Key Takeaways
- Studded handbags are a major trend for fall 2025, thanks to the boho and indie sleaze revivals plus celebrity sightings on the likes of Alexa Chung, Bella Hadid, and Charli XCX.
- The modern styles work well as part of nostalgic ensembles or adding edge to your go-to basics, and modern offerings from brands like Khaite and Gimaguas ensure your bag always feels fresh.
We may be in the latter half of 2025, but with the resurgence of so many early aughts trends (Ralph Lauren Polo bear sweaters! Low-rise denim! Bubble hems!), it feels as if we never left 2003. The latest nostalgic trend to creep into our closets? Studded handbags, an essential accessory during the late 90s and early 2000s boho style era beloved by Y2K trendsetters including Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, and the Olsen twins. Considering that rivet-embellished purses have recently become a go-to for the likes of Bella Hadid and Charli XCX, the sentiment rings true for our modern-day crop of It girls, too.
Though this boho-chic staple’s first foray into the mainstream was decades ago, modern renditions feel anything but dated. Below, we’re delving deeper into the studded handbag trend’s roots and resurgence, plus several standout picks that give less Woodstock, more Wooster Street.
The History of Studded Handbags
The exact origins of the studded handbag are convoluted, but, like many bohemian pieces, this trend is heavily influenced by the beaded stylings of 19th-century Native Americans. The style reached mainstream popularity within late 1970s punk style, which embraced hardware in many forms as a means of self-expression and rebellion against the more conservative status quo.
By the 1990s, studded handbags became a beloved staple within the grunge movement and the designers inspired by it, including Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs. Once the early 2000s rolled around, Valentino cemented the style as a classic through its iconic Rockstud collection, which to this day is the brand’s most iconic, notable design motif.
The Trend in 2025
In recent months, the return of studded accessories has been inescapable, and we’re absolutely not complaining. Since the spring of 2025, we’ve noticed more grommets than usual on the bags dangling from runway models’ and celebrities’ arms. By early fall, studded handbags by the likes of Valentino, Bally, and Isabel Marant became preferred accessories, with contemporary designs from Khaite, Gimaguas, and Hammitt also becoming honorable mentions. Following a summer of studded bikinis, these bags were fixtures across street style at fashion weeks throughout September, and they’ve only risen further both online and IRL ever since.
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Of course, this boho- and indie sleaze-adjacent trend was further pushed into the modern fashion diaspora by two of the industry’s favorite models/equestrians, Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner. Soon after, Alexa Chung, Charli XCX, and Jenna Ortega followed suit, confirming the bag’s place in modern fall fashion.
@charli_xcx / Instagram
How to Style
Want to bring this blast from the past into your modern wardrobe? Considering that most of 2025’s trends are also pulled from the noughties era, it’s much easier than you’d think. For a simple yet effective fall pairing, slouchy suede shoulder bags with shiny hardware are practically made for pairing with your favorite low-rise jeans and heeled mules. Double denim is another way to lean into the statement: Modernize the nostalgic combo by opting for a dark or black wash and a lighter handbag.
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As you’d expect, these hardware-heavy bags tend to complement other bohemian staples like flowing maxi dresses and roomy modern knits, but you still have room to experiment. Partner a silver-studded black handbag with your favorite band tee for a louder play on the soft grunge trend, or with a button-down or sweater and trousers to give your in-office ensemble an edge that won’t raise flags for HR. Basically, the styling opportunities of a studded bag are endless, so feel free to work it into your look however you see fit.
@stradivarius / Instagram
Standout Modern Studded Handbags to Shop
Boho-chic just may be the top aesthetic of fall, so now’s the time to hop onto the studded bag bandwagon. Don’t know where to start? There’s a nearly endless array of options to choose from, but the fresh takes below will help you achieve a studded look that feels decidedly rooted in 2025.
