St Andrews Style: Your Guide to Bags this Autumn
- Estella Levi-French
- Oct 5
- 3 min read
By Estella Levi-French
Being back in St Andrews along with the arrival of Autumn, I have noticed tons of both practical and stylish bags around town. However, with the large number of options, finding the bag that’s right for you can sometimes be overwhelming. But don’t fret, this article will serve as your bag guide, covering the best and currently trending bags for both daytime and nighttime, and why they might be the best option for you. I will also talk about where you can find these bags, both in and out of St Andrews.
Daytime Bags
The tote bag is arguably the best option for carrying everything you need during the day because, not only does it look good, but it is also very functional. The tote bag I have seen the most around St Andrews is the slouchy tote bag. These can be woven leather or suede and elevate an outfit while remaining casual-looking.
I have also noticed many structured leather tote bags, which I personally opt for. I find that these can be used for any occasion because they can hold a lot. I have also noticed people adding bag charms to their more structured bags, which is both cute and can make your bag unique to you.
You can also easily find vintage versions of these bags, which can make an outfit even more eye-catching. You can find some great vintage tote bags on Vinted, for example.
The Longchamp tote bag cannot be ignored when talking about St Andrews bags. I have seen countless Longchamp bags in different colours, and they give a classic preppy look while remaining very practical in size and can pull any outfit together.
Lastly, a cool and effortless tote bag often seen around town is the canvas tote bag, typically being from society merch, a certain brand, or an art gallery gift shop. I find that these are easy to use and often showcase cute prints.
Nighttime Bags
The most useful bags for a night out are often mini shoulder bags that have striking patterns and textures. A currently trending bag is the animal print bag, including leopard print, zebra print, or snake style leather.
Also, the trending studded bag is worth mentioning, as well as bags with buckles. These bags that use metal as decoration can be vintage or new and can add a lot of character to a simpler outfit.
The crossbody bag is another classic seen around St Andrews and can be enhanced by a 90s style chain strap; I personally love the shiny look this kind of bag brings.
Overall, when it comes to night-time bags, it’s easier to get away with rocking a statement style. Whether this is a bold animal print or a shining silver metallic shoulder bag, they always add an exciting twist to any look.
Shopping Vintage
If you want a lasting and timeless second-hand bag, you can look on Depop, Vinted, or even Ebay if you prefer searching online. In person, you can look around any charity shops in St Andrews and outside of it, if you get a chance. Oxfam and Cancer Research UK in St Andrews have some great options.
Shopping New
If you’re looking for a new bag, then Anthropologie, & Other Stories, MANGO, Free People and even Amazon will be your best friend. These brands have a large variety of bags ranging in price. I also looked around St Andrews and the bag sections of The White Company, Oliver Bonas, H&M, Waterstones, and Sea Salt and Cornwall all had some great bags to offer.
The White Company had multiple suede tote bags in stylish colour as well as crossbody bags. They had smaller bags for when you’re carrying less, and bags the perfect size for fitting your laptop and books.
Seasalt Cornwall had both leather and suede bags, I was surprised by the variety of colour options such as orange, green and red. These are practically sized and good quality.
Oliver Bonas did not disappoint with its patterns and keeping with autumn style trends. I liked this gingham crossbody bag and the leopard print tote bag instantly stood out to me!
As mentioned earlier, if you are an effortless canvas bag kind of gal, you will appreciate these tote bags with pretty patterns that have more than enough space for everyday essentials and more.
H&M had a variety of both shoulder bags and tote bags, and lots were a suede type material, making them autumnal and easy to style.
Overall, St Andrews students clearly aren’t ones to miss a trend, and neither are St Andrews stores! There are multiple ways you can find a daytime and nighttime bag this autumn and jump onto some exciting new trends and styles.
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