There’s nothing more validating than when you see someone incredibly stylish wearing something that you just purchased. That happened to me while walking down the streets of the Design District in Miami. There’s a new bag brand on the scene called Aupen, and it’s still in its IYKYK era, meaning I only spot fashion insiders wearing it. After Taylor Swift picked up its Nirvana bag while styling a wedding guest ensemble, it’s been everywhere. I picked it out in red for my trip, and I clearly wasn’t the only person in the stylish city wearing it.
I love investing in a designer bag, but with the prices rising season after season, I simply don’t care to keep up anymore. It feels like you have to be willing to shell out multiple months of New York City rent to be the owner of an It bag these days, with the prices being upwards of $5000. Since this cool-girl brand comes in at under $400 and has already been worn by all of my favorite celebrities—like Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, Kylie Jenner, Olivia Rodrigo, and so on—my heart skips a beat. Let’s discuss the bags by Aupen that are currently on my radar.