Fashion’s Most Outrageous Handbags of 2022

Shifting away from minimalism, fashion has been seeing a slew of maximalist and surrealist designs lately, most notably in handbags. With the recent launch of Balenciaga‘s trash bag-shaped purse and JW Anderson‘s 3D-printed pigeon clutch, we’ve rounded up some of the most outrageous styles spotted lately. Our list includes Louis Vuitton‘s Paint Can bag arriving in six colorways, and Thom Browne‘s lobster-shaped backpack, as well as pieces from rising labels such as Solitude Studios and Grace Ling.

Continue scrolling to see some of fashion’s most outrageous bags this season.

Balenciaga

PRICE: $1,790 USD
RATING: 4/10

Although it may look like a trash bag, this purse by Balenciaga is made out of calfskin leather (hence its hefty price tag). Arriving in black, blue, yellow and white options, the design — first unveiled on Demna‘s apocalyptic Fall/Winter 2022 runway — is complete with subtle logo branding at the front. It’s no surprise for a brand like Balenciaga to release a trash bag-like design for almost $2,000 USD — a pink tote bag went for $1,490 USD back in 2019. With the trash bag’s recent release, there’s no doubt the style will be spotted on Instagram and it’s already been dubbed “a success.” But realistically speaking, would you invest $1,790 USD on something that could be mistaken as an actual plastic trash bag?

Grace Ling

PRICE: $890 USD
RATING: 7/10

This bag by Grace Ling is probably one of the more practical designs on this list. The shoulder purse features dual zipper openings from each side, making it (slightly) easier to find your wallet or phone inside. The perky ends add a high-fashion touch to an otherwise spacious, everyday bag.

Jw Anderson

PRICE: $890 USD
RATING: 3/10

This pigeon-shaped clutch was first revealed on JW Anderson’s FW22 runway alongside other surreal designs such as dresses with wired hems and cropped tops made out of a bunch of rubber wristbands tied to one another. The 3D-printed bag comes with an opening on the side under the pigeon’s wing, and is complete with JW Anderson branding on the interior. While this purse is evidently not made for carrying your essentials, it sure is a statement piece that will get you some photos taken at Fashion Week.

Louis Vuitton

PRICE: $2,360 USD
RATING: 6/10

This Virgil Abloh-designed bag resembles a paint can with Louis Vuitton’s monogram printed throughout. Offered in a variety of colors — purple, yellow, green, orange, red and blue — the crossbody purse first debuted on Louis Vuitton’s FW22 menswear runway, which was a celebration of the late designer. As explained in the product description, the Paint Can is “roomy enough to hold two phones and other personal items.” Definitely more practical than the pigeon clutch, this bag adds a playful touch to any look.

Apoc Store

PRICE: £335 GBP (approximately $390 USD) for the Essence Oilskin Bag, £890 GBP (approximately $1,036 USD) for the Seaweed Bag
RATING: 8/10

Copenhagen-based Solitude Studios creates knitwear pieces, handbags and more out of local materials. The label’s made-to-order Essence Oilskin Bag and Seaweed Bag use leftover threads that are purchased from textile production companies. The former is water-repellent and is complete with a silver buckle created in collaboration with artist ZWYRTECH, while the latter is the perfect surrealist piece to add to your rotation.

Thom Browne

PRICE: $3,290 USD
RATING: 7/10

Lobster-shaped backpacks, anyone? Thom Browne’s $3,290 USD bag is crafted with full-grain leather, arriving in all-black in the shape of the crustacean. Lined with Thom Browne-style blue-red stripes, the design features adjustable backpack straps. This editor rates this bag 7 out of 10 for its fun shape and design while keeping somewhat practical.