Just when my shoulder bags and I were finding our rhythm, spring 2025 is coming in hot with its own ideas. Don't get me wrong, there will always be a place in my closet for an easy-to-wear '90s style that tucks right under the shoulder, but this season marks the arrival of a handbag with even more polish, elegance, and sophistication than any shoulder style ever could (sorry!). Inspired by the 1960s, kiss-lock bags are arriving en masse right now, and their retro appeal feels as nostalgic as it does modern.
The prim-and-proper mood of the 1960s is everywhere I look in fashion this year, from the cropped pedal pushers everyone is styling to the bandanas they're wearing in their hair and their oversize sunglasses that nod Jackie O. The decade's dominance is powerful, and that's saying a lot given that elements of the '70s and '90s are also creeping back in these days. With icons like Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly inspiring a new class of nostalgic downtown fashion people, it was only a matter of time until these kiss-lock bags reared their heads again.
Coach, Jacquemus, Khaite… Every important handbag designer of the moment is backing this trend, proving that it's the only one that matters this season. Ahead, see the kiss-lock styles that arrived on the runways and how celebrities and fashion people are carrying them on the street, and then shop our favorites.
On Naomi Watts: Celine jacket, belt, and Antoinette Bag in Bordeaux ($4150)
Naomi Watts was the first celebrity to wear Celine's Antoinette Bag, a now-sold-out, top-handle style featuring a thin frame and a kiss-lock closure. Watts carried a burgundy version of the bag that made her jeans and suede jacket look immediately so elegant.
The clasp bag is one of the most iconic designs to come out of Phoebe Philo's tenure at Celine, and it's one I'm always eyeing it on the secondhand market.
Prada's trapezoidal bag may have debuted on its fall 2023 runway, but I haven't stopped thinking about its architectural shape and classic appeal since.
This also comes in black croc and I genuinely can't decide which I like better.
Coach took the idea of a coin purse and supersized it into something altogether more playful. Models held the oversize clutches from underneath, but once produced for sale, they arrived in stores with an optional shoulder strap.
I carried the bag during fashion week and can confirm it's straight out of Mary Poppins, as it can fit just about anything.
The sleek hardware and croc-embossed finish make this feel so modern.
Supermodel Paloma Elsesser has some of the best personal style in the business. Here, she carried an embossed frame bag with a layered midi skirt and red sandals to the Proenza Schouler show.
Just an observation, but only people with good taste seem to own this bag.
I can always count on this brand to deliver a designer shape without the designer budget.
I love this artful take on a traditional kiss-lock closure.
Simon Porte Jacquemus has long held a fascination with a certain retro aesthetic, and that came through more than ever on his spring 2025 runway where models carried elongated clutches that were finished with a custom sphere-and-cube-shaped closure.
This might just be the most "2025" a kiss-lock bag can get.
Sleek, minimal, and timeless.
This is so right for summer.
Sylvie Mus has one of the most understated and chic wardrobes around, and she can often be seen carrying a kiss-lock bag with anything from jeans to a silk gown.
God, if you're listening, this is the one I want.
On-trend and on-sale? It's a fashion miracle.
There's no question that Catherine Holstein knows how make an It bag, and the latest to join the Khaite lineup came in the form of an ultra-polished top-handle bag with a slightly curved body. Called the Cate, the bag debuted on the spring/summer 2025 runway and features a roomy shape, thicker strap, and custom hardware closure that lend the retro silhouette a fresh feel.
The bags come in leather, pony hair, and animal print.
Just add a gown.
The slim chain strap is so pretty.
Coach's supersized coin purses are starting to appear in the wild, and I can't get enough of them.
Reformation just gets it.
You heard it here first: tassel details are the next It detail.
Picture this against an all-black outfit.
A closer look at the Jil Sander Goji Bag. This is a kiss-lock style that's equal parts minimalist as it is loaded with personality.
A conversation starter for sure.
Fun!
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