From Khaite to Zara—the 30 Best Studded Handbags for Fall

If you spent a few minutes scrolling through social media, you’d surely spot something going viral—such as a new album, a celebrity street style look, or simply a buzzy new bag. All of these things may or may not make a lasting impression, but the latter often lingers in the minds of the chronically online fashion crowd. Even after we’ve logged out of TikTok, handbags carry as much weight in real life as they do online. After all, no other accessory has an impact on pop culture quite like cult-status handbags over the last century. Refer to Fendi’s Baguette and Gucci’s Jackie Bag. Whether beloved by a fictional character or inspired by a style icon in American politics, some of the most popular purses give us a glimpse into what’s happening in the world. Therefore, we’d argue that trying to discern which bags are going viral isn’t vapid. It’s a vehicle to understand what’s happening around us or, at the very least, be a part of it. It might be an unconventional take, but securing some part of fashion history will always be our favorite pastime.

Although there are plenty of purses that give us a peek into the past, none are as popular as studded bags presently. Embellished bags aren’t an entirely new trend, as they’ve been reported to be around since the Victorian era. However, we’ve seen them emerge again thanks partly to luxury fashion houses releasing some of the most sought-after styles, including Khaite’s Elena Studded Bag. In many ways, the return of this formerly dated trend speaks to this moment in fashion and broader pop culture. For example, the bag style reflects how the boho revival was brought about by the appointment of Chemena Kamali to Chloé, and its return has happened in tandem with the rise of alt-girl fashion, which was further popularized by Charli XCX’s viral Brat album this summer. In short, studded bags speak to this moment sublimely, so there’s no better item to secure for fall.

If you’re not sold yet, keep scrolling to see our curation of the 30 best studded bags based on quality, functionality, wearability, brand recognition, and price point. Trust us when we say that studded bags are the moment, period.