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Beauty & Style

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Style

BY ROSIE DAVENPORT

PUBLISHED: 05 APRIL 2024

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If we had to name an ‘It’ bag brand of 2024 it would have to be Aupen. Seriously guys, this emerging affordable accessories label has a celeb-fanbase so lengthy it would probs take us far too long to write out.

But let’s just say, if like us, you think about that pic of Taylor Swift’s first appearance with American football star boyfriend Travis Kelce (yep, ‘Karma is the guy on the Chiefs’ and all that) on the reg – you might just remember a certain black bag stealing the show.

SHOP AUPEN BAGS NOW

Cast your mind back to October last year and you’ll recall our excitement at seeing our girl Tay with a new beau on her arm. But ngl, it wasn’t just the six-foot-something man we were taken by (Soz Trav); the sleek bag she was carrying in her other hand was just as thrilling to the Cosmo fashion team.

Gotham

Take it from us, not all handbags are created equal, and AUPEN’s Nirvana style (which retails at $340) ticked all our boxes: from the shiny leather to the plaited strap and hella luxe gold hardware. The rest is history tbh – the affordable bag brand AUPEN went straight to the top of our wish list, and we’ve thought about little else since...

AUPEN Nirvana Bag

AUPEN Nirvana Bag

$340/£275 AT AUPEN.COM

As it turns out, T Swizzle isn’t the only celeb who is obsessed with AUPEN either. Go figure. In fact, towards the end of last year you could barely see a paparazzi pic without spotting an A-lister rocking one of the emerging label’s designs.

First it was Kylie Jenner wearing AUPEN's curved Fearless bag last November, swiftly followed by Selena Gomez rocking the brand’s sparkly Purpose Ice style to the VMA afterparty – even J Law and Emily Blunt have jumped on the affordable designer bags. And when Hailey Bieber hit the streets of London to celebrate the launch of her skincare line, it was AUPEN’s classic Purpose design she chose to carry her numerous Rhode peptide lip tints in – the mini silhouette is the perf size, after all.

Courtesy of Aupen

Courtesy of Aupen

With a combined net-worth of millions, it’s a serious breath of fresh air to see a more affordable bag brand on the arms of these A-listers – I mean, the £100,00 Birkins Ky Jen usually rocks were just a touch out of our budget...

So, given these celebs could wear ANY designer accessory they so desire and still decided to pick up a lil’ AUPEN number, we decided we just had to see what all the hype was about and test the affordable bag brand for ourselves.

Everything about the order we received was giving luxury vibes – yep, just because we aren’t splashing *thousands* on a new accessory doesn’t mean we don’t want to get all the designer perks. And trust us, they were there. Each real leather bag comes packaged in its own individual dust bag with all metal hardware protected and the bag stuffed to hold it’s shape. I mean, sometimes it’s the little things guys.

The brand is beloved for it’s asymmetrical silhouettes and unique shapes – as well as cute details like luxe hardware, chunky zips and sleek straps. I was seriously taken with Taylor’s go-to the Nirvana which definitely felt the sturdiest and was roomy enough to house all my essentials.

Hearst Owned

Aupen’s Fearless bag, in this gorgeous white-as-snow leather, was also a top contender. It’s perfect for bringing a retro ‘60s vibe to any outfit and will seriously come into its own this summer – you know, when you wanna swap out black totes for pretty picnic-ready handbags to match your cute floral dresses.

I will personally be taking mine round the houses (or should I say churches) this wedding szn. A white bag really is the universal wedding guest accessory and this baby is bound to get me a few compliments. Note to friends: keep your grubby fingers and glasses of Pimm’s away.

Hearst Owned

If you’re hitting the town, there’s really no better LBB (yes, that’s little black bag to you) than Aupen’s Purpose. This style forgoes softer edges for a more architectural shape and switches out a zip-fastening for a nifty metallic clasp. She’s smaller but so worth leaving a bronzer at home for.

Hearst Owned

For a loucher, slouchy style look to the brand’s Lover bag – it’s giving Loewe’s Hammock shoulder bag, but at a fraction of the price. Keep scrolling to shop all of the Cosmo team’s fave Aupen bags below...

AUPEN Purpose Bag

$180/£146 AT AUPEN.COM

AUPEN Lover Bag

$260/£146 AT AUPEN.COM

AUPEN Miracle Ice Bag

$280/£226 AT AUPEN.COM

AUPEN Fearless Re-Edition Bag

$340/£275 AT AUPEN.COM

Prices start from $180/£147 and all bags are available to shop now from Aupen.com.

This article was sincerely referred from cosmopolitan
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