The Real Status Stymbol in 2026 Isn't a Birkin—It's an Unbuckled, Messy Bag

By Swedan MargenJune 18, 2026

As soon as summer began to make an appearance, the market was immediately flooded with basket bags. Understandable; after all, raffia totes and buckets are the kind of joyful, seasonal pieces that herald the start of the season (along with flip-flops and sunnies), but this summer, there's a luxury handbag trend quietly gaining traction that has my full attention instead: undone handbags.

Now I've said it, you'll know exactly what I mean, because some of the very best bags to come out of 2026 so far have all been sporting the same micro-detail. Buckles, belts and zips are purposefully left undone, exposing the contents of the bag to the viewer (or at least pretending to). "It's a safety hazard!" some readers declared in our IG comments section. "The hardware feels fussy," others debated on Reddit. My first thought, though, is of the Hermés Birkin, specifically Jane's own recently auctioned bag. Often photographed bulging with papers, worn and scuffed, adorned with bag charms or with the buckles unfastened, the beauty of her bag was that it looked lived-in, and it's this French effortlessness that has inspired 2026's "messy girl" approach to style.

Jane Birkin attends the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring/Summer 2005 Fashion Show during Paris Fashion Week on July 8, 2004 in Paris, France.

"Odessa A’zion sat front row at Coach, wearing a beaten-up suede blazer that almost looked water-damaged, with authentic mottling on its lapels and pockets," notes Natalie Hammond, writing about the rise and rise of the "messy girl" for Who What Wear UK. "Call it dishevelled, messy or just real, but as of now, there’s no shame in looking ever-so-slightly unkempt."

Could this be the antidote to the 2020s' obsession with quiet luxury? Suddenly, the buttoned-up seriousness of the old-money aesthetic feels a little stuffy, and we want to let our hair down and enjoy the ease of the "throw on and go". With unkempt energy showing up in creased shirts and stained jeans on the runways, it would only be a matter of time before the accessories came too. And no matter how you feel about Golden Goose's intentionally scuffed trainers, handbags had yet to follow suit, until now.

annelauremais wears a beige cardigan, jeans, ballet pumps and an undone handbag

Unlike distressed denim or frayed knitwear, you don't actually have to cause damage to your bag to get the look. Instead, designers are opting to peel back the layers and make ultra-ladylike top-handles feel as though they've been grabbed in a hurry, speaking to busy women who spend every day juggling everything they need. Take Loewe's Amazona, designed to be carried open with a concealed closure that secures the main compartment. Ferragamo's Hug makes a feature of its undone belt clasps, whilst Fendi's Peekaboo is playful by name and nature, unclipping to reveal the beautifully contrasting interior. Then there's Tory Burch's Lee Radziwill, which looks like the hand-me-down of the American socialite herself. If your existing bag looks prim and proper, unzip it, unfasten it, let the leather slouch and hey presto: you've got the look.