I was recently on a mission with my sister—more like a joint obsession—to find the perfect chocolate-brown work bag. We needed something for the weekday grind that would look elevated enough for dinner or post-work events and ideally fit my chunky laptop. After scrolling through endless photos and debating espresso versus mocha, we agreed on one non-negotiable: go XXL or go home. Micro-mini bags have always baffled me. Some don’t even fit a phone. How are they supposed to hold my million lippies, emergency cardigan, and the prepared-for-anything first-aid kit I insist on carrying?
So, when the fall/winter 2025 and spring/summer 2026 runways leaned toward Hermione Granger-level carry-alls—bags that can hold your day, your night, and your “just in case” scenarios but sans the Undetectable Extension Charm—I was instantly on board. The internet, after all, has already coined a name for them—Big Ass Bags, or BABs, a term first floated by content creator Anna Barger.
For a while now, brands like The Row and Saint Laurent have been quietly focussing on monumental totes that made micro-minis ‘bags’ feel like novelty keychains. But now, there are new entrants too with Acne Studios and Loro Piana both making a persuasive case for sacks in plush suede or structured leather, in shades that range from bitter chocolate to brick red. Bottega Veneta too embraced a more generously scaled silhouette, should you be on the hunt for a bag that will accommodate any pets too.
Out in the wild, celebrities are already doing some heavy lifting. Over the weekend, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was papped leaving the airport with the textured Ferragamo East West tote, a perfectly roomy carry-on. Kendall Jenner lugged The Row’s Margaux with a classic white tank and black Capri pants at the Bezos-Sánchez wedding. Jennifer Aniston recently showed off a chocolate-brown Ralph Lauren suede tote. All of it is evidence that a good bicep workout is just an accessory away.
The market is offering plenty to feed the obsession. From Gucci’s Giglio large tote with its soft, slouchy silhouette to Elleme’s Dimple suede tote in Brownie (coz it’s the kind of brown that makes you think about dessert), and the newly re-released Celine Phantom, a bag that was first launched in 2011 and popped up on the spring/summer 2026 runways in an XL size, there’s a kitchen sink-worthy style for all your needs. Ahead, more ‘ludicrously capacious’ bags that would give Tom Wambsgans the ick but already have our approval.
