Beyond the Bling: The Humble Rise of the Musician’s Canvas Bag (and the XXL Carryall)

From It Bags to Tote Bags: A Shift in Star Style

Remember when the red carpet and street style photos were just a parade of miniature leather masterpieces? Think about it: tiny clutches you could barely fit your phone into, all impossibly structured and bearing the logo of the moment. For some of the most visible women in music, that high-gloss, high-effort aesthetic seems to be giving way to something far more grounded. This moment signals a quiet style evolution, where the status symbol clutch is being traded in for the most unassuming of accessories: the functional women’s tote bag and the “XXL” oversized carryall.

It’s a stark, almost rebellious shift, isn’t it? The biggest stars—the ones who could, and did, carry four-figure bags just to hold a lipstick and a credit card—are now consistently seen slinging a practical, spacious carry-all over their shoulders. In early 2026, this has matured into what stylists are calling “Messy Bag Energy.” Whether it’s a canvas tote from a local dive bar or a supple, unbuckled leather giant, it feels like a genuine move toward authenticity, a moment where comfort and utility eclipse the relentless need for conspicuous consumption. It’s a meaningful statement when a practical tote replaces a status-forward accessory. The return to functionality has a refreshing quality.

A More Relaxed Cool

This isn’t just about a brief trend, though; rather, it reflects a broader change in how we perceive celebrity cool. The most interesting artists right now are leaning into a sense of effortless, almost academic chic, which complements a practical canvas tote or oversized carryall. It suggests an air of being too preoccupied with creating, reading, or just living to fuss over a delicate accessory that requires two hands to manage. Maybe they’re carrying a vintage vinyl score, or a well-loved novel, or just five packets of crisps. The point is, the bag can handle the load, no drama.

You see it everywhere. These aren’t pristine, structured purses. They’re often slightly rumpled, intentionally left open to reveal a glimpse of a chaotic, creative life—a laptop, a spare pair of headphones, or a stray lyric sheet. That hint of wear adds character and authenticity. It tells a story that a shiny, brand-new piece of leather just can’t touch. It’s an understated nod to a counter-culture past, too, echoing the simple, useful merch bags from independent record shops and the archival Y2K “It Bags” currently being pulled from the vaults and worn with a beautiful, battered patina.

What Your Carry-All Says About You

The change in choice of arm candy can reflect something pretty revealing about these artists’ public personas. It suggests a desire to be seen as approachable, practical, and maybe even a bit cerebral. It’s a way of saying, “I’m one of you, even if I headline stadiums.” Realistically, your handbag says a lot about your personality, or at least the version of your personality you’re choosing to present to the world. A tiny, impractical clutch whispers “exclusive event only”; a robust canvas bag or a slouchy, “support-kitten” suede tote shouts “I might need to carry a last-minute script or a carton of oat milk.”

Function Over Flash

This move is probably a smart piece of self-branding, but it may also point to something deeper. It feels like a deliberate rejection of that high-maintenance stereotype that has always clung to famous women. In this 2026 landscape of “Quiet Luxury” meeting “Real Life Utility,” they’re choosing ease, choosing capacity, and choosing a kind of functional anonymity that, ironically, makes them stand out even more.

What do you think? Is the age of the over-priced, under-sized “It Bag” finally over for music’s leading ladies, or has the “Micro-Mini”  been swapped for the “Mega-Tote” in an endless cycle of excess?