We all know the pigeon — and the rest of JW Anderson’s quirky clutch zoo — and while the Irish designer remains fashion’s undeniable king of irony, he is far from being the only one having fun. Plenty of brands, from emerging independents to heavyweight luxury houses, have a sense of humour, too. Think Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel years, when milk cartons, oil canisters and even funicular wagons magically became artisanal handbags, or Jeremy Scott’s Moschino era with Happy Meal crossbodies and inflatable-mattress clutches. Good news is you don’t even need to dive into the archives to find that level of joyful madness — current collections are packed with amusing little conversation starters.

Sure, you are unlikely to wear them to the office, but if you are in for owning a slice of fashion history or simply making a statement, here is my selection of handbags that will add a little joy to your day.

As we are already speaking about Moschino, it is only fair to mention that Adrian Appiolaza has absolutely no shortage of wild handbag ideas. Paper boat, cake box, roll of trash bags, football, slice of pizza or watermelon — he quite literally has a bag to match any mood or occasion. Personally, I am rooting for the Italian classic: the spaghetti clutch.

If you have a soft spot for antique silverware, keep an eye on Vin — a brand of evening bags inspired by vintage and eccentric treasures from the past. Sardine tins, tomatoes, fish motifs — all crafted in brass and polished to look like something you would find in your grandma’s cabinet.

When it comes to Cult Gaia, I always fight the urge to call it “wearable art,” but that retired cliché actually describes the brand a little too well. Everything they make — clothes, jewelry, shoes — is a bold statement that grabs your attention and begs to be examined up close. But the handbags are a universe of their own. They are so self-sufficient you could pair one with a plain tee and your oldest jeans, and it would still carry the entire outfit on its own.

Surrealism lovers with a spare 13,000 EUR, here is finally something to relieve you of the burden — Schiaparelli’s molded mouth clutch in copper alloy with a lambskin interior. It is a purse that speaks for itself — quite literally, and with far more confidence than most of us.

Micro handbags may have been left somewhere in the late 2010s, but in certain cases they absolutely deserve a revival. Take, for instance, Uncommon Matters’ Whirl clutch made from sterling silver. I wouldn’t even attempt to squeeze a lipstick into its 6-centimetre diameter — there is no way that is happening whatsoever — but I would happily treat it as a statement jewelry piece.

If you are a practical soul at heart but still want a “jewelry” bag, there is an option for you too — the Stillness bag by Hengdi Wang, crafted in 3D-printed resin and 925 sterling silver. It is far roomier than its Whirl cousin from Uncommon Matters, but the brand warns that some parts can be a bit delicate. So once again, probably not the best choice for grocery shopping — alas.

As a dachshund owner, I simply had to add Thom Browne’s Hector to the list. An obvious must-have for anyone with a soft spot for sausage dogs (guilty).

If you missed your chance to get your hands on JW Anderson’s frog, there is a worthy (and far more budget-friendly) alternative from JW Pei — a charming Blowfish clutch inspired by a very confused pufferfish. And if that isn't exactly your vibe, don’t worry: they have a whole mini-menagerie to choose from.