For Effortless Style, Look To These French And Italian Handbag Trends

New fashion hubs are continuously popping up around the globe, from the cool fusion of Tokyo style to Copenhagen's sustainable Scandi aesthetic. But these up-and-coming fashion capitals are yet to reach the icon status of the industry's two greatest pillars: Paris and Milan. Their respective fashion weeks are legendary, but it's the French and Italian cultures of style perfection that have made these cities legendary — and the easiest way to channel their aesthetics is through accessories like handbags. 

In 2025, French handbag trends are celebrating all things pastel, with hues like sage and butter yellow dominating the runways and streets alike. It's a slightly unexpected move for Parisian fashionistas, as French style tends to focus on simplicity and muted elegance rather than pops of color. This is in contrast to Italian style, which brings a touch of theater with maximalist accessories, and we're seeing exactly that in 2025 with oversized bags. These inherent differences between French and Italian fashion have also manifested in the most popular handbag materials this year, with woven leather and intricate textures at the fore of Italian design to draw the eye even more to an outfit's accessories. Meanwhile, understated suede and flatter finishes are what you'll find on the streets of Paris.

But the good news is you don't have to choose whether you prefer louder Italian style or the more subdued ways of the French, as many current trends allow for blending. Pastels are all the rage in France, but Italians typically rely on their handbags to add splash of color when wearing black or neutrals. And if you do want to stick to one aesthetic only, both French and Italian handbag trends offer the chance to be effortlessly stylish.

One of the biggest differences between French and Italian handbags in 2025 is the materials that are being used. In Italy, it's all about texture, so mesh is one of the biggest movements on the scene, as is netting that wouldn't be out of place on the docks. Rafia is also huge this year, lending itself to an Italian-girl summer well after the warm weather has passed. When it comes to leather, high-quality craftsmanship is a hallmark of Italian design, and Florence in particular is known for its leather bags, purses, and even clothes. Now, we're seeing that intricate design work in practice with woven leather styles taking over handbags of all shapes and sizes. 

By comparison, French style tends to be more minimal, with suede finishes being one of the biggest bag trends emerging in 2025. Again, pastels have been spotted all over Paris, but suede bags are also coming out in more earthy tones like taupe and khaki, making them perfect for fall and winter. And of course, chocolate brown remains the year's most in-demand shade, with celebrities young and old nailing Pantone's Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse. Aside from the en-vogue materials being used, French and Italian bag trends are also serving up a range of silhouettes and styles to choose from.

The quiet luxury trend is outdated in 2025, and we're now seeing a return to the big and bold in all spaces. When it comes to French and Italian handbags, it seems that "the bigger the better" is the new style du jour. In Paris, this manifests through the doctor and bowling bag silhouettes. This traditionally bulky style has made its way down the runways of French houses like Hermès, and now you'll catch it all over the local scene. If nothing else, at least you'll actually be able to fit everything you need into this bag (we're still recovering from the stress of the micro-purse craze that would not quit), which can double as a work bag and one to take out on more fashionable escapades. 

Of course, anything the French can do, the Italians can do bigger. The streets of Milan, Rome, and Florence have been overtaken by oversized totes in 2025, and you can definitely carry everything you need with one of these in your arsenal. With larger maximalist bags like the oversized tote, Italian style usually calls for cohesion. It doesn't make much sense to overpower a delicate summery dress with a huge bag, so save this one for your shorts-and-jeans ensembles or more masculine pieces like button-downs and trenchcoats. To make the look lighter, you could opt for a mesh or netted tote and hit two trends in one, but we're also seeing them in canvas for the ultimate practical market bag.

For more European inspiration, here's why the Italian bob is the chicest take on the short hair revolution.