July’s IPSY Bags Are Already on Vacation

For IPSY bag designer Joanne Wong, the assignment was simple: make bags that feel like an escape. “The design approach centered on the idea of leisure as an aesthetic, with a ‘slow down, glow up’ vibe,” says Wong.

Mission accomplished!

The visual anchor? Cabana stripes—that instantly recognizable summer pattern that practically smells like sunscreen and pool towels.

“I saw it everywhere in our research—on umbrellas, beach lounge chairs, and beach towels,” Wong explains. “It’s a pattern that immediately triggers a vacation state of mind.”

The sunny yellow-and-white striped IPSY Original Glam Bag is basically bottled vitamin D, finished with what might be the most charming detail of the summer: a tiny retro sunglasses zipper pull inspired by vintage cat-eye frames. “It’s the most fun part of the bag,” says Wong.

Then there’s the IPSY Extra bag, which took the same vacation inspiration and turned the volume all the way up. Pink, urgent orange, and tide blue come together in a color-blocked cabana stripe that feels equal parts beach club and main-character montage.

“For the Extra bag, I wanted more drama,” says Wong. “Pink and orange are a classic summer duo that feels high-energy. It perfectly captures the heat of July.”

Cute is important. Functional is non-negotiable. That’s why Wong chose lightweight canvas for both designs—durable enough for real summer life, but easy enough to keep looking fresh. “[The canvas is] easy to wipe down and sturdy enough to handle being packed into a beach tote filled with SPF and sand,” says Wong.

As effortless as these bags look, getting them there took work. “Stripes are tricky,” Wong admits. The biggest challenge? Making sure the scale felt just right, especially on the Extra bag, where the stripe width could make or break the whole look.

“If they’re too thin, they look busy,” says Wong. “Too wide, and they stop feeling like cabana stripes.”

After plenty of testing, the final result feels polished, balanced, and instantly summery, without veering costume-y.

Which is kind of the summer sweet spot.