What fashion moment could Real Housewife Sonja Morgan and avant-garde music producer Arca not only agree on, but also be ahead of the curve on? Telfar’s signature shopping bag, of course. Brooklyn-based designer Telfar Clemens first premiered the bag back in 2014. The design is based on the actual dimensions of your standard department store shopping bag and is produced in vegan leather—keeping with Telfar’s aim of putting his own spin on consumer standards. But it wasn’t until 2019 that the accessory was solidified as a true It bag, first among queer and POC cool kids in enclaves like Bushwick, before moving way beyond. (As the brand’s motto says, “Not for you—for everyone.”) These days, they’re hard to get a hold of. Priced between $150 and $257, the bags sell out almost instantly when they’re released in near-weekly drops on Telfar’s website (though the label has worked hard to increase supply and occasionally offers guaranteed pre-order opportunities). Still, everyone from Bella Hadid to Beyoncé has managed to get their hands on one. Here, a rundown of the celebrities who have been seen with their own Telfar bags.
Megan Thee Stallion
The hot girl herself revealed she acquired a lavender version of the bag in the largest size on her Instagram in August 2021.
Lola Leon
When Madonna took her family to Italy to celebrate her 63rd birthday, daughter Lourdes “Lola” Leon brought along her Telfar shopper from the brand’s collaboration with Ugg.
Zoë Kravitz
Ever the style setter, Zoë Kravitz was seen out and about in New York City in June, 2021 with a small Telfar bag in dark olive.
Dua Lipa
Dua Lipa had previously been spotted with the brand’s signature shopping bag, but also was one of the first to snag the newer circle bag as well.
Tinashe
Let the record show that Tinashe was first seen with her small-size Telfar shopper in black all the way back in 2019, but she’s remained loyal to the bag enough that she chose it to walk the red carpet for the premiere of Respect in August 2021.
Precious Lee
Supermodel Precious Lee was spotted in New York with a special edition version of the bag created in collaboration with outerwear brand Moose Knuckles.
Gayle King
While Oprah once named Telfar’s original shopping bag to her famed “Favorite Things” list, it was her bestie Gayle King who was actually spotted out and about with the circular version at the 2022 US Open.
Vanessa Hudgens
The former Disney star was spotted all around the Filming Italy Festival in July 2021 with her tan Telfar bag by her side.
Garcelle Beauvais
Actress and current Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member Garcelle Beauvais was spotted around Los Angeles in July 2021 with a medium-size Telfar shopper in red.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union may have been spotted in New York City in June 2021 with a matching set of luggage, but the real star of her ensemble was obviously her purple Telfar bag in medium.
Beyoncé
Okay, so she didn’t tip the logo toward the camera, but that is indeed a medium-sized white Telfar bag around Beyoncé’s shoulder. She was spotted wearing the bag out and about in Brooklyn in July 2021 before posting to Instagram.
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X walked the red carpet of the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards at The Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California in May with a white Telfar bag—size small.
Wendy Williams
Secret style star Wendy Williams has actually worn pieces of Telfar clothing on her show before, thanks to her stylist Willie Sinclair III, and received a Telfar bag of her own when the designer was a guest on her program to debut a new azalea pink colorway.
Gigi Goode
RuPaul’s Drag Race runner-up Gigi Goode is a big fan of the small Telfar in orange.
Bella Hadid
Bella Hadid was seen out and about in New York City in July 2020 with an orange Telfar shopper in the small size.
T.S. Madison
RuPaul’s Drag Race judge and Zola breakout T.S. Madison opted for the black circle version at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Naomi Osaka
Naomi Osaka was spotted out and about with a large version in the “Corned Beef” colorway in late 2022.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
In the summer of 2020, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed that she, too, had snagged the bag in an oxblood medium. At the time, she pointed out that Telfar Clemens was born in LeFrak City, Queens, which is in her congressional district.
Miss J Alexander
The runway coach and ANTM alum was spotted with the circle bag at NYFW.
Sonja Morgan
Does it surprise you to see RHONY’s Sonja Morgan on the list? She actually starred in a Telfar campaign produced by Paper magazine back in 2019 and has been spotted from time to time with various colors of the bag (her size preference seems to be the medium) ever since.
A$AP Ferg
A$AP Ferg wore the medium-sized Telfar in beige (seen here on the ground) while sitting front row at a Helmut Lang show back in 2019.
A’Ziah “Zola” King
The Zola writer was spotted with the silver version of the bag while out and about in L.A. with Julia Fox.
Ashton Sanders
Moonlight star Ashton Sanders accompanied Telfar Clemens to the 2019 Met Gala—and, of course, both carried the bag in small.
Jeremy O. Harris
Playwright Jeremy O. Harris has been spotted with a few different varieties of the Telfar bag over the years. Here he is with the small tan version at the New Group Annual Gala in 2019.
Solange
Always ahead of the curve, Solange carried the small black version of the bag to the 70th Annual Parsons Benefit back in 2018.
Selah Marley
Selah Marley, the model/musician daughter of Lauryn Hill and granddaughter of Bob Marley, has been a longtime Telfar booster. She accompanied the designer to the 14th Annual CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards in 2017, with an early version of the bag at her side.
Amber Riley
The Glee alum and Olivier Award winner has the smallest version of the bag in multiple colors.
Kid Fury
Podcaster Kid Fury toted the circle bag to the Los Angeles premiere of Rap Sh!t.
Eva Apio
Oyinda
Model and musician Oyinda carried the circular version to a gala dinner in 2023.
Jerrie Johnson
Harlem star Jerrie Johnson carried a classic white version to Outfest in 2022.