Forget the Birkin and the classic Chanel: here are the new it-bags and how to achieve this look at a lower cost

Last week, it was reported that Hermès was facing a lawsuit based on allegations that it only allowed customers with “sufficient purchase history” with the brand to purchase its iconic Birkin bags.

But that won’t bother fashion insiders. Since even Joe Bloggs knows what a Birkin is, the real kudos of fashion lie in wearing something whose status only those in the know know. This is why some members of the fashion elite now favor lesser-known trophy bags.

Here’s our guide to which ones to covet, plus the High Street’s best knockoffs, in case your budget doesn’t stretch to four-figure arm candy.

Rarefied raffia

Every summer, all the fans of cliché fashion take out their Loewe basket bag. However, fashion insiders will be looking for something else this summer: Khaite’s leather-trimmed raffia tote. Too bad for its high price. But there’s a price to pay for the brand whose knitted bra “broke the internet” when Katie Holmes wore it in 2019.

If you’re not prepared to part with £1,680 for raffia, Anthropologie has a similar, much cheaper deal at £108.

A do-it-all tote

Do you hear the words “everyday tote” and your mind turns to the canvas tote offered in the back of your kitchen cupboard? Needless to say, the fashion elite have a slightly different approach. Hello, The Margaux bag from The Row.

From the Olsen twins’ luxury fashion house, the bag has been dubbed “an heirloom in the making” by Vogue, with a plethora of fans including Jennifer Lawrence, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Kendall Jenner. Its minimalist perfection demonstrates know-how that doesn’t need a flashy logo.

If the £4,720 price tag puts you off, Mango offers a similar shopper’s style for £49.99.

Top handle that takes you anywhere

Swedish fashion house Toteme says it creates “with an appreciation of the many roles of women and how pieces are worn in practice”. In other words, form and function come together in his creations.

Her beige T-Lock top-handle bag perfectly encapsulates the classic-cool minimalist approach that has earned her a fan base as wide as the Duchess of Sussex, Hailey Bieber and Anne Hathaway.

Its top handle is symptomatic of the elegant utilitarianism that permeates all his creations: it is designed to fit perfectly in the crook of the arm.

It’s not cheap, but don’t worry. Mint Velvet has a dead ringer – and its £139 price tag means you won’t have to exist on toast for the rest of the year.

Ultimate party bag

Jessie Loeffler Randall created her brand in 2004 from her Brooklyn apartment.

Now available in the world’s most exclusive stores, including Net-A-Porter and Farfetch, Loeffler Randall’s pure, unapologetic vision of femininity has been a hit of late with a stealthy wealth, public fashionistas tired of beige and celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Sienna Miller. .

The £215 Rayne clutch is the perfect embodiment of her maximalist aesthetic: a giant bow adorns a gorgeous Quality Street-esque pleated fabric.

An alternative to the High Street? Monsoon’s £50 version keeps selling out.

A total triumph

Yes I know. Céline is not a discreet fashion house. But her Triomphe bag has been adopted as the status symbol du jour by the fashion world, with a fan base including Angelina Jolie and model Karlie Kloss.

And it’s no wonder: the perfect size for everyday essentials, it combines the luxury factor of the softest leather and gold details (Céline’s iconic emblem, of course) with the practicality of a crossbody.

There’s only one problem. That’s £2,850. Ah!

Real connoisseurs therefore turn instead to the mid-market brand Demellier.

Her Vancouver style is still an investment at £385, but it’s a luxury that pales in price compared to Céline’s.

Fans of Demellier’s more accessible approach to luxury include Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales, no less.

If it’s good enough for royalty…