The Nod Shop18 Feb 20263 MIN

The hottest bag shape right now resembles a dachshund

Turn to east-west bags for a directional closet

Kylie Jenner carrying a vintage Gucci Bamboo East West bag

Instagram.com/kyliejenner

We’re going dangerously long, lean, and sleek with our bags this season. Remember when the Fendi Baguette took over collective consciousness in the early ’00s? A similar takeover is underway—only this time it’s Alaïa’s Le Teckel. First introduced on runways for spring/summer 2024 and literally French for dachshund, it’s become one of the hottest items of 2026. Former Alaïa creative director Pieter Mulier said his aim was to create the bag equivalent of a perfectly cut dress: precise, elegant, and deceptively simple.

The slim Alaïa sausage-dog bag was just the start of our current obsession with East-West bags. Honestly? We’re all for it. The silhouette feels like the grownup, fancier, fashion-editor cousin of the Baguette—sunglasses on, iced coffee in hand, bag tucked neatly under the arm. It’s practical without being boring, polished without being stiff, and carries that perfect “cool girl who reads the room” energy.

Nearly every fashion house has interpreted the silhouette with a touch of their own DNA. Even classic silhouettes have received the streamlined treatment. The Celine Luggage tote? It’s as if she was placed under a hydraulic press and came out stretched long into a sleeker shape. The inimitably chic Goyard Bonbonnière is the ultimate insider flex. Inspired by the brand’s vintage Saint-Martin bag (that’s now been discontinued), it’s one we’d stand in line for, no shame. Mulberry’s Soft Bayswater is for the soft-structured lovers—effortless, just a little slouchy, and quietly expensive (in case we’re still talking about quiet luxury in 2026). Then there’s Attico’s La Passeggiata, the ultimate quirky-girl personality bag whose asymmetrical shape we can’t get enough of.

If we’re talking about labels perfecting the east-west bag closer to home, deserving a special mention is Behno’s Elizabeth bag with the tubular handles—our pick is the Ferrari-red version. Edgier dressers will love Outhouse’s sculptural denim version, while Miraggio’s Layla top-handle is the perfect understated evening bag. The best part? These skinny b**ches are roomy enough to hold all the essentials: phone, wallet, charger, lip combo, and even the little chaos objects you collect throughout the day. So whichever direction you’re headed in, an east-west bag is the perfect companion.

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