8 iconic handbags worth the investment
The cult classics that have stood the test of time to find a rightful place on your wish list
If you’re someone who carries a handbag, said bag likely isn’t just an accessory, but a loyal and steadfast companion that goes wherever you do each and every day. And when you consider that a luxury handbag is often no small investment, when looking to make a new purchase it’s simply good sense to look to one that has stood the test of time.
Of course, trends have their place, and there’s much that can be said for an of-the-moment statement accessory. But there’s few things more powerful (sartorially speaking, of course) than a classic ‘It’ bag.
Here, we round up the iconic styles that have stood the test of time — from the Hermès Birkin to the Chanel 2.55 — and earnt themselves a place as the fashion set’s firm favourites.
Hermès ‘Birkin’ bag (pictured above)
First created in 1984 for — who else? — Jane Birkin, no other bag has become a marker of status (and indeed, excess) quite like this iconic Hermès leather bag. The story goes that a few years prior to the bag’s inception, the actress was seated next to the brand’s chairman, Jean-Louis Dumas, on a flight from Paris to London, when she griped about not being able to find a bag practical, yet chic, enough for a young mother-of-three. Dumas was inspired to whip up a sketch on the spot, and the bag came to be after a few years spent in production. Now a highly covetable collectors’ item, the bags vary widely in price depending on size and the materials used, but regularly garner more than their original sale price on the second-hand luxury goods market.
Chanel ‘2.55’ bag
Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel’s mark on the fashion world as we know it is immeasurable, but one of her most pervasive legacies is the 2.55 bag which she first created in February 1955 (yes, hence the name). At the time bags with top handles and clutch-style purses reigned supreme, so the longer chain shoulder strap was considered somewhat revolutionary. That very chain still makes the bag a favourite, recreated season after season in various colours, fabrics and sizes.
Louis Vuitton ‘Speedy’ bag
Created for brand darling Audrey Hepburn in 1930, Louis Vuitton’s now-iconic bag came about when the actress reportedly asked the fashion house to create a more wearable everyday version of its ‘Keepall’ luggage bag. Originally called the ‘Express’, the current iteration is made from Louis Vuitton’s signature monogram in canvas and leather.
Balenciaga ‘Motorcycle’ bag
At the height of the gritty boho-meets-muso aesthetic that permeated the early 2000s, Balenciaga’s leather ‘Motorcycle’ bag emerged and was promptly seen on the arm of almost every major celebrity of the time (perhaps best characterised by, but not limited to, Kate Moss, either Olsen twin and Sienna Miller). Heavy on metal hardware and tassel details, and designed by now-Louis Vuitton creative head Nicolas Ghesquière, the bag remains popular to this day.
Fendi ‘Baguette’ bag
Perhaps no other bag on this list has boomeranged back into favour quite like the Fendi Baguette, named for the way it’s designed to be tucked under the arm like bread. First created in 1997 by Silvia Venturini Fendi, it was cemented as one of the biggest ‘It’ bags of its time thanks to Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw, but fell somewhat out of the zeitgeist in the years following. It’s now firmly back in the fashion consciousness, seen toted on (or under) the arms of everyone from Gigi Hadid to Zoe Kravitz — and every blogger worth their follower count in between.
Dior ‘Lady Dior’ bag
This charming Dior bag first appeared in 1995, after Princess Diana was gifted a custom version by Bernadette Chirac, then France’s First Lady. Diana’s penchant for the bag quickly propelled it into popularity, and the fashion house put it into wider production.
Céline ‘Luggage’ bag
While several bags from French fashion house Céline have reached cult status — including its mini-sized Trio and Classic box bag — the Luggage has truly stood the test of time. Released in 2010 when the brand was helmed by beloved designer Phoebe Philo (who has since been succeeded by Hedi Slimane), for many it’s a relic of Philo’s golden era. Along with being a practical carryall, the bag is a testament to the brand’s intuitive design and fashion-forward wearability.
Gucci ‘Jackie 1961’ bag
Beloved for its curved shape and instantly recognisable house hardware, Gucci’s Jackie 1961 bag is a modern classic. Reinvented by Alessandro Michele in a range of colours, plus subtle updates on classic styles, it’s finding favour anew - as with much that Michele is doing for the brand.