Alexander Wang bags come out in seasonal collections, and each one has its own idea. Some were built around one hardware detail, some around a single shape. If you know which collection a bag came from, you can place it and guess what it will be like to carry. This guide goes through the main ones in order.
The Rocco family
Everything starts with the Rocco, the studded leather duffel from 2009. It later got a smaller sibling, the Rockie, and in May alexanderwangg.com brought out a reworked version called the Ricco.The Ricco keeps the studs and pebbled lambskin but fixes the weight. Its studs are about 30% lighter, and it comes in Small and Medium. If you only learn one family, learn this one, because the brand keeps coming back to it.
Spring 2016 heavy metal
This collection was all about hardware. PurseBlog described lots of metal detailing, mostly heavy chains and snaps used as studs. The also wondered how comfortable the bags would be to carry.If you find a bag with chunky chain trim and snaps, it likely belongs to this period. Expect some weight.
Spring 2017 bucket bags
For Spring 2017 the brand put a lot into bucket bags. The Roxy bag showed up in several versions on the runway, and some models carried it cuffed over the wrist. There was a mini version too, which PurseBlog said made a good alternative to a clutch.The collection also had new flap shoulder bags and tiny crossbodies that hold a phone and not much else. PurseBlog's verdict on the bucket as a day bag was that it wasn't exceptional enough to go the distance.
Fall 2017 and Fall 2018 fanny packs and nylon
Fall 2017 went black. Every bag on the runway was black leather with heavy silver hardware, from the fanny packs to the shoulder bags and clutch pouches. The chain strap was the main attraction on the belt bags.Fall 2018 added black nylon with studs and chain straps, which PurseBlog saw as a tribute to Prada's nylon bags. The fanny packs were worn across the body, and longer chains made them easier for more people to wear.
Mini versions
In 2015 the brand put out mini versions of its best-selling bags. Smaller copies of a popular shape let people buy into the look without carrying the full size.This is also why you'll find minis of the Rocco and other styles in resale listings. A "mini" isn't a different design, just a scaled-down one.
Collaborations
Wang worked with Bvlgari in 2019 on a collection that reimagined the Serpenti bag. It was a separate project from the brand's own seasonal lines.There was also a clutch made with Judith Leiber. Collaboration pieces are worth treating as their own category when you shop, since they follow another brand's design as well.
The 2024 lineup
The recent releases are the Ricco, the Dome, the Crescent and the Siren. The Dome came with the Spring 2024 campaign and comes as a nylon or leather shoulder bag and a mini bucket.The Crescent is a small top-handle bag, and the Siren is a crystal mini. Taken together, they show the brand mixing a revived classic with new shapes.
Using this guide when you shop
Find the bag's name first, then match it to a collection. That tells you the likely hardware,shape and weight before you pick it up.For older bags, check the season on the label if there is one. Then compare what you findagainst the descriptions above, and look at photos of the same collection from a reliable seller.
