Most Iconic Designer Bags of All Time

Happy Handbag Flash Sale Week!

In celebration of our upcoming flash sale, we figured it was only appropriate to explore what handbags are considered to be the most popular in the history of the accessory. The idea of investing in luxury handbags is a new one, but many of these designs have survived for decades and are still celebrating their icon status (hello, quilted Chanel bag!). After scouring Google’s variety of articles arguing what handbag is more coveted than the next, we have decided to compile a list of what we feel are the top nine most popular bags in no particular order. The stories of some may surprise you so read on to see if you own an iconic piece in fashion history!

Louis Vuitton Speedy Bag

The Speedy 30cm, which is the first bag released from the fashion house, was designed in 1930 and was a favorite of Audrey Hepburn! At the request of the Tiffany’s star herself, the brand created a 25cm style that shot the Speedy to icon status. They now come in a variety of sizes ranging from duffle bag to near change purse!

Chanel 2.55

This bag, created in February of 1955 (inspiring the 2.55 name), was designed by Coco Chanel because she grew tired of carrying her handbags as either a clutch or with hand straps. Her solution? The incorporation of the shoulder strap! This bag comes in a variety of colors and patterns but the most recognizable style is quilted in either black or white.

Hermes Birkin

One of the most expensive and coveted pieces on this list, the Hermes Birkin can range from the low thousands to six figures in price depending on the year and style of the piece. Jane Birkin, an English actress, and Jean-Lous Dumas, Hermes chief executive, met by chance on a flight and as Dumas watched Birkin struggle with her carry on, he began thinking about the design of handbags. He used her as an inspiration and aid in creating a new, functional bag that would easily carry all of one’s belongings and voila! The Birkin was born!

Hermes Kelly

Another one of the Hermes brand’s fan favorites is the Kelly. Formerly known as the Sac à dépêches, this bag was popularized by none other than Princess Grace Kelly herself. Created in the 1930s, the Kelly was a favorite of Graces and it became an iconic symbol of status after a photo of the Princess using the bag to cover her pregnant belly flooded the media in the 50s. The bag was renamed after the film star and has been sought after since.

Celine Luggage Tote

A younger design compared to the aforementioned pieces, Celine released the Luggage tote in the early 2000s. It only became iconic after the fashion forward Olsen twins were seen sporting one; they then became one of the most popular bags in history, selling out before they even reached stores. If you interested in one of these bags, you better head to the website and get on a waitlist as many designs are not even sold in Celine stores!

Balenciaga City

The Balenciaga City bag is also a newer design, but that doesn’t mean it’s not eligible to be an icon. After its conception, the bag did not get approved past the prototype stage as it was deemed “too soft”. When the bag was requested for a runway show in 2001, it became one of Kate Moss’s favorites and sold out in seconds when it officially hit the market.

Chloe Paddington

In 2002, the French brand Chloe released the Paddington bag during the perfect era: the rise of ecommerce and social networking. The bag was quickly snatched up by the biggest “it” girls of the time, creating a global sensation. It was reported by Vogue that when it was introduced, the Paddington was ordered so far in advance that it sold out of the 8,000 bags in inventory before it even hit stores!

Fendi Baguette

The Fendi Baguette bag created in 1997 is considered by some experts to be one of the first official “it” bags of our time as it was a favorite of fashion icon Carrie Bradshaw in Sex and the City. Though it is smaller than the others on this list, it packs a big punch as it is commonly adorned with a variety of prints and textures in addition to the Fendi logo clasp.

Louis Vuitton Neverfull

Another LV favorite, the Neverfull was created in 2007 as a carry-all tote that comes in three sizes. On top of being able to hold all of your belongings and more, it is one of the most durable bags on the luxury market; to test this, Louis Vuitton fills them with 3.5 kgs of weight, then drops them half a meter! This sturdiness can be attributed to the craftsmanship that goes into creating the Neverfull. Did you know they can take up to 45 hours to make?

Did you see anything familiar? We would sure think so! Now that you have handbags on the mind, be sure to make your calendars for this Saturday, so you can pick up some of your own pieces at our flash sale! 

This Saturday Sep 1st 12-6PM EST. Use Code: Sep1 for 30% OFF selected bags