As any New Yorker knows, the kind of style you spot in the street is highly dependent on which neighborhood you find yourself in. Lower Manhattan is unquestionably home to the trendsetting crowd, and whenever I find myself taking a stroll through the blocks just south of Houston Street, I’m instantly reminded of which trends, brands, and items are most popular among Gen Z and millennials at the moment. Right now, there’s a single handbag style I’m spotting on the arms of the best dressed in the borough: slouchy and oversize bags that look (and in some cases, are) straight out of the early 2000s.
(Image credit: Backgrid)
On Bella Hadid: Balenciaga Le City Medium Bag ($2900)
While the designer bags of 2025 are a particularly strong bunch—what with the arrival of the Bottega Veneta Ciao Ciao, Balenciaga Rodeo, and Khaite Cate—they’re all still being crushed by the carryall that’s made a roaring resurgence from the early aughts. The era has loomed large recently as fashion’s most influential decade and nowhere have we seen that more obviously than when it comes to the handbags that celebs and the fashion set alike are reaching for, but especially the Balenciaga Le City Bag.
(Image credit: Backgrid)
On Kaia Gerber: Balenciaga Le City Medium Bag ($2900); Dôen cardigan; Leset pants; Repetto flats
First released in 2001 as the Motorcycle Bag, the City Bag was Hollywood’s hottest outfit companion throughout the 2000s with everyone from Mischa Barton to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen to Nicole Richie sporting theirs nonstop. Balenciaga recently debuted its updated take on the iconic City Bag, dubbing it Le City, and celebs like Bella Hadid, Kaia Gerber, and Tate McRae have all been spotted carrying theirs over the last several weeks. The bags are taking off across Instagram and TikTok as the fashion set revisits this nostalgic favorite.
(Image credit: Ulices Ramales/BACKGRID)
On Tate McRae: Balenciaga Le City Large Bag ($3250)
McRae, whose third album, So Close to What, was just released, stepped out in New York this week in a casual winter combo of trousers, chunky sneakers, and a wool coat, adding a Balenciaga Le City Bag in smoke to complete the muted look.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
On Rachel Sennott: Chloé Paddington Bag
Photographed at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, Sennott perfectly matched her tan jacket and skirt to her vintage Paddington, which was sourced by Last Platinum Vintage.
New Yorkers tend to wear theirs with other It pieces like Puma sneakers, statement coats, and track pants and are always accessorizing the bags with personalized touches in the form of bag charms and stickers.
Although celebs in L.A. and fashion people in New York are who we spot carrying the bags the most, the European trendsetting bunch are also very fond of the City Bag.
When a fashion person picks up the early aughts carryall, they’re more than likely wearing it with other calling cards of the decade, like skinny jeans.
Shop the Balenciaga Le City Bag
Balenciaga
Le City Medium Tote Bag
This rich camel shade is ultra luxurious.
Balenciaga
Le City Medium Tote Bag
Of course, the black version has always been, and will always be, the one.
Balenciaga
Le City Medium Bag
With its slouchy shape and crossbody strap, I don’t know why we ever moved away from such a practical It bag.
Balenciaga
Le City Medium Tote Bag
NYC girls are especially into this edgier charcoal version of the bag.
Balenciaga
Le City Medium Tote Bag Metallized
Not for the wallflowers among us.
Balenciaga
Le City Medium Bag
This ivory shade feels so right for spring and summer.
Balenciaga
Agneau Giant 12 Gold Hardware City Bag
The secondhand market is filled with all the harder-to-find colorways.
Balenciaga
Agneau Giant 12 Gold Hardware City Bag
Balenciaga
City Classic Medium Bag
Twenty-four years later, and it’s as cool as ever.
Balenciaga
City Classic Medium Bag
The combination of this ivory hue and the gold hardware is so good.
More 2000s Designer Bags That Are Very Now
Chloé
2000s Paddington Handbag
Calling it now: the Chloé Paddington Bag is the next vintage style to make a huge comeback.
Christian Dior
Leather Vintage Saddle Bag
Fendi
Nappa Nuvolata Spy Bag
Every It girl of the 2000s had one of these on her arm.
Chloé
Paraty Top Handle Bag
The right amount of slouch.
Givenchy
Nightingale Satchel Leather
If a sleeker oversize bag is more your speed.
Yves Saint Laurent
Leather Shoulder Bag
It’s the turnlock closure for me.
The RealReal just informed me that almost 400 people have this bag saved. Just saying.
Givenchy
Leather Shoulder Bag
This bag brings back so many memories.
