The 20 Best Gray Designer Bags from Bazaar’s Fashion Closet

To carry anywhere and everywhere

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Each print issue of Harper’s Bazaar features “In the Market,” a column highlighting the best new items of the season, shot behind the scenes in the Bazaar fashion closet. For the beginning of fall, senior fashion and accessories editor Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen gives us an up-close look at the season’s best investment bags, all in covetable shades of gray.

Last fall, brown bags took center stage, but while chocolate hues are still going strong, a new shade has captured our attention. On the autumn/winter 2024 runways, houses from Miu Miu to Loewe reissued their modern-day heritage bags in luxurious, elegant shades of gray. These gray bags are already everywhere. Gray was the color of the season in the street style we saw at the recent fashion week shows, and it's already all over the New York City event circuit.

The more I see them, the more I feel that gray is the new neutral to invest in. It's a quiet statement that's impactful in the same way a favorite white t-shirt is impactful—subtle at first glance, but ultimately something you can't live without. It's also a classic color that hasn't been fully tapped into until now, so it feels ahead of the curve. Plus, gray leather bags only get cooler with wear.

All of the season’s best gray designers bags came through the Bazaar fashion closet for our recent fall and winter print-issue photo shoots. Below I curated 20 of my favorites across five essential categories, from the wish-list new heirloom bags to the ones I'm already carrying.

Everyone needs a catchall bag, and this season, designers have delivered the most luxurious takes on easy-to-carry totes in beautifully refined gray leather. If you're going out after work and want to make a statement but still need to be able to fit your Rhode lipgloss, phone, and wallet, try Chloé's show-stopper, which comes adorned with metal bananas. For a chic everyday work bag option, Miu Miu's flat knitting-style bag, Givenchy's spacious shoulder messenger, and Loewe's soft chain hobo (a.k.a. the viral Squeeze bag) are all sure to get the job done (with flying gray colors!)

For a polished look, you can't go wrong with a top-handle bag. I find that these look coolest with your favorite white t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a tweed or wool collarless jacket. The best part? These bags come in all shapes and sizes.

Marni's top-handle tote would make a chic carry-on, while Prada's belt bag has already generated a ton of buzz. And Louis Vuitton's mini bag is refined yet sturdy, allowing you to fit more than you'd expect given the size. Added bonus: The chain not only makes for an elevated finish, but allows you to wear it on your shoulder if you want to give your hands a break.

At night, a gray bag can break up your best black-tie or cocktail attire look. Whether you go with Khaite's full metallic shoulder bag or an Hermès clutch with strong silver hardware, the color makes any carryall feel more sophisticated. There's also versatility baked in, because—pro tip—evening bags look coolest with daywear. If you're going to an event during the day, from a gallery opening to lunch with friends on the weekend, try wearing one of these bags with your best fall coat and dress. The contradiction of being dressed up and pared-back in one look feels very Carrie Bradshaw in the best possible way.

This fall, some designers gave us an imaginative twist on classic schoolbag shapes. Take Proenza Schouler's silo bag, which looks a little like a pencil case and offers a new gloss on an east-west silhouette. Or try Dooney and Bourke's backpack for a cool '90s feel. It would look chicest with a fitted single-placket blazer jacket, one of the top trends for this fall.

Crossbodies offer the ultimate handsfree experience, and these box bags allow you to fit more than usual because of their construction. These are true classics that you'll have for years. If you're looking for a style that gives you even more options, Brandon Blackwood's Nia bag comes with both a removable short and long strap which let you adjust the length as needed. You could even wear it without either strap, as a clutch. I love these with the kind of flowy bohemian dresses we saw on the Chloé runway (another larger-than-life trend that made its way back for fall), because the shape helps balance the look with structure.

Jaclyn Alexandra Cohen is Harper's Bazaar's Senior Fashion & Accessories Editor. Outside of the office she can be found downtown with her twin sister, figure skating somewhere or on the hunt for the perfect striped top. Follow her on Instagram @jaclynalexandra