The structured shoulder bag is the starting point. Givenchy's Antigona and the Valentino Garavani Panthea hold their shape when empty, while Saint Laurent's Loulou goes the other way with quilting that slouches. Balmain's raffia trimmed Shuffle and the Liffner tasselled satin read least corporate.

The underarm group is the one that actually changed. Hobos from Tory Burch, Ganni and Rebecca Minkoff sit in the crook of the elbow rather than on the shoulder, and the Aqua suede and canvas versions do the same in softer material. The Rick Owens crinkled leather baguette is the flattest shape here.

Small bags solve the days you are carrying almost nothing. Toteme's belted crossbody and the Bao Bao Issey Miyake glossed version keep the strap long, while Reformation's Emma and Khaite's Olivia shrink it further. Anya Hindmarch's raffia trimmed crossbody will not last past October, and that is fine.

If you take one thing away, it is that strap length is the only spec that matters here. A shoulder bag wants to sit at or just above the hip, and anything longer turns it into a crossbody whether or not that was the plan. Check the drop measurement before ordering, because brands describe the same bag three different ways. The structured options in the first group hold more than they look like they will. The hobos hold more still, though everything inside them migrates to the bottom. Mini bags are a commitment to carrying very little, which some people love and most discover by accident. If you want one bag to cover the season, take a mid size shoulder bag in plain leather and stop there.