To understand the appeal of the Boston bag, one needs to revisit its history. In the 1890s, the style built a reputation among Bostonites who love its roomy interiors and utilitarian appeal. Eventually, its popularity spread to other big cities like New York.
The Washington Post said this of the Boston in a report in 1920: “Some use it for shopping – some for overnight trips, and there are a hundred and one other uses where a light, high-grade, well-appearing handbag is called into service. The Boston Bag has created such a demand for itself that we are sometimes taxed to keep the stock fully complete.”
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Through the years, the bag was often spotted on the arms of the most photographed women. Audrey Hepburn was frequently seen with her Louis Vuitton Speedy Boston bag in the mid ’60s, while fashion stars from Paris Hilton to Beyonce made the bag a part of their wardrobe in the early 2000s.
Flash forward to 2021 and brands are fuelling the revival of this good old American fave with a few updates. Cue the miniature versions seen at Celine and Michael Kors and the plush treatments like the tufted canvas design that Louis Vuitton released for its tie-up with Urs Fischer. After all these years, one thing remains constant: the Boston’s reliability and practicality.
Below, we highlight some of the designs you should consider.
