The 4 Minimalist Bag Styles to Add to Your ’90s-Inspired Wardrobe

I always thought there was something intriguing about seeing a woman without a purse, as if it were somehow a sign that she is completely autonomous.

It wasn’t always like this. As a child, for example, I couldn’t wait to sneak into my mother’s room once she left for work, steal a bag or two from her closet, and put on a mini runway presentation around the perimeter of her bed for my grandmother. Whether it was embellished with sequins or just a practical bag, it didn’t matter: it just had to make me feel older.

Now I find myself caught between wanting to use one or the other of those things: creating something fabulously eye-catching or totally anonymous.

I’m not alone when it comes to the latter. Minimalist bags are enjoying a renaissance along with everything related to ’90s fashion, a decade that equated elegance with simplicity and clean lines. Blame Love storythe Ryan Murphy series that brought Carolyn Bessette Kennedy – an icon of sober style without excess – is once again the center of attention. The former Calvin Klein publicist is played by Sarah Pidgeon, who both on and off screen embodies this renewed love for minimalism. The look, built around sophisticated basics and understated logos, is attractive not because it actively seeks attention, but because it attracts it anyway.

With that in mind, I’ve selected the best minimalist bags to buy below.

The minimalist maxi bag