The AW Bag Edit – totes, handbags & backpacks we love for winter

Find your perfect bag for A/W'16 with our guide to this season's bags

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The right bag can make or break an outfit. If you want to look sporty but sophisticated, one of the luxe rucksacks would be perfect; but if you are looking for a workbag, a tote is the one for you; but what do you wear for events? A crossbody shoulder bag of course, it’s hands free after all…

We love the new collection Laura Brown (American InStyle editor-in-chief) has created with the new bag retailer, Mon Purse. The collection allows you to create your own personalised handbags, totes and minibags with monogramming, your choice of colour, texture and size, at a reasonable price, from £280.

Backpacks

From left to right; Chanel calfskin backpack in dark green, £5,530; Gucci all over print backpack, £1,130; Chloe Faye Backpack, £1,365; Elizabeth & James Langley backpack, £301; Kara small leather and shearling backpack, £345; Jimmy Choo Suki backpack, £1,050; Burberry medium rucksack in nylon and leather, £895; Stella McCartney Falabella shell backpack, £639.

From Chanel to Jimmy Choo and Burberry, here are the best rucksacks for winter. The backpack has been gaining popularity since sportswear began playing such an important role in fashion and style today. We love the Jimmy Choo Suki backpack, perfect for day to evening dressing with jeans, or a statement mini dress. The Faye Chloe backpack is chic and sophisticated, and the Burberry number has been seen everywhere, and with good reason. Chanel ups the anti with this calf skin khaki number.

Shoulder and cross-body bags

From left to right: Chanel shearling drawstring bag, £4,630; Stella McCartney Falabella box bird bag, £865; Sophie Hulme envelope crossbody bag, £824.79; Chanel calfskin boy bag; Gucci Dionysus bag, £2,800; Hobbs Pimlico crossbody bag, £229; Saint Laurent nano Sac de Jour tote, £3,113.58; Theory West Mini in burgundy, £375; Roland Mouret Brick bag, £795.

What could be cosier than this shearling strapped suede bag from Theory or this shearling Chanel bag? If you are looking for a pop of colour this winter, you can’t beat this turquoise Chanel boy bag, or this Gucci Dionysus medium appliquéd leather shoulder bag. We love the nano ‘Sac du Jour’ by Saint Laurent, and this Roland Mouret brick bag for something a little more sophisticated and eveningwear appropriate.

Tote bags

From left to right: Stella McCartney Falabella tote, £680; The Row Market suede tote, £1,300; 3.1 Phillip Lim medium Pashli satchel, £938.71; Saint Laurent large Sac de Jour tote, £1,875; Loeffler Randall suede tote, £415.

The tote bag is a hard thing to get right. You need to balance the proportions well, while still allowing plenty of space for everything a modern women needs to tote around town. The Row designers Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen are masters of the tote bag, and this bag is perfect for winter and summer. 3.1 Philip Lim‘s metallic tote looks great with black for evenings, while the Loeffler Randall horse hair-trimmed suede tote is versatile and unbelievably wearable.