Cotton Shoulder Bags

Several different styles of big shoulder bags exist, including tote bags and backpacks that are worn over the shoulder. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of tote bags and other shoulder bags from brands like Yves Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Christian Dior.

Coco Chanel invented a shoulder bag that was based on the backpacks that soldiers carried on the battlefield. Some experts suggest that this is the first handbag designed with a shoulder strap.

In 1929, when the pioneering French fashion designer grew tired of toting around her belongings in a purse she carried by hand, she added an adjustable chain to her accessory. This meant that she’d freed up her hands, and her bag could be slung over her shoulder. It was reintroduced decades later as Chanel’s iconic 2.55, a vast improvement on the day’s top-handle accessories and clutches.

Named for the month (February) and the year (1955) that the designer formally brought the bag to the greater market, the Chanel 2.55 was a smashing success, a chic, rectangular accessory in soft quilted leather. Find a large collection of Chanel shoulder bags on 1stDibs.

No, Birkin bags don’t have shoulder straps. As a result, the iconic bag is best toted by gripping the double handles in your hand or slipping them over your wrist. On 1stDibs, shop an assortment of Hermès Birkin bags from some of the world’s top boutiques.

Yes, you can wear the Chanel 19 as a shoulder bag. All of the sizes of the handbag feature a shoulder strap. They include the Round Clutch, the Flap Coin Purse, the Wallet on Chain, the Medium, the Large and the Maxi. Find a large collection of Chanel 19 bags on 1stDibs.