Now that the Easter term has finally ended and we all managed to crawl out of our post-exam depression and hangover (hopefully), we can, at last, celebrate summer. There are many things to be grateful for now that we’re finally out of Cambridge. For example, I’m infinitely grateful for the fact that I no longer need to expose my eyes or my body to the hostile environment of the Trinity library. I’m sure readers from Christ’s can relate. I’m also thankful for no longer having to endure the weekly trauma of finding myself in Mainsbury’s at 6pm.

But perhaps the most universal blessing is that we no longer have to lug around six kilograms of books and electronics in our bags every day. This sense of freedom, I have come to realise in the last few weeks, comes at a price. I, for one, seem to have lost the knack for styling or purchasing smaller bags. Having spent so much time picking bags based on whether my laptop fits in it or not, I have now become a frail and whimpering non-university bag buyer. But that changes today.

“Having spent so much time picking bags based on whether my laptop fits in it or not, I have now become a frail and whimpering non-university bag buyer”

Feeling in a celebratory mood, I’ve decided to compile the hottest shoulder bag trends for this summer. My selection focuses mainly on higher-priced brands, such as Toteme, Acne Studios, Balmain and Jacquemus, because the leading force behind emerging fashion trends are the big designers. In any case, their trend-setting styles are replicated across all stores and prices, making finding the perfect summer bag a breeze.

When buying a new bag, two key factors to consider are practicality and potential for timelessness. Practicality, in the case of a summer bag, refers to its ability to hold all the essentials for keeping your makeup and your body summer-proof. I usually stuff my shoulder bag with a dozen lipsticks, a pair of sunglasses, sunscreen, two books, pressed powder, mini-perfumes and – when I’m feeling particularly bold (that is, actually concerned about my physical well-being) – a bottle of water.

When assessing timelessness, look at the bag’s colour and design and ask yourself whether you’d still consider it wearable in autumn, winter or spring. Buying seasonal bags is fun, but the financially and environmentally wise decision is to choose one you’ll pick up all year round. It has long been an established rule of bag-buying that the most versatile colours are brown and black. When picking a summer bag, the trick is to strike just the right balance between timelessness and seasonal playfulness. My go-to summer shoulder bag, therefore, plays it safe colour-wise, but encompasses originality and spirit in its design. I will sometimes look for unusual, contorted, subversive shapes, such as the bent-like form of the Acne Studios Bowlina mini leather shoulder bag. If you’re more into maximalism, then the famous multipocket shoulder bag should not be missed by your radar. Boxy shapes are trending this summer, so it would be worth considering them as well. If, in the heat of the summer, you are looking to escape leather, then start browsing COS’s take on shoulder bags, where Scandinavian-inspired simplicity meets the chicness of innovative textures.

“Nothing screams ‘unemployed and happy’ quite as much as a microscopic handbag that you can wrap around your pinkie”

While shoulder bags remain the most flexible and adaptable accessory, complementing both day and night outfits, summer also represents the perfect time to take risks with your bag choices. If you ever find yourself conflicted about which purse to bring to a summery cocktail with your girls, an elegant late dinner, or a cheeky club night, maybe you’ll consider a bag that’s more on the microscopic side. Nothing screams ‘unemployed and happy’ quite as much as a microscopic handbag that you can wrap around your pinkie. Think along the lines of Toteme’s scoop mini satin bag. While the viral Jacquemus handbag has silently drifted into irrelevancy, their newest clutches embody the mischievous and mysterious aura we want to carry around once the sun has set. If you’re not quite ready yet to leave the house with nothing else than one lipstick and a pack of gum, I truly encourage you to start exploring the wonderful world of oversized clutches. Next, Mango, Toteme, and The Attico are all great places to start.

And while revelling in the fact that we no longer need to walk around with a laptop every day, we might also take pleasure in styling a bigger bag with something other than our go-to library outfit. For those of you looking for a spacious beach bag, I’d strongly advise you not to fall into the trap of buying a stereotypical, predictable one.

Beach fashion operates in a different value system than city fashion. Here, timelessness matters much less compared to originality, authenticity, and boldness. But how are these abstract ideas reflected in a bag, you might ask? In my opinion, they usually come into sight through small and effective twists on the ‘classic’ beach bag. Such a twist is to be found in Balmain’s choice to adorn their latest beach bag with a belt, creating an unexpected reinterpretation of the beach tote.

If you were waiting for me to list guidelines for picking the ideal internship bag, I am sorry to leave you disappointed. I just lied, I am not sorry. You already get to walk around with the self-assurance of someone who is on their way to employment, you don’t need a bag to feel confident (like the rest of us plebeians). Picking a summer bag might just be the perfect coping mechanism for dealing with post-uni sadness or anticipatory stress concerning the fast-approaching Michaelmas. A perfect summer bag is, after all, the most stylish way of carrying your emotional baggage around.