Women's Shoulder Bags: Leather, Suede and Mini Bags

Women's bags · Shoulder bags

You buy a shoulder bag by looking at the style and carry it by looking at the shoulder strap. It is the part that determines everything - whether the bag rests at the hip or under the armpit, whether it can be worn crossbody, whether it looks good over a coat - and almost no one checks it before buying.

The length, which is what matters

There are three ways to carry it, and each requires a different length. Over the shoulder, with the bag resting at the hip: you need approximately 55-60 cm of shoulder strap. Crossbody, with the strap crossing the chest: the length increases to 110-120 cm, and the bag reaches the hip. Short, under the arm, in the style of the 2000s: 40 cm or less.

An adjustable shoulder strap covers the first two uses; a fixed one covers only the use it was designed for. That is why every product page indicates whether the shoulder strap is adjustable, and it is worth checking this before the color.

Adjustable, removable, or both

The removable shoulder strap multiplies the ways you can use the bag: detach it and the bag becomes an evening clutch or a handbag. This is the case with the Colette and the Shop Bag by MC2 Saint Barth, which are designed to be carried in three different ways.

The adjustable but fixed shoulder strap is the most common solution and the right one if you will always use the bag in the same way: one fewer attachment means one fewer weld to wear out. On Pinko styles - the Love Bag One, the Mini One Two Three - the shoulder strap is part of the design and cannot be removed.

Leather, suede, chain

Leather is the choice for most of our styles and needs no defense: it softens, develops a patina, and bears the weight without deforming at the attachment point. On small bags in cowhide leather, the shape stays taut even after years.

Suede changes the mood: warmer, more autumnal, and it should be protected with spray before going out for the first time. It is beautiful and requires a little care, especially on the shoulder strap, where it rubs against your coat.

The chain - or the metal-link shoulder strap - is the most elegant and the least practical: it is heavy, and you can feel it on a bare shoulder. It works for evening wear and small bags; on a full bag, it becomes a problem after two hours.

The size, depending on what you carry

About half of our styles are mini or small, and that is the most popular size. Before choosing one, however, lay out on a table what you really carry: phone, keys, wallet, lipstick. If it fits, the mini is the right choice and will change the way you go out. If it does not fit, it will not fit later either.

Those who need more space will find shoulder bags and top-handle bags; for evening wear, there are clutches.

The brands

Pinko is the most represented house, with the Love Birds plaque - two facing birds in gold-tone metal - recognizable from a distance. Coccinelle works Italian leather into clean shapes without a prominent logo, making it the choice for those who want the bag, not the brand, to stand out.

MC2 Saint Barth brings its Vanity and Colette bags, often with a removable shoulder strap and printed fabrics. Emporio Armani and Gianni Chiarini focus on classic leather goods, Benedetta Bruzziches on jewel bags for evening wear, and Off-White on a streetwear aesthetic.

The price range starts with the simplest models and extends to the evening jewel bag, with most of the selection in the mid-range. All women's bags are in women's bags.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a bag's shoulder strap be?

It depends on how you carry it. To wear it on the shoulder, with the bag at your side, you need approximately 55-60 cm. To wear it crossbody across the chest, the length increases to 110-120 cm and the bag reaches the hip. Under the arm, 40 cm or less is enough. An adjustable shoulder strap covers the first two uses: that is why it is worth checking this before the color.

What is the difference between a removable and an adjustable shoulder strap?

An adjustable strap changes length but remains attached to the bag; a removable strap can be detached completely, turning the bag into a clutch or a handbag. A removable strap multiplies its uses, while a fixed strap has one fewer attachment point to wear out over time. If you will always use the bag in the same way, the latter is more robust.

How do you choose the size of a shoulder bag?

Place what you really carry - phone, keys, wallet - on a table and check whether it fits. Mini bags are the most requested size and change the way you go out, but if your essentials do not fit today, they will not fit later either. A good part of our selection is small in size, with the rest being medium.

Do suede shoulder bags get damaged?

No more than other bags, but they must be protected beforehand, not afterward: use a water-repellent spray before the first outing and a rubber brush when the surface starts to look dull. The point to check is the shoulder strap, which rubs against the coat and is where suede first develops a sheen.

Can a shoulder bag be worn over a coat?

Yes, and in fact that is how you will use it for half the year. However, it must be tried on this way: a shoulder strap that falls nicely over a sweater becomes short over a coat. If you mainly need the bag in winter, choose an adjustable one and keep in mind that you will need half a hole more.