Why everyone's investing in an 'east to west' handbag — and 3 high street collabs you need to know

Long, rectangular and slim — it’s the handbag shape du jour thanks to Alaïa (and a host of labels following suit).

H&M

Shoulder bag, £27.99, hm.com

M&S

Faux leather bowler bag, £39.50, marksandspencer.com

S. Joon

Mini Arc, £395, sjo.online

Coach

Swing zip bag, £395, coach.com

Alaïa

Le Teckel medium textured-leather shoulder bag, £1,900, net-a-porter.com

Get your hands on Gap’s glow-up

Once-staid Gap has been revamped by none other than New York designer Zac Posen, as the whole high street gets an overhaul. The GapStudio collection is available online and in its Oxford Street flagship now. Look out for the tailored twill trench coats. From £50, gap.co.uk

Jack the (Burberry) lad

A busy time for Burberry; the brand is renovating the V&A’s fashion gallery, which will reopen as “The Burberry Gallery” in spring 2027. As for now, it’s signed tennis heartthrob Jack Draper as its newest ambassador. He stars in Burberry’s hot High Summer campaign. Grab the hose.

Three collabs you just can’t miss

Plenty to keep you shopping. Sandro, left, has a collection inspired by the work of artist Louise Bourgeois (from £39, uk.sandro-paris.com), while M&S has tapped pyjama connoisseur Olivia von Halle (from £45, marksandspencer.com) and London’s Roksanda has designed a line for &Other Stories (May 15, from £37, stories.com). Be quick.