The Uniqlo crossbody was undeniably the must-have accessory of 2023, the wardrobe essential of 2024 is something of a cooler, more luxe-looking older sister that I’m equally as obsessed with. And they’re selling out fast.
Padded bags are set to be a major style staple, and I’ve already flooded my accessory collection with a range of colours, sizes and styles to match any outfit. The oversized quilted bag from Cos launched in 2021, and has been considered a covetable investment ever since.
But with many of their colourways regularly selling out, it was only a matter of time before similar looking pieces started cropping up on the high street. And if I was a betting woman, I’d say you can only expect to see these more and more as the year goes on.
Loved by influencers, fashion editors and stylists alike, it’s an effortlessly cool way to complete your outfit, adding texture and on occasion, a pop of colour, while remaining totally practical – some of these bad boys can fit your laptop with bags of room to spare, if you’ll pardon the pun.
Here are some of my favourite quilted bags on the high street, including styles from Cos, Marks and Spencer and Amazon – all of which come in under £35.
Cos Quilted Micro Bag – £35
Blending high-end styles and innovation with attainable price points is what Cos do best, and while I’m yet to take the plunge to splurge £85 on one of their oversized quilted crossbodys (I’m waiting for the right shade to launch), Jake bought me one of its miniature siblings for Christmas.
The quilted micro bag comes in at £35, and is one of the brand’s most sought-after styles, the shrunken-down version of the purse being perfect for day-to-night styling. Measuring at 14cm by 17cm, the compact wrist-worn or top-handle accessory can comfortably fit an iPhone 11, your keys, lipstick, bank card and other small essentials and still zip closed, making it a go-to for date night.
I adore the pistachio-green hue and the way it really pops against any outfit. Here, I’ve styled it with a ruched mesh dress from Tu Clothing, my oversized River Island bomber jacket, silver cowboy boots from Primark, and my green blanket scarf from Moss, which ties in the colour of the bag beautifully.
With its cloud-like texture, this pillowy purse is a real fave for elevating outfits in a fun and fashion-forward way.
Marks and Spencer Nylon Quilted Crossbody – £35
If you want to get the look of Cos’ oversized crossbody bag on a budget, M&S has your back – or, in this case, your shoulder.
Marks and Spencer were the first high street retailer to launch a similar looking accessory, and the second I saw it in store, I knew it was going to be a near-immediate sell out – and I was right.
The Nylon Quilted Crossbody from M&S was available in cream, pink and black – and I managed to snag two out of the three before they were wiped off the shelves – both digital and physical. With any luck, they’ll be back in stock soon so that I can snap up the black version and make it a hattrick.
Priced at £35, it’s around £50 cheaper than its roomy Cos rival, but is equally as stylish, spacious and sought-after, it would seem.
The zip-up bag boasts a popcorn-style quilting which M&S says ‘lends a modern edge to this nylon shoulder bag’, while the half-moon shape is generously sized (39cm x 40cm) with enough room for a laptop, making it ideal for taking to the office, using to carry all of your daily essentials, a boujee gym bag or even as a weekend bag.
The bag boasts two internal pockets – one with a zip and one without – with a padded strap that makes carrying it comfortable even when full. The strap is shorter than the Cos alternative, however, I’m a size 10 and can just about wear it as a crossbody style, too.
Whenever I want to work from a cafe or co-working space, I immediately reach for this accessory. It’s got a gorgeous quality to it, and I love how you can style it in different ways too, including a more slouchy look.
I styled the cream version of the M&S bag with my Damson Madder gilet, New Look satin skirt and cream Primark cowboy boots, with a brown cap – also New Look – and my beloved brown leather-look trench coat from Primark’s collab with Rita Ora.
As for the pink, I feel like you can have so much fun with this shade, so I matched it with my pink Adidas Gazelle Bolds, Damson Madder leopard cargos, Damson Madder Candice blouse and a striped Zara quarter-zip striped jumper, finishing it off with a Rommy satin headband.
Amazon Quilted Tote Bag – £17.99
Finally, this puffy Amazon tote was the first I bought, and while it turned out to be smaller than I had initially hoped, it’s still more than earned its keep in my wardrobe. The nylon shoulder bag may not be big enough for a laptop, but it does fit in a hardback book, so has fast become a coffee shop companion.
The seersucker bag measures at 35cm x 28cm, so sits somewhere between the M&S and micro Cos styles, and again has a shoulder strap that could potentially be worn crossbody – but there is a version with a longer strap that’s better suited to styling this way. Yes, I’ve already eyed it up in sky blue and lilac.
Complete with zip pockets and a zip closure, it’s a secure option for city trips and its black colourway makes it an easy choice for most outfits, but it’s also available in a wide range of colours if you’re more of a dopamine dresser. I paired it with my nan’s oversized collar blouse and a charity shop dress from Phase Eight, mix-and-match Primark cowboy boots and gold jewellery.
Elsewhere though, ASOS is stocking this Glamorous oversized padded shoulder bag in cream nylon for £24, which is very similar to the M&S version, while these Glamorous popcorn texture shoulder bags in pale blue and green have two straps, making them more of a tote.
Are you a fan of the quilted bag trend? Let me know where you got yours from in the comments.
