Coco Chanel freed women from the rigidity of the corset and Yves Saint Laurent gave them power with the suit. No one would have guessed that the modern-day solution to freedom and power would come in the guise of an indiscernible designer bag. It is perhaps safe to surmise that back then when luxury purveyors sought to vividly distinguish themselves through artfully rampant monogramming, visionaries like Hermès and Bottega Veneta were silently in the know, eschewing logos in favour of eminently understated designs that conveyed nothing but quality from the get-go.

After years of working around styles that were predefined by prominent logos, the time came that would put women in nondescript ensembles, permitting them to a degree, a permanent right to individual expression. To give credit where it’s due though, it was Mansur Gravriel that brought a new lease of life to the genre when the brand first debuted a line of perfect totes and bucket bags in early 2013, optioned in a range of colours lined with vibrant hues. Since then, Tumblr, the habitual lair of infinite imagery and words of wisdom, became the virtual home to Mansur Gravriel bags, poetically stylised and appropriated to a point of hysteria. In fact, the waiting list for a Mansur Gravriel bag is said to very well rival that of the Birkin. Designers have since subscribed to the hype, presenting bags that would silently do the job for the select few who would only recognise.

Borne of impeccable elegance, startling simplicity and sublime workmanship, hereby are five of our faves.

1. Saint Laurent Classic Sac de Jour bag  

2. Gucci Bamboo Leather Top Handle bag

3. Victoria Beckham Victoria Shoulder bag

4. Chloé Faye bag

5. Fendi 2Jours Small Shopper