How a dorky sports accessory became the latest must-have fashion trend
If you can spare some cash, you could snag the hottest bag of the season.
The bowling bag has become the in-demand purse for fall, as trend-setting celebrities have been spotted toting the sporty, chic accessory in recent months.
In December 2023, Bella Hadid was photographed carrying a cherry red Von Dutch bowler — a brand that has become a hot commodity amid the ongoing Y2K style revival. And, earlier this year, Gigi Hadid was seen with a mini bowling bag from Miu Miu.
According to Vogue, the bowling bag became high fashion back in the early aughts when it appeared on Prada’s spring 2000 runway, but more than two decades later, it is back as a wardrobe must-have this season as cult favorite brands debuted their own renditions of the boxy silhouette.
Miu Miu’s spring 2024 catwalk was comprised of models toting leather bowling carryalls stuffed with items, while the very same season, Coach sent an array of vibrantly colored bowlers down the runway.
Even more affordable brands such as Reformation or Mango have released versions of the bowling bag for everyday customers.
The COS bowling bag, which retails for $320, has become a bit of a viral sensation on TikTok, where millions of the internet’s most fashionable fawn over the oversized carryall and gloat about their purchase before the bag sold out — which, according to shopping sleuths, occurs within hours of a drop.
“I’m obsessed,” wrote one creator.
Content creator Polly Dunseath was so enamored with the satchel that she has it in multiple colors — black leather, burgundy leather and brown suede.
Users have argued that it’s the ultimate fall accessory and have even claimed it is a dupe to the Margaux bag from The Row, a top-handle shoulder bag that bears a striking resemblance to the COS iteration but rings in at a few thousand dollars more.
“It gives The Row vibes,” one viewer commented on a TikTok.
The understated classic has become a coveted piece amid the rise in “quiet luxury” or “stealth wealth” style — or investing in top-quality and high-price items that lack identifiable logos — which has inspired shoppers to opt for the minimalist chic aesthetic.
And, unlike the micro bags beloved by many Y2K style chasers, the bowler is more practical.
“Plus, we all have to schlep around more things than ever — chargers! Laptops! Headphones!” explained Vogue contributor Christian Allaire. “A bowling bag is quite literally built to transport heavy things, making it a perfect commuter bag.”
