The Bags You’ll Love to Beat Up

Why “perfect” bags are officially out.

POSTED 20.01.26 16:14 BY GRETCHEN DEUTSCH

I know I’m not the only one guilty of babying my bags. I’ve carried them carefully, avoided the floor at all costs, and treated every scratch like a small disaster. But after years of trying to keep my new bags in perfect condition, I've found that I feel more myself when I’m wearing a bag that’s already a little messed up, rather than one I’m afraid to ruin.

Luckily, fashion’s finally moving away from perfect, pristine bags, and I’m here for it. People (and by people, I mean myself included) are now carrying bags that look lived-in and slouchy, whether that be second-hand patinated pieces with character or new soft-leather, pre-distressed designs.

Jane Birkin herself carried her famously “beat-up” Birkin every day, turning one of fashion’s most iconic luxury bags into something personal, worn, and entirely her own. And, honestly, we should have followed her lead sooner.

Picking a bag is no longer about flexing luxury anymore. It’s about finding a piece that is uniquely yours. And I don’t mean choosing a niche bag that nobody else owns. I mean finding the right piece to express your personality, and one that has a personality of its own.

We don’t have to freak out over every little scratch anymore — that’s the fun part! We can just wear our flaws on our shoulders and embrace the stories that each scuff tells.

Wear and tear is inevitable, so use your bag to your heart’s content because whether it's designer or not, the chicest thing you can be is imperfect.

Fizzypicks: The worn-in bags I’m loving right now — scroll to shop your style.

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Emerson Tote
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The Bags You’ll Love to Beat Up

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