Characterised by its slouchy soft leather and a signature large front padlock, the Chloé Paddington was one of the best designer bags when it was originally launched in the early noughties, but now, with Chloé launching a new collection of this iconic bag, it's back and bigger than ever – and even Alexa Chung was spotted at Paris Fashion Week with one in arm.
Originally launched back in 2005, the Chloé Paddington bag became an instant fashion phenomenon under the creative director Phoebe Philo. And with the dominance of noughties aesthetics in passing seasons in 2025, it's no wonder this bag has become one of the key autumn/winter handbag trends 2025.
The Chloé Paddington is now available on the official Chloé site, or if you prefer to shop second-hand, there are reliable sales like those of Brand Alley, Vestiaire Collective, and eBay. And if the original is out of your budget, we've even tracked down the best designer lookalikes we could muster, although none quite capture the iconic design of the original.
Now, with rising interest in millennial bag styles, the original Chloé Paddington is being embraced as a nostalgic statement piece that embraces maximalism. Creative director Chemena Kamali has revived the iconic Chloé Paddington, and while the slouchy silhouette, textural leather, and padlock remained the same, she added playful design elements such as a fur tail key ring that you can buy separately. The new versions have lighter hardware for practicality, something that current owners of a Chloé Paddington will appreciate.
The Paddington bag became instantly recognisable thanks to its textural, vegetal leather and iconic padlock design, with fans of the original including Kate Moss and Jennifer Lopez.
More recently, however, we've seen several A-listers sporting the original styles, confirming their newfound popularity. Katie Holmes was spotted on the set of "Happy Hours" in New York wearing a black Paddington bag, and Alexa Chung was also captured this week at Paris Fashion Week holding a Paddington, and earlier this year with a vintage design.
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Made from grainy buffalo leather, this bag has a slouchy, medium-sized silhouette and has lighter hardware than the original. It comes in six autumnal colourways, from black to khaki.
This brown-ish burgundy colour will complement an autumn capsule wardrobe perfectly, pairing well with dark seasonal neutrals as well as lighter shades.
If you're looking for an elegant bag that you can carry in your hand or on your shoulder, this is an excellent choice. It features a chain and leather strap, or you can wear it crossbody.
Add some wow-factor to your occasionwear with this metallised leather Paddington. It has the same oversized padlock and C-shaped buckles as the roomier designs and has a smart handle-top design.
Rich brown shades fall in line with the autumn/winter colour trends 2025, making this investment piece a standout choice. Style with other shades of brown like mocha mousse or dark chocolate.
The compact design makes this bag the chicest accessory for weddings, evening events, or simply dining out. This small bag features a single zip for easy opening.
So why is the Chloé Paddington trending now? As part of the recent interest in all things boho, the rising popularity of the Chloé Paddington bag is fueled by a desire for vintage-inspired designs and a lived-in, worn appeal that deviates from clean lines and minimalist styling. The popularity of the Chloé Paddington also aligns with the millennial style renaissance, seen in the renewed interest in early 00s bags like the Fendi Baguette and the Balenciaga City.
Searching for a Chloé Paddington lookalike is quite the task. If you want to wear this style of bag but are shopping on a high-street budget, we've rounded up some similar affordable styles below. Often, high-street lookalikes may capture the same slouchy leather design but without the signature padlock, like the Free People Emerson tote bag, whereas others might show hints of similarities with gold-tone hardware.
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If you're a lover of all things red, this deep burgundy tote is a handbag to consider. It's made from 100% leather, features a removable strap, and comes in four colourways. While it captures the essence of the slouchy shape, there is no iconic padlock.
This bag offers a similar slouchy silhouette and handle top design. The tanned brown feels vintage-inspired and will add a retro flair to your outfits. While you're missing out on the heavier gold hardware, this is still a super chic buy.
The long bowler bag design and gold-tone detailing feel ever so slightly similar to the Chloé Paddington, capturing that retro-inspired feel for much less. While we can sometimes capture the essence of a bag in a look-alike, but, the detailing that goes into designer iterations will often not be replicable on the high street.
The Chloé Paddington has not only proven itself to be a defining piece of early twenty-first-century fashion, but it also perfectly translates to the current emerging trends. Its iconic hefty padlock, soft textural leather, and slouchy silhouette feel as though they fit perfectly into this year's love of relaxed and practical bag styles.
The original Chloé Paddington bag was designed to be worn, broken in, and to add character to your everyday attire. For those lucky enough to own one of the original styles, the vintage market will reward your investment, and resale prices have been steadily climbing from £100 a year or so ago to well over £500 now.
