We’ve moved on from impractical, teeny-tiny bags with barely enough room for a lip gloss, let alone an iPhone Max. But, as fashion loves an extreme, we’re now at the other end of the spectrum - and bags are getting huge.
Dua Lipa was recently photographed at the airport carrying the oversized Chanel raffia bag seen on the brand’s Cruise 2027 runway. On holiday in Spain, Eva Longoria posted a picture on Instagram carrying an extra-large raffia tote that bears an uncanny resemblance to my laundry basket. And Hailey Bieber, too, is firmly in the XXL camp.
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And then there is the Lululemon Big-Ass Bag, which went viral. Its volume is a whopping 80 litres, with two exterior pockets that are each bigger than a regular tote. This week I tried it out for the day.
The appeal? These bags don’t just fit your phone - they can accommodate pretty much everything you could possibly need for a day out. After years of having to painstakingly decide what to bring with you and what to leave at home, it’s rather refreshing to have somewhere to put it all.
And we got off to a good start. The shoulder straps are padded for comfort – should you decide to fill it to capacity – and the handles have silicone grips to keep it securely in place. I had planned on picking things up along the way, so that extra room came in handy. I took two trains, four tubes and walked the length of Bond Street – and there was no hoiking it back up or readjusting. Best of all, I stayed completely hands-free… given that my shopping bags went straight into the Big Ass.
My first stop was the Uniqlo autumn/winter press day. I love trying on the new collections, and this time I tried a jacket from the Uniqlo U range - naturally, I had to see how it looked with the Big Ass.
I then headed to the office to dial into the Hello! Luxe weekly meeting. It was handy being able to pop some of my post straight into the bag, rather than having to hunt around for a tote before I left, as I usually do.
Before heading home, I jumped on the tube to Bond Street to pick up some shoes from Aquazzura for my friends Maddy and Adam’s wedding, which I’m attending next week. Again, the shoes went straight into the bag – no need for a carrier. As I went from place to place, I was stopped by people complimenting me on the bag. It even earned a few smiles from strangers.
Overall, my experience was positive, but there were two downsides. First, the sheer size of the bag - combined with the nylon fabric - made it feel rather hot. That said, I suspect it will come into its own as temperatures drop. And, if like me, you’re constantly searching for your phone, keys and train pass, an 80-litre bag could turn that daily hunt into an archaeological excavation.
