December's IPSY Bags Are Giving Velvet, Bows, and Holiday Romance

A Little Velvet, a Lot of Holiday Magic

For IPSY bag designer Joanne Wong, December's creative direction started with a simple question: What if your makeup bag felt as special as the gifts under the tree?

The answer? A little coquette romance, a little balletcore charm, and a whole lot of velvet.

"We were inspired by the coquette balletcore aesthetic, vintage velvet hair ribbons, and glamorous holiday party dressing," says Wong. Her mood board was filled with sparkling glassware, sweet candy accents, and nostalgic party decor—the kind of details that make holiday celebrations feel magical.

But rather than reaching for the usual seasonal suspects (looking at you, snowflakes and holly), Wong took a more fashion-forward approach. "Instead of traditional holiday motifs like snowflakes and stars, we leaned into pure sensory luxury with plush crushed velvet and gold accents like jewelry," she explains.

The result is a pair of bags that feel perfectly festive without being limited to the holidays. Think less seasonal novelty, more winter wardrobe staple. And the color palette? It's a pink lover's dream.

Inspired by Fall/Winter 2026–2027 color trends, Wong landed on two distinctly different shades: a soft, frosted blush for Original and a rich, saturated berry pink for Extra. "Together, they balance the high-spirited holiday energy," she says.

The IPSY Original Glam Bag Is Pretty in Pink

If your holiday beauty Pinterest board includes fluttery lashes, glowing skin, and a perfectly pink lip, meet your new plus-one.

December's IPSY Original Glam Bag is dressed in a delicate blush shade Wong calls "Plain Pink," inspired by soft winter flushes and balletcore ribbons. The crushed velvet catches the light with a subtle sheen, giving the otherwise simple silhouette a little something special.

But the real scene-stealer? That tiny gold bow.

Inspired by the delicate ribbons tied around holiday gifts, the custom zipper charm was designed to look like a real, hand-tied bow. "We wanted to capture the hand-tied drape of ribbon rather than a stiff geometric bow," explains Wong.

It's a small detail with major charm—and one Wong hopes Ipsters will get creative with. She even suggests repurposing the little gold bow as a necklace or bracelet charm. A makeup bag that doubles as jewelry inspiration? We're listening.

The IPSY Extra Drawstring Bag Brings the Berry Glam

Meanwhile, December's IPSY Extra drawstring bag is taking a slightly more dramatic approach to holiday dressing.

Meet "Magenta Muse," a rich berry-pink shade that feels right at home alongside metallic eyeshadow, statement lips, and a packed holiday party calendar.

Like its Original counterpart, the drawstring bag features ultra-soft crushed velvet, but the deeper color gives it a decidedly more glamorous personality. Contrasting gold cords add a little shine while nodding to another holiday favorite: velvet gift sacks tied with ribbons.

"The gold nylon cords add a pop against the magenta pink crushed velvet," says Wong. "It gives the bag an elevated keepsake feel."

And that's exactly the appeal. It's the kind of pretty little pouch you'll want to keep using long after the decorations come down, whether you're packing your beauty essentials for a weekend away or keeping your everyday favorites close.

The Finishing Touch? A Little Something Extra

Of course, the secret to making these bags feel special isn't just how they look. It's how they feel.

Wong and her team tested different velvet swatches to find the right balance of color, texture, and light-catching dimension. The goal was to make both shades feel equally rich while letting the plush fabric do most of the talking.

"I can't wait for Ipsters to feel the ultra-soft crushed velvet," says Wong.

And while the bags may have different personalities, they share one thing in common: a little everyday luxury that makes even the simplest beauty routine feel like an occasion.

Whether your December plans involve candlelit dinners, midnight celebrations, or getting glam just because, consider these bags your invitation to make the most of the moment. 

After all, this is how we holiday.