Cover Photo: Loewe’s take on a tomato-inspired novelty bag
Photo: Loewe’s take on a tomato-inspired novelty bag
1 / 1
From JW Anderson’s pigeon clutch to Ferragamo’s goldfish minaudière, novelty bags have taken over runways, red carpets and our Instagram feeds. But beneath the whimsy lies a deeper impulse: to collect, to curate, and to carry a story
A pigeon walks into a fashion show. This is not the start of a joke but a scene from the Spring/Summer 2023 season, when JW Anderson debuted a hyperrealistic bird-shaped clutch that quickly became one of the most talked-about accessories of the year. Absurd? Perhaps. But the reception captured something of the cultural moment: a hunger for fashion that sparks conversation, or at the very least, a double take.
Novelty bags are not new. Elsa Schiaparelli was crafting surrealist evening purses in the 1930s, and Judith Leiber’s crystal-covered minaudières have long been mainstays on red carpets. But today’s resurgence feels different. Whether rendered in resin, rhinestone, leather or acrylic, these pieces blur the line between bag and art object, becoming not just accessories but declarations of personality.
In case you missed it: The It Bags of 2025: This year’s most covetable designer handbags
Above The Coperni Swipe glass bag. Photo: Getty Images
The Coperni Swipe glass bag. Photo: Getty Images
1 / 1
While the classic luxury handbag is built around status and utility, ticking boxes of brand pedigree, versatility, investment potential, the novelty bag exists outside that framework. You don’t buy Coperni’s glass-blown Swipe bag, for instance, because it matches every outfit or comfortably fits your phone. You buy it because it’s outrageous. It sparks delight. It gets people talking.
For collectors, the appeal lies in the hunt. On resale platforms and niche auction sites, rare novelty pieces—especially those from runway collections or made in limited quantities—can command staggering prices.
There’s also an emotional dimension to the trend. As we still calibrate from pandemic-era austerity and fashion minimalism, the novelty bag offers escapism. It evokes childhood, humour, surrealism. It feels human.
Of course, not everyone is convinced. Detractors see the trend as gimmicky or a a social media stunt. But perhaps that’s part of the point. The novelty bag doesn’t apologise for being impractical. It refuses to conform. And that, in itself, may be the boldest statement of all.
Ahead, we round up the most irresistible novelty bags of the season: clever, covetable, and impossible to ignore.
Above Photo: JW Anderson
Photo: JW Anderson
1 / 1
JW Anderson Pigeon Bag
A masterstroke of surrealist fashion, JW Anderson's Pigeon Clutch Bag transforms the ubiquitous city bird into a high-fashion statement. Its hyper-realistic 3D-printed resin clutch captures the essence of urban eclectism. Its lifelike design, complete with a magnetic wing closure, challenges traditional notions of luxury by elevating the ordinary. While its compact interior may only accommodate essentials like cards and lipstick, the bag's impact is anything but small. Notably carried by Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw in And Just Like That..., the clutch has become a symbol of fashion's playful side.
Above Photo: Loewe
Photo: Loewe
1 / 1
Loewe Tomato Clutch
Leave it to Jonathan Anderson to turn a trip to the produce aisle into a fashion moment. It all started with a meme—an oddly shaped tomato dubbed “so Loewe” on X caught Jonathan Anderson’s eye, inspiring a sculpted leather clutch that leapt from viral post to runway reality.
Loewe’s Tomato Bag—a plump, hyper-realistic interpretation of the fruit—lands squarely in the brand’s ongoing love affair with surrealism. Crafted in supple napple leather with a moulded metal frame, the bag debuted at the Fall/Winter 2024 menswear show and quickly became a viral icon. It’s not built for practicality, and that’s precisely the point. Like Loewe’s previous anthorium clutches and cracked egg heels, this is fashion with a wink.
Above Photo: Chanel
Photo: Chanel
1 / 1
Chanel Birdcage Minaudière
Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection takes flight with the Birdcage Minaudière. Crafted from gold-tone metal and encrusted with shimmering strass, the clutch features crystal-studded birds perched delicately atop, with another resting on a chain swing beneath the flap. Its architectural silhouette recalls the grandeur of the Grand Palais—Chanel’s historic show venue—while also nodding to the oversized white birdcage that formed the centrepiece of the runway. Offered in black, gold, and silver, and finished with a long shoulder strap, this limited-edition minaudière is a collector’s dream.
Above Photo: Simone Rocha
Photo: Simone Rocha
1 / 1
Simone Rocha’s Large Pearl Egg Bag
Simone Rocha’s Large Pearl Egg Bag is a sculptural statement piece that encapsulates the designer’s romantic aesthetic. Crafted from glossy Perspex in an oversized egg silhouette, it features a detachable leather wristlet and a pearl-beaded crossbody strap, offering versatile styling options. The bag’s minimalist design is elevated by its lustrous finish, making it a standout accessory that blurs the line between fashion and art. Perfect for those who appreciate Rocha’s blend of whimsy and elegance, it comes in variations of sizes for both its body and strap, with other iterations featuring embellishments.
Cult Gaia Florence Clutch
Designed as a marbled acrylic vase adorned with calla lilies, this clutch transforms a simple accessory into a sculptural statement. The hinged opening with a magnetic closure reveals a compact interior, emphasising its role as a conversation piece rather than a conventional handbag. While it may not accommodate larger items like a smartphone, its unique design makes it a standout addition to any ensemble.
Above Photo: Instagram / @Judithleiberny
Photo: Instagram / @Judithleiberny
1 / 1
Judith Leiber French Fries Truffle Fries clutch
Never one to shy away from kitsch-meets-couture, Judith Leiber serves up a decadent dose of humour with the Truffle Fries clutch. Hand-beaded in glistening crystals—champagne for the fries, gold for the box, and a hint of pavé “truffle”—this minaudière transforms fast food into fabulous. A satin-lined interior and push-lock clasp keep the structure intact, but let’s be honest: this is less about utility and more about making an entrance. Equal parts pop art and luxury, it’s a cheeky homage to everyday cravings, made red carpet–ready.
Above Photo: Thom Browne
Photo: Thom Browne
1 / 1
Thom Browne Hector Bag
Thom Browne’s Hector Bag in Pebble Grain is a sculptural homage to the designer’s beloved dachshund, Hector. Crafted from 100 per cent calf full-grain leather, this dog-shaped satchel features a brass zip-top closure, rounded leather top handles and a brass bone charm at the collar. The interior boasts a signature striped lining, while a leather luggage tag with a gold foil printed logo and a striped grosgrain loop tab at the back of the neck add distinctive touches.
Above Photo: Louis Vuitton
Photo: Louis Vuitton
1 / 1
Louis Vuitton Lantern bag
Leave it to Louis Vuitton to turn functional fantasy into fashion. Unveiled at the brand’s Fall/Winter 2025 show—set in the Étoile du Nord station in Paris—the Lantern Bag was a standout accessory in a collection that pulsed with cinematic energy. Models strode like travellers mid-journey, their arms filled with violin cases, ukulele bags—and for the final look, glowing lanterns. Lit from within by what seemed like an LED bulb, the bag flickered like a talisman of wanderlust, casting a soft light on Nicolas Ghesquière’s vision of purposeful glamour. Details remain tightly under wraps, but if the house’s heritage in travel is anything to go by, this piece will be as collectible as it is poetic.
NOW READ
The best quirky bag charms to Jane Birkin-fy your bag
The best designer micro bags for maximum impact
10 of the best designer East-West bags to invest in
Nafeesa Saini is the Features Editor at Tatler Singapore, where she shapes long-form stories on culture, business, philanthropy, wellness, and the people driving change in Asia. With a deep interest in storytelling that intersects meaningfully with identity and impact, she has profiled a diverse range of visionaries, from scientific pioneers in AI and health to creative trailblazers and literary minds.
Nafeesa’s writing includes cover stories and profiles that spotlight influential voices, alongside commentary on the trends reshaping our world.
Off the clock, Nafeesa unwinds with fiction, a good thrift hunt, and ‘brainrot’ TikTok scroll—while always keeping one eye on her next cultural getaway, usually to Indonesia.
