While many bag trends have their fifteen minutes of fame before residing to the back of the closet, the belt bag has somehow managed to stay in the limelight. A modern take on its less stylish ancestor—the fanny pack —the belt bag is responsible for taking hands-free fashion to the next level.
First spotted on catwalks several seasons ago, the 2010s have seen a resurgence of this oh-so-convenient style first popular in the 80s. Prevalent on both the runways and Instagram, it looks like this purse trend is here to stay. The main question is, simply, why?
@hautehustla
How Did the Belt Bag Make a Comeback?
As early as 2017 the fancy pack style was making its return but this time with a new name: the belt bag. Fashionistas and the fashion press alike were dumbfounded that this retro accessory had made a resurgence (true of all iconic fashion comebacks). The design became a street style staple especially amongst celebs. (Read: Celebrity Style: Luxury Fanny Packs?)
Kourtney Kardashian wearing a black quilted Chanel belt bag. Photo courtesy of Backgrid.
Supermodel Kendall Jenner rocking a Louis Vuitton belt bag in Monogram canvas. Photo courtesy of Josiahw / Backgrid/ @ratner.creative/@classic_croco.
One bag in particular played a huge role in skyrocketing the trend. The Gucci GG Marmont matelassé leather belt bag quickly became a cult classic, and made other brands want to follow suit!
Photo courtesy of @marjhankausar
Photo courtesy of @nicole_ontrend
On the Runway
Rarely is there a runway show now without at least one belt bag. The style has managed to retain its coveted status, appearing in recent collections, notably Chanel and Fendi Fall 2019 Ready-to-Wear. (Chanel’s belt bags have become some of the most popular iterations in the last year—they’re all over Instagram.) The fact that major fashion houses are still embracing the trend says something about its longevity.
Chanel Fall 2019 Ready-to-wear. Photo courtesy of Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Chanel Fall 2019 Ready-to-wear. Photo courtesy of Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Fendi Fall 2019 Ready-to-wear. Photo courtesy of Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Celebrity Trend Setters
A-listers may have helped start the belt bag–mania, but they haven’t abandoned it yet. Just looking at photos of celeb street style shows us that celebs are still obsessed with this trend! And when celebs are obsessed, the rest of us tend to follow suit…
Photo courtesy of @haileybeiber / @alexanderwangny / @bulgariofficial
Photo courtesy of @haileybeiber / @alexanderwangny / @bulgariofficial
Photo courtesy of SplashNews.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Rinna is a fan of the belt bag in Gucci’s Monogram. Photo courtesy of Bauer-Griffin.
Developments of the Belt Bag
A far cry from the fanny pack once reserved solely for trips to Disney World, the belt bag comes in many different variations. In short, there’s a belt bag for everyone. (Well, okay, maybe not everyone, since some people are sworn belt bag enemies, but you catch our drift.)
An innovative revision of the classic belt bag style that puts practicality first is the utility belt design adopted by the likes of Virgil Abloh for Louis Vuitton.
Louis Vuitton Spring 2019 Menswear. Photo courtesy of Yannis Vlamos / Indigital.tv.
Several designers have even incorporated iconic bags into the style, most notably the Dior Saddle Bag and the Louis Vuitton Dauphine. What better way to mix classics with a hot trend?
Photo courtesy of Dior.
Photo courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
So what’s next for the belt bag? If we had to guess, our money is on more designs that transform “It” bags into hands-free designer gems. We think it’s safe to say the belt bag isn’t going anywhere just yet!
Are you a belt bag convert? How would you carry one—at the waist, fanny, cross chest, cross back, shoulder? And do you agree that the belt bag trend is here to stay…? Tell us below!
Love, PurseBop
XO
Updated: December 3rd, 2019
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