Cross-body bags are the celebrity choice for summer

CROSS-body bags are the celebrity choice for the season and, luckily, also the answer to summer’s activity line-up. Here's how to get in on the act.  

Rachel Bilson

CROSS-body bags are the celebrity choice for the season and, luckily, also the answer to summer’s activity line-up.

Allowing the hands to roam free, they’re a practical choice for the dance floor, at music festivals, when browsing weekend markets or digging in at a BBQ.

Of course, cross-body bags have been in fashion before. Their revival as this season’s must-have has size at the helm. The bag should be small – so small, in fact, that if anything larger than an A5 notebook can fit in it, you’ve maxed out. 

So if you’re willing to do a little spring clean and edit your handbag items to just the essential, these are the top three styles to play with.

Structured

Defined by form, structured bags have a solid frame and stiff leather. This iteration is all about the small rectangle with front-flap closure. The structure adds polish and elegance to any outfit.

Celebrity fans: Diane Kruger, Miranda Kerr, Jessica Alba

Chain strap

In keeping with the origin of this style, the classic Chanel 2.55, stick to chain straps in gold or silver. The links should be small and delicate. Chain bags are great for adding a touch of glamour to a day outfit.

Celebrity fans: Rachel Bilson, Heidi Klum, Cameron Diaz

Satchel

Leather satchels are the most practical of the styles, providing the most space. The fluro satchel had its moment, and the trend is now for black and neutral colours such as tan, caramel and cream.

Celebrity fans: Emma Stone, Alexa Chung, Taylor Swift

In all the above styles, the strap should be long enough to wear the bag low, resting on the hip.

While it’s true that the smaller the bag, the trendier it is, there’s probably no need to take it quite as far as Miley Cyrus did. She was snapped wearing a Chanel cross-body chain bag smaller than the size of a credit card.