Quirky, whimsical bags have long been fashion-forward favourites. From Judith Leiber’s novelty clutches to Moschino’s out-of-the-box designs, we have seen everything from food to household items serve as bag-inspo. Within the mainstream, whimsy bags came in the form of micro bags à la Jacquemus’s Le Petit Chiquito, during the years before the lockdown. And after lockdown, there was a sudden shift to bags that were larger-than-life, a dramatic overcorrection of micro bags that could scarcely fit in a lipstick. Now, four years later, we’ve reached a happy equilibrium where gigantic, albeit practical, bags are quirkified with charms that speak to our inner child. Further on that equilibrium was the “beaded sardine bag”.
According to Google Trends, the search term “beaded sardine bag” saw a 300% increase in May and was overall one of the top First-Time search terms in 2025. It’s not hard to see why, throughout the summer, social media was flooded with influencers in the West hunting the bag. Part of the “Sardine Girl Summer”, the aesthetic itself was an obvious microtrend, but the bag? A whimsical accessory that stands out no matter the era.
For those not in the know, the bag that had everyone obsessed the past summer was Staud’s Tommy Bag, specifically in its “Staudines” design. A simple hand-beaded shoulder bag with a flap closure, it’s a fun conversation starter as well as an actual practical accessory, one that fits way more than the wallet-keys-lipstick combo. You can find this piece of fishy arm candy on Staud’s official website as well as Ounass.
If you’re considering a different fish, then Etsy boasts plenty of designs—chances are you can probably customise your own beaded sardine bag! And for a high-fashion option, you can count on Bottega Veneta’s Sardine bag. A hobo bag with the brand’s signature intrecciato weave and a golden sardine top handle, it cleverly incorporates the fish motif without being too over the top.
