Compared to the flashy sequin Fendi Baguettes or the monogrammed Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami bags of the time period, the bowler bag felt like a cool new offering; they were retro in the right way. Today, there’s something about the 2000s bowler that still feels fresh. After all, the hottest bags of the moment are not dissimilar to the shape of a bowling bag; The Row’s Margaux bag, for instance—which is becoming just as covetable as an Hermès Birkin—features a similar, roomy silhouette. Miu Miu also showed understated leather bowling styles in its recent fall 2024 collection.
In many ways, the bowling bag ticks all the right boxes for a hot bag now. In a sleek leather colorway, the distinctive shape adds visual interest to a look without being too much of a distraction. (We’re still the wake of the stealth wealth aesthetic, and a bowler feels right for the moment—luxurious and modern, without making too much of a statement.) Plus, we all have to schlep around more things than ever—chargers! Laptops! Headphones! A bowling bag is quite literally built to transport heavy things, making it a perfect commuter bag. Me, personally? I just went back to the source, and scored an authentic 2000s Prada style on eBay. (There is a gold mine of options there, FYI.) It’s officially my new fall go-to. Can you say strike?
