As we know all too well, fashion is entirely subjective, and there will always be certain pieces that speak to our own individual style and get our hearts racing the most. But whether you’re a tailored minimalist who focuses on structure and silhouette, or a vivacious maximalist who comes alive in colour and print, the one thing that we all have in common is accessorising—and I am not afraid to admit, I am a true (hand)bag lady. In my role as Who What Wear‘s shopping editor, I spend a lot of time looking at and writing about accessories, and after collecting bags for as long as I can remember, I’m well versed in what it takes to make a good bag great, and there is one style in particular that has been taking up a lot of my attention.
After succumbing to the virtues of the supersized tote bag (and feeling the repercussions of carrying such a huge bag and all of its contents), my focus is now solely on the kind of mid-sized shoulder bag that sits easily under your arm. They’re chic, they’re practical and, most importantly, easy to style. But my sudden appreciation for this style came from one bag, in particular that has been popping up all over my feed in the last few weeks, tucked under the arms of the best dressed women in fashion. The new Gucci Horsebit shoulder bag.
Eagle eyed readers will have spotted the reinterpreted baguette-meets-clutch in the brand’s A/W ’23 show, the first without Alessandro Michelle at the helm, and a sign of things to come for what fashion insiders are affectionately calling “new Gucci”. Although the colourful fur coats, boxy suiting and sheer dresses and skirts made us sit up and take note, it was what was on the model’s arms that became an instantly viral success. The reissued Horsebit revives the incredibly popular archival design from the Tom Ford Gucci era, and from the hot red to the demure and wearable black leather and logo canvas iterations, this unexpected hit was all over the streets of Milan fashion week, and it’s only a matter of time before you’ll spot it in the wardrobes of fashion editors everywhere (believe me).
Right now you can shop the Insta-famous bag in brushed leather, green, white, black, canvas and my favourite, the aforementioned red, so there really is a bag for every style and personality. Personally, I’m just happy to see a bag trend that doesn’t give us back ache or require us to stuff our pockets with what we couldn’t fit inside, so thank you, Gucci. Finally an It bag that anyone can wear, any time of day, for any occasion. Whether you wear it on your shoulder, put your hand through the front front strap and carry it as a clutch, or nonchalantly sling it under your arm like the street style set, this bag is already iconic, and I have a feeling 2023 belongs to the Gucci Horsebit.
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