Several once-popular handbag brands are being replaced in fashion wardrobes by labels favoured by the Princess of Wales, Zara Tindall and a host of Hollywood names.
Radley and Michael Kors are singled out as brands that can now appear dated, while DeMellier, Aspinal of London, Fairfax & Favor, Strathberry, Dragon Diffusion and Mulberry are presented as more current alternatives.
The shift reflects a move away from some of the handbag styles that dominated the 2010s. The Marc Jacobs tote remains popular, but other designs from Marc by Marc Jacobs are considered less relevant.
The handbag brands favoured by royals and celebrities
DeMellier has emerged as one of the most prominent names among the newer choices. The London-based brand, founded in 2017, has been carried by Anne Hathaway, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Emily Ratajkowski, as well as the Princess of Wales.
The Princess has used DeMellier’s Nano Montreal bag since 2021 and was seen with it at Wimbledon. She also carried the brand’s Small Hudson bag in mocha-brown suede at the Christmas Day service at Sandringham in 2025.
Among DeMellier’s best-known designs is the New York Tote, a structured style with a spacious interior. Prices for the brand’s handbags start at £395.
Aspinal of London has an equally strong royal following. Zara Tindall is said to own almost 50 of the brand’s styles, including the burgundy Mini Mayfair, the Soho Crescent and the City Holdall.
The Princess of Wales has also carried Aspinal’s Mini Mayfair in black on five occasions between 2018 and 2022. The label’s celebrity following extends to Gigi Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski, Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift, who was seen with its Trunk clutch in 2025.
Fairfax & Favor occupies a more distinctly British, country-to-town niche. Tindall became an official ambassador for the brand in March 2025 and has worn its Connie bag, Mini Loxley in brown crocodile and Mini Windsor.
The label’s country heritage has also made it popular with the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh.
Scottish-designed Strathberry is another brand to have received royal approval. The Princess of Wales has worn its Multrees Chain Wallet, while Tindall was seen carrying the Mosaic Nano bag at Wimbledon.
The label’s understated designs are described as versatile enough to add a polished finish to a range of outfits.
For those looking for a less familiar name, Dragon Diffusion specialises in woven leather bags and purses. Its designs have been compared with the woven styles associated with Bottega Veneta and can be dressed up or down.
Actress Dakota Johnson carried the brand’s Santa Croce Woven Handbag with a casual monochrome outfit in 2022.
Mulberry, meanwhile, remains a longstanding choice. The Princess of Wales has carried several of its designs, most recently the Amberley satchel during a visit to Northern Ireland.
Her association with the British label began before she joined the Royal Family, when she was seen with the Araline Satchel and Hellier Tote. Tindall carried a Mulberry Amberley clutch at Royal Ascot in both 2025 and 2026.
The latest selection suggests that while some former status handbags have lost their fashion appeal, well-established British labels and newer European brands continue to attract royal and celebrity attention.
