I Test-Drove Ferragamo’s New It Bag So I Could Tell You If It’s Actually Worth It

Finding the perfect everyday bag is not a task to be taken lightly.

There are a lot of very important points to consider: you want enough space for your essentials and also for the bag in question to be chic, easy to use (yes, that's a thing) and to pair well with your capsule wardrobe. Like many people, I like to carry around everything but the kitchen sink with me on a daily basis. We're talking a makeup bag, a pouch containing hair products, perfume and first-aid items, a bundle of charging cables, house keys, AirPods, sunglasses, and, lastly, my wallet.

Looking for a handbag to house all of these items and more is no small feat, and with an endless array of options on the market, I find my brain spinning in confusion thinking about where to begin my search and what style will effortlessly team with my existing clothes, shoes and accessories. A luxury handbag is a real investment purchase, something I'll likely look to use every day of the week and hope to treasure for a long time, so this is a choice I want to get right.

Looking at bags with longevity, my search took me to Ferragamo's Hug Handbag, which has been populating fashion circles (and my brain space) for a while now. It's chic, practical and instantly recognisable without relying on brash logos to make it so—so far, it has my attention. However, always tempted by something new, I decided to see what the brand has to offer for this season, and soon found my answer in Ferragamo's new Soft-Bag. With this contender entering the ring, I couldn't help but wonder if the Hug could soon be dethroned. Keen to give the Soft-Bag (and a runway item) a spin, I spent a day at the office taking the medium-sized Soft-Bag for a real test drive.

Read on for my review and thoughts on why this bag is the style to know now.

What Is Ferrgamo’s Soft-Bag? 

The Soft-Bag is directly inspired by an archival Ferragamo style and is accessorised with a shoulder strap and double handles that can be folded inside, transforming the accessory into a pouch. The Ferragamo Soft-Bag is available in three sizes: Small, Medium and Large.

Launched for the spring/summer 2025 season under the creative direction of British-Trinidadian-Jamaican fashion designer Maximilian Davis, this bag debuted on the runway in black, brick, slate and baby-pink hues, tucked under the arms of models who were artfully draped and layered in similarly toned garments, reminiscent of the recital-wear of ballet dancers.

Ferragamo Soft-Bag: Vital Stats

• Brand: Ferragamo
• Model: Soft-Bag – Medium
• Materials: Nappa leather
• Colour: Concrete
• Hardware: Metal
• Comes with: Internal zipped pocket, removable crossbody strap and dust bag
• Measurements: (Height) 9.6", (length) 13.7" inches, (width) 4.7"
• Shoulder-handle drop: 10.2"
• Season: Spring/summer 2025

What Is Ferragamo Known For? 

The house of Ferragamo has long been known for its leather craftspersonship, particularly its footwear, belts and, of course, handbags, dating back to when the brand was founded in 1927. One of the house’s signature motifs is the "Gancini" buckle, meaning "little hooks" in Italian. This clasp feature is a heritage emblem still used today across many of Ferragamo's handbag styles, and is arguably the brand's calling card.

How Does the Ferragamo Soft-Bag Function? 

The Soft-Bag features the Gancini clasp in a new iteration, by way of two parallel bars which have been threaded through the nappa leather to form a concertina-like structure. This technique makes opening the bag really unfussy and fluid—there are no complicated buckles or straps to fiddle with. With a gentle pull of the top folds, you are in, and the magnetic fastenings on either side help to keep your possessions secure with satisfying simplicity upon closing.

Constructed in buttery-soft nappa leather (suede variations are also available), the bag feels extremely luxurious to the touch. Thanks to the Gancini buckle fastening, the fabric elegantly falls in folds, creating a cinched-in, pillow-like look (hence the name), which instantly makes you want to embrace it and fold it up under your arm. This is one way of carrying the Soft-Bag, a technique I’ve spotted with similar oversized pouch styles on street style stars at fashion week.

The bag has shorter straps on either side for a throw-over-your-shoulder appeal, as well as a long, extendable crossbody strap featuring a repeated chain pattern of the Gancini hardware, which is completely detachable if you desire. Personally, I opted to use the shorter straps, which felt a bit more grown-up and gave off more of a timeless air, allowing the bag to tuck neatly under my arm for security, but with a bit more support to be hands-free.

How to Style the Ferragamo Soft-Bag 

So far this spring, I've found myself wearing a pared-back rotation of tees, tanks, blazers, maybe a simple black trouser or classic jeans and either a pair of loafers or thong sandals—I don’t like to overcomplicate things, but I still want to feel put-together and classic. I'm also a sucker for anything brown, taupe or beige, and blending these tones with black trousers, white tanks and a touch of grey here and there is my safe space. I'm not one for big bursts of colour or pattern (unless I'm on holiday or dressing for a particular occasion), so the muted palette that the Soft-Bag is offered in is right up my alley.

It's no wonder style-setters such as Nara Smith and Sandra Shehab, as well as The White Lotus star Michelle Monaghan, have been carrying the bag of late. The Concrete shade I tried out pretty much does what it says on the tin—it's a washed-out, smokey grey-brown, which means it will seamlessly pair with the monochromatic looks I like to wear from Monday to Sunday.

Adding the Soft-Bag to my daytime looks felt like a natural extension of my style—it's not a bag that commands immediate attention (I would argue that it falls into the quiet-luxury bracket), but on second glance, you can tell it's something special and artisanally crafted. The lustre of the high-grade leather, the glimmer of the gold hardware (I'm a gold jewellery fanatic, so this appealed) and the fuss-free shape tick so many boxes for me.

Is the Ferragamo Soft-Bag Worth It? 

I really enjoyed toting this bag. I'm typically an anti-trend dresser, so I don't lean towards styles that feel like they'll fizzle in popularity in a few months. I don't mind the odd contemporary twist or update to bring me into the now, but the classics are where I feel most comfortable. Ferragamo's aforementioned Hug Bag, which has soared in demand in recent months, also taps into this classic bag desire, but I want something a little different.

Although it's a new bag, the Soft-Bag feels timeless. Its supple, malleable shape really lends itself to throwing in all your essentials and going. I'd say the only drawback is that the medium size I tried is not laptop-friendly, and I don't think the large size would accommodate my MacBook in either. Aside from this, I can fit just about everything else I need in. The medium costs a little over £2000, so this really is an investment piece worth mulling over, trying in store and making sure it'll fit all your belongings and ultimately, your needs.

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