almost comically oversized bag.
• Closer home, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Mira Rajput Kapoor have also been spotted carrying
generously sized totes and designer bags.
• Ranveer Singh, Karan Johar and Shah Rukh Khan have turned the maxi-bag into the season’s most noticeable accessory trends.
“For me, the oversized bag is more about the attitude than the storage.”
— Rachel Fernandes, Social Media Professional
“A maxi bag can actually carry your life from a shoot to the gym, meetings and last-minute travel.”
— Tania Gupta, Assistant Professor, Fashion Styling, Bengaluru
“With a maxi bag, I can carry my laptop, makeup, charger, water bottle and basically everything I need for the day.”
— Aanya Mehta, Fashion Student
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com
