Handbag names describe silhouette and how you wear the bag. At House of Velorien, those styles map to dedicated collections so you can browse by shape, not only by colour.
Tote
Totes are open, structured carriers with dual top handles. They suit work, shopping, and days when you need volume that still stands upright.
Browse Totes. Examples include the Chester Pebbled Zip Tote and the Kinnerton Upright Shoulder Tote, both in premium PU faux leather.
Hobo
Hobo bags have a softer, curved body and usually one shoulder strap. They feel relaxed and sit against the hip.
Browse Hobo Bags. The Audley Whipstitch Hobo uses PU leather with an adjustable chain-link strap. The Grosvenor Crescent Hobo measures 30 × 9 × 25 cm in smooth PU.
Crossbody
Crossbody bags keep both hands free. Straps are long and adjustable. The bags themselves stay compact.
Browse Crossbody Bags. The Savile Camera Crossbody is 21 × 5 × 12 cm with a double-zipper layout. The Portman Crossbody Shoulder Bag is 24 × 7 × 14 cm with multi-pocket organisation.
Shoulder and satchel
Shoulder bags sit on one shoulder with a shorter strap and a more deliberate structure than a hobo. Browse Shoulder Bags, including the Elystan Shoulder Bag with its flared trapezoidal silhouette in pebbled PU.
A satchel is the structured cousin of that family: a defined body, often with a flap or firm panels, made to carry daily essentials without slouch. Examples include the Walton Pocket Satchel and Conduit Textured Satchel.
Materials and finishing
Across Peter James handbags you will mostly see premium PU or faux leather, sometimes with pebbled texture, smooth finish, gold-tone hardware, or contrast stitching. The Lennox Straw Hobo is the clear exception, pairing a natural woven straw body with PU trim for a lighter seasonal look. None of these styles replace a travel holdall or cabin case. They are for daily carry. Pair them with Travel Accessories when you are packing for a trip, and keep the handbag for the days around it.
If you are choosing between two shapes, decide by hands and volume. Need both hands free: crossbody. Need room for a bottle, book, and pouch: tote. Want a softer line against the shoulder: hobo. Want a cleaner professional outline: structured shoulder bag.
You can also mix shapes across a week. Many customers keep a tote for work days, a crossbody for evenings, and a hobo for weekends. Our collections are built so you can browse each silhouette on its own page, then return to Handbags when you want the full view. Product titles name the silhouette clearly, so filters and search stay easy to scan.
Quick path. Max capacity: Totes. Soft everyday curve: Hobo Bags. Hands-free: Crossbody Bags. Structured daily carry: Shoulder Bags. See everything in Handbags.