With a camel coat, the bag colours that work best are chocolate brown, black and burgundy. Chocolate carries on the warmth of camel, black makes it sharper, burgundy adds a touch of colour. If you want to go tonal, pick a camel that is darker or lighter than your coat, never the exact same shade.
The camel coat comes back every autumn, and every autumn the same question comes up in front of the mirror: which bag goes with it? The good news is that camel is a generous colour. It gets along with almost everything. The trick is to choose the partner that tells the story you want to tell that day.
Three bag colours that always work with camel
Chocolate brown, the pairing of the season
This is the softest and most current combination. Chocolate is deeper than camel, so it grounds the outfit without making it look heavy. Add a cream jumper and raw denim and the whole look feels considered rather than fussy. The New Princess XL in chocolate brown is a great match here: a grained-leather bowling bag with gold-tone hardware that echoes the buttons of a classic coat. You can carry it by hand, on the shoulder or crossbody, and at 44 cm wide it holds everything you need for the day.
To see every shade, from espresso to mocha, browse our chocolate brown edit.
Black, the safe bet
Camel and black is about as Parisian as it gets. Black gives the outfit structure and makes the coat look more urban. It is the obvious choice for the office or for a meeting where you want to look polished. A bag with some texture keeps it from feeling too severe: the Sandstorm in black, in brushed leather with laces and brass studs, brings just the right amount of attitude. It fits a laptop and A4 files, which makes it a real Monday-to-Friday bag.
Burgundy, to wake the look up
If camel feels a little too sensible, burgundy is your friend. It is an autumn colour that doesn't shout but still gets noticed. It also plays nicely with a lipstick or a scarf in the same family. Our burgundy and plum bags range from velvety suede to smooth leather, so you can play textures against the wool of your coat.
Can you wear a camel bag with a camel coat?
Yes, and it looks very chic, on one condition: work with contrast. A bag in exactly the same shade as the coat blends in and disappears. A bag one or two shades darker, or in a different material, creates a rich tonal look. Suede is perfect for this, because it catches the light differently from wool.
The Venice in dark camel mixes suede and grained leather. This large tote has four handles and takes a laptop, a tablet and a change of clothes. With a camel coat, a black roll-neck and boots, tone-on-tone becomes a signature.
And in the evening, which small bag?
In the evening, travel light. A mini bag is enough for your phone, a card and a lipstick. With camel, a black with a subtle sheen does all the work: it catches the light and instantly looks dressier. The Sandstorm Mini in iridescent black is 25 cm wide and can be carried by hand or crossbody. It keeps all the details of the full-size Sandstorm in a going-out size.
Our pairings at a glance
- At the office: camel coat, black trousers, a large structured black bag.
- At the weekend: camel coat, jeans, white trainers, a chocolate brown shoulder bag.
- For a pop of colour: camel coat, grey jumper, burgundy bag.
- Tone on tone: camel coat, cream roll-neck, dark camel suede tote.
- In the evening: open camel coat, black dress, iridescent black mini bag.
Keep one simple rule in mind: the lighter your coat, the more a dark bag gives it shape. And if you are torn between two bags, go for the one that picks up a colour already in your outfit, even in a small detail.
Your questions
Which bag colour should you avoid with a camel coat?
No colour is off-limits, but a bag in exactly the same camel as the coat tends to disappear. Go for a darker shade, a different material such as suede, or a clear contrast with black, chocolate or burgundy.
Does a burgundy bag go with a camel coat?
Yes, it is one of the loveliest autumn pairings. Burgundy warms up camel and adds colour without overdoing it. If you like, repeat it in a scarf, a lipstick or your shoes.
Which bag should you wear with a camel coat for work?
A large black or chocolate brown bag, structured enough to keep its shape, is the easiest to wear. Check that it fits your laptop and A4 documents, and that it can also go on the shoulder for the commute.
