Is it just me, or is it hard to believe that bucket bags first emerged in the early 19th century? The most notable example is Louis Vuitton’s debut of the Noe bag back in 1932, the bag that can stow five sturdy champagne bottles.
There’s just something millennial-feeling about the bucket bag shape that makes it hard for me to place at an earlier point on the bag timeline. For that, I’ll blame Mansur Gavriel. The New York contemporary accessories brand singlehandedly renewed interest in bucket bags with their simple, casual version – that was five years ago. Since then, things have quietened down, but there are still some forward delineations of bucket bags hoping to do a one-up on Mansur Gavriel’s first bag sensation.
Most of the bags I’ve seen have a drawstring closure component; that’s not necessarily true these days, but most still do. The forward bags I’m referring to are deconstructed bucket bags. Structured bags in stiff leather or other materials like woven straw, become a nest for actual-looking ‘dust bags’. Then there’s bucket bags with hints of the reticule style – small embroidered, drawstring bags carried by ladies in the 18th century. To me, they essentially look like money pouches straight out of Medieval times, just blown up a few sizes. The aggressive bunching closure clearly warns happy hands to stay away. And at the basest level, isn’t that something you’d want in a bag? Spot some modern reticules below!
Alexander Wang
Black Small Wefty Drawstring Tote, $495
Gucci
Pink Vintage Logo Drawstring Backpack, $1980
ALLSAINTS
Ray Leather Bucket Bag, AUD $433.48
Giuseppe Zanotti
Crystal Embellished Drawstring Leather Crossbody, AUD $1,234.36

Celine Lefebure
Karin Small Drawstring Leather Bucket Bag, AUD $864.05

Theory
Drawstring leather tote, $355
Valentino
Valentino Garavani The Rockstud leather bucket bag, $1,295
GUCCI
GG Marmont leather-trimmed quilted velvet bucket bag, $2,300
GUCCI
GG Marmont quilted leather bucket bag, $2,300
PACO RABANNE
Cloud Medium Leather Drawstring Pouch, $800
Foley and Corinna
Wildheart Drawstring Small Bucket Bag, AUD $142.31

Beeka snake-effect leather bucket bag, $761
PACO RABANNE
Logo Mini Leather Drawstring Pouch, $460
SAINT LAURENT
Teddy Studded Leather Bucket Bag, $2,550.00
ALEXANDER WANG
Roxy Leather & Genuine Calf Hair Bucket Bag, $750
CHLOÉ
Roy Small Leather Bucket Bag, $1,650.00
VICTORIA BECKHAM
Helmet Lambskin Bucket Bag, $950
SAINT LAURENT
PACO RABANNE
Cage Straw & Canvas Bucket Bag, $1090
MANSUR GAVRIEL
Red-lined Mini Mini leather bucket bag, $420