This Glorious Bag Was A Well-Kept Secret, Now It’s On The Arms Of All Our Favourite Celebrities

I'll be honest, as a fashion writer and a self-confessed shopping addict, I'm kind of over the term 'It bag'. Every season, about five new bags are given the title, quickly reach TikTok saturation and are soon forgotten as the new season rolls around. Little surprise then, that any fashion girl worth her salt has been gravitating towards the revival of archival bags that's been taking over in recent years. Consider the renewed popularity of Balenciaga's City bag (bag charms in tow), or the resurgence of the Sienna Miller-approved Mulberry Bayswater bag, which has undergone a chic update. Another bag to rise again decades after its original launch and immediately find its way onto the arms of some of our favourite style icons is the Max Mara Whitney Bag.

Launched a decade ago, the sculptural bag is really much more than just a fashion icon. It all started in 2015, when the Italian brand collaborated with architecture firm Renzo Piano Building Workshop, to mark the inauguration of the Whitney Museum of American Art in Manhattan. With its sleek rectangular shape and sharp vertical lines across the body, the bag perfectly toes the line between high-fashion and modern architecture, appeasing fashion and art lovers alike. The bag’s fuss-free design and impressive art credentials meant it was soon a part of the wardrobes of many 2000s It girls, including Karlie Kloss, Bella Hadid, Gigi Hadid and Sarah Jessica Parker.

Unlike the blink-and-you'll-miss-it viral hits of today, the Whitney is one with longevity. Don’t believe us? Consider the museum’s 10-year anniversary gala in New York last week, which saw the Italian house launch a special-edition reissue of the bag in 13 shades across a whopping six sizes, including a new medium size with five ribbed panels. Then there’s also its growing legion of influencers and celebrity fans including Gwyneth Paltrow, Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb, Claire Danes and Laura Harrier.

Effortless in its sophistication and functional to boot, the Whitney ranges from a tiny nano size perfect for formal occasions to roomier large styles that’ll fit everything but the kitchen sink. Each bag comes with a short double handle, as well as removable shoulder straps with snap-hook clasps, so you can carry it however you prefer.

An iconic name in both fashion and architecture spheres, the Whitney’s enduring appeal over the last decade only proves that it’s an incredibly wise investment piece. Brilliant cost-per-wear aside, it’s also just a really great bag that’ll generally be a stylish addition to your closet, whether you’re stashing your keys and lipstick in the nano or hauling your laptop to work in the medium or larger iterations.

Shop: Max Mara's Whitney Bag

Main image credits: ©Instagram/@gwynethpaltrow @masoomminawala

Hitanshi Kamdar is a senior commerce writer for Grazia. Hitanshi is always on the hunt for the latest trends, emerging designers and the internet’s most bizarre style discourse. When not writing, she can be found IDing outfits during Netflix binges and shopping for the latest It-girl shoe trends.