How to Store Handbags to Keep Their Shape

A good bag holds its shape for years if you look after it. Left to slump in a heap at the bottom of the wardrobe, even a well-made bag will crease, sag, and lose its form. Storing it well takes a few minutes and makes all the difference. Here is how to store handbags so they keep their shape.

What ruins a bag's shape

A few everyday habits are usually to blame:

• Hanging a bag by its straps for long stretches, which stretches and marks them
• Storing it empty, so the sides collapse inward
• Stacking heavy things on top
• Damp, heat, or strong light, which dry out and fade leather

Avoid those and you are most of the way there.

What you'll need

• A dust bag for each bag
• Something soft to stuff the inside, like acid-free tissue paper, bubble wrap, or a clean jumper
• A shelf or drawer, ideally out of direct light

How to store a handbag, step by step

1. Empty it out. Take everything out, including anything in the pockets. A loaded bag pulls out of shape over time.

2. Give it a quick clean. Wipe off surface dust with a dry cloth before it goes away. Storing a bag with marks left on lets them set in.

3. Stuff it lightly. Fill the body of the bag so it holds its form. Use enough to support the shape, but not so much that you stretch the leather. Acid-free tissue paper is ideal, and a clean, soft cloth or jumper works just as well.

4. Fasten it loosely. Do up zips and clasps so the bag keeps its structure, but leave straps and handles relaxed rather than pulled tight.

5. Slip it into a dust bag. A dust bag keeps light, dust, and moisture off. If you no longer have the original, any breathable cotton bag or a pillowcase will do.

6. Store it upright. Stand the bag on a shelf or in a drawer, resting on its base. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from radiators.

Store bags standing, not hanging

Hanging a bag by its handles for months on end stretches the straps and can leave marks where they take the weight. Rest bags on their base instead. If you are short on shelf space, a shelf divider keeps taller bags standing without leaning on each other.

Give bags a little room

Bags packed tightly together press marks and creases into one another. Leave a small gap between them where you can, and avoid stacking heavier bags on top of softer, unstructured ones.

Storing different types of bag

Leather. Keep it somewhere cool, dry, and out of strong light. Gentle creasing and slight colour variation are natural, so there is no need to worry about those.

Suede. Store away from light-coloured surfaces, as colour can transfer. Keep it dry, and brush it before it goes away for a while.

Patent. Do not store patent leather in plastic, and keep it away from other patent surfaces and dark fabrics, as colour can transfer.

Long-term storage

If a bag is going away for a season or longer:

• Clean and dry it fully first
• Stuff it to hold its shape
• Store it in a breathable dust bag, never a plastic one
• Keep it somewhere with steady temperature and low humidity
• Check on it every so often, and let it breathe now and then

What to avoid

• Plastic bags and airtight boxes, which trap moisture
• Hanging bags by their straps for long periods
• Storing bags empty and unsupported
• Damp lofts, hot airing cupboards, and sunny windowsills
• Stacking heavy items on top

Common questions

Should you store handbags in dust bags? Yes. A dust bag keeps off dust, light, and moisture while letting the leather breathe. If you have lost the original, a cotton bag or pillowcase works.

What should I stuff a handbag with? Acid-free tissue paper is best. Bubble wrap or a clean, soft cloth or jumper also work well. Avoid newspaper, as the ink can transfer.

Is it bad to hang handbags? For long stretches, yes. Hanging by the straps stretches them over time. Storing bags upright on their base is kinder to the shape.

Can you store leather bags in plastic? Better not to. Plastic traps moisture and can leave leather feeling damp. Use a breathable dust bag instead.

A little care goes a long way. For cleaning, colour transfer, and how to look after suede and patent, read our full leather care guide.

Looking for a bag built to last? Find yours.