Fashion Industry
Tote Bags Lead AW26 Workwear Trends as Celebrities Embrace Bigger, More Practical Styles
14 Oct 2026
New analysis from Accessorize finds tote bags are the most popular work bag style on Pinterest, narrowly ahead of backpacks, as celebrities including Dua Lipa, Rihanna and Anne Hathaway help push larger, more practical silhouettes back into focus for autumn/winter 2026.
14 October 2026 — Oversized totes, structured top-handle bags and other roomy silhouettes are emerging as some of the most visible workwear accessories for AW26, with new analysis from Accessorize suggesting that practicality is playing a bigger role in bag trends this season.
The research ranked popular work bag styles using Pinterest interest, combining the number of pins and boards returned for each search term. Tote bags came first with 432,101 saves, followed extremely closely by backpacks with 430,223.
The trend also reflects a broader shift in celebrity styling, with figures including Dua Lipa, Rihanna and Anne Hathaway among those embracing larger bags after several seasons dominated by smaller handbags.
The most popular work bags for AW26
| Rank | Work bag style | Pinterest saves |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tote bag | 432,101 |
| 2 | Backpack | 430,223 |
| 3 | Top handle bag | 339,533 |
| 4 | Shoulder bag | 156,520 |
| 5 | Crossbody bag | 130,386 |
| 6 | Messenger bag | 127,865 |
| 7 | Satchel | 126,400 |
| 8 | Sling bag | 109,443 |
| 9 | Briefcase | 78,191 |
| 10 | Leather work bag | 76,256 |
Tote bags take the top spot
Accessorize found that tote bags are currently the most popular work bag style, with 432,101 Pinterest saves.
The result was particularly close, with backpacks trailing by only 1,878 saves.
Rebecca Ribeyro, Buying and Design Director at Accessorize, said the popularity of totes reflects the way workwear has become more flexible.
It’s no surprise to see tote bags come out on top, as they offer the kind of versatility people look for in an everyday work bag.
She added that their size makes them practical enough for laptops and daily essentials, while their simple shape allows them to work with both formal and more casual outfits.
That balance between practicality and appearance is increasingly important as office wardrobes become less rigid.
Celebrities are helping reshape the work bag
The shift toward larger bags is also visible in celebrity styling.
According to the material supplied by Accessorize, celebrities including Dua Lipa, Rihanna and Anne Hathaway have been seen carrying larger and more practical bag styles this autumn.
Katie Holmes has also been highlighted for carrying an oversized red tote during Paris Fashion Week, reinforcing the idea that practicality does not have to come at the expense of visual impact.
The move marks a contrast with the miniature handbag trend that dominated parts of the luxury and celebrity fashion cycle in previous seasons.
For AW26, the direction appears to be moving back toward bags designed to carry more than just a phone and a few essentials.
Backpacks remain almost equally popular
Backpacks ranked second with 430,223 Pinterest saves, only marginally behind totes.
Their position shows that functionality continues to matter strongly in work accessories.
Backpacks offer a different kind of practicality, particularly for commuters who need to carry laptops, chargers, notebooks and other heavier items over longer distances.
While they are traditionally associated with casual dressing, more structured and minimal designs have increasingly allowed backpacks to sit comfortably within professional wardrobes.
Structured styles also perform strongly
Top-handle bags ranked third with 339,533 saves, significantly ahead of shoulder bags in fourth place.
Their position suggests that more polished, structured silhouettes still have strong appeal alongside casual practical styles.
Top-handle designs often bridge the gap between formal office dressing and everyday fashion, making them a natural choice for people who want a bag that can move between meetings, commuting and after-work plans.
Shoulder bags, crossbody bags, messenger bags and satchels followed further down the ranking.
Work bags are being judged differently
Ribeyro said choosing a work bag should start with how it will actually be used rather than appearance alone.
She recommends considering size, comfort, organisation, weight, durability and style before making a decision.
I’d start with the practical side and then think about the style. Consider what you carry, how you travel and how often you’ll use the bag.
That advice reflects the broader direction of the AW26 work bag trend.
Instead of treating practicality and fashion as separate considerations, consumers are increasingly looking for bags that satisfy both.
Bigger bags fit changing office wardrobes
Workwear has become much more varied in recent years, with many workplaces moving away from traditional formal dress codes.
As a result, accessories also need to function across a wider range of environments.
A single bag may need to work with tailoring one day, denim the next and hybrid working routines that involve carrying technology between home and the office.
That helps explain why versatile shapes such as totes and backpacks dominate the ranking.
Rather than purely decorative pieces, the most popular styles are those able to handle the practical demands of everyday working life.
AW26 moves away from the micro-bag
The renewed popularity of larger bags also suggests the fashion pendulum may be moving away from the micro-bag trend.
Small handbags remain part of the market, but the current celebrity and workwear direction is increasingly centred on functionality, structure and capacity.
Oversized totes in particular allow designers to make a strong visual statement while still offering enough room for laptops, work documents and personal items.
That combination makes them especially relevant to contemporary office dressing.
Methodology
Accessorize set out to identify the most popular work bag styles in the UK using Pinterest data.
The analysis examined 15 different work bag styles.
Researchers recorded the number of pins and boards returned for each search and combined those figures into an overall total. The styles were then ranked from highest to lowest, with a greater number of pins and boards indicating stronger Pinterest interest.
About Accessorize
Accessorize is a UK fashion accessories brand offering bags, jewellery and other accessories.
Its latest analysis examines the work bag styles attracting the most interest on Pinterest as larger and more practical silhouettes gain momentum for AW26.
More information: https://www.accessorize.com/uk/women/bags/
Share
Sara Srifi
Sara is a Software Engineering and Business student with a passion for astronomy, cultural studies, and human-centered storytelling. She explores the quiet intersections between science, identity, and imagination, reflecting on how space, art, and society shape the way we understand ourselves and the world around us. Her writing draws on curiosity and lived experience to bridge disciplines and spark dialogue across cultures.
