Welcome to our list of The 10 Most Important Designer Bags in Fashion History!
Dozens of designer bags are launched every year, but only a few of them cement their place in handbag history. Here I’ll show you bags that influenced so many that came after and that remain until this day iconic.
So, without further ado here are The 10 Most Important Designer Bags in Fashion History:
1. Chanel 2.55 Bag
In February 1955, Coco Chanel created the 2.55 Flap Bag, and history was made. The Chanel 2.55 Flap signified fashion liberation: it was the first bag made for women to come with a shoulder strap, freeing them from the constraints of the impractical clutch. Rebellious and controversial, this Chanel handbag was a revelation, and women were immediately drawn in. With an emphasis on practicality, each detail – from the adjustable chain strap to the accessible back slip pocket – caters to women’s every need.
Arguably the most classic Chanel bag of all time, the 2.55 Flap bag is a timeless icon.
2. Hermès Birkin Bag
Considered to be the ultimate designer handbag, the Birkin is one of the most classic and iconic bags in the world! The story of the invention of the Birkin bag — the result of the chance meeting in 1983 between actress Jane Birkin and Jean-Louis Dumas, then creative director of Hermès — has become legendary among Hermès lovers. The two were seated next to each other on an international flight. When Dumas asked why she travelled with a simple straw tote, Birkin explained that most leather bags were too structured for her taste. She wanted something more boho and the two came up with the design for the bag on that flight, on the back of a napkin. And so, the Birkin was created.
The price of a Birkin bag when you buy from an Hermès store varies from $9,000 to around $12,000 and on the resale market it can easily sell for more than $25,000.
3. Louis Vuitton Noé
The Louis Vuitton Noé was the first bucket bag ever designed, it started a whole new style of handbags! Inspired by 16th-century handbag designs, which centered around drawstring beaded pouches for both men and women, today’s boxier inceptions have Gaston-Louis Vuitton to thank. In 1932 a Champagne producer asked Vuitton to develop a sturdy, stylish bag in which he could transport five bottles of Champagne. And so the Noé was created. Today the Noé is a classic style of the house that retains key features of the original, like the iconic shape, generous volume and drawstring closure, but is made for modern life.
There is also the NéoNoé bucket bag that revisits the 1932 design but has a more modern appearance.
4. Fendi Baguette
It was 1997, when minimalism was all the rage, that Fendi launched the first It Bag in history, the Fendi Baguette. The bag was anything but minimalist, but because of it’s iconic style and pop culture it became one of the most important bags in fashion history. The bag was designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi. It was intended to be worn short strapped and tight under the arm in the very same way French people are usually seen carrying their baguettes. Since its launch the bag was a breakout success. More than 100,000 bags were sold in the first year alone, and its appearence in Sex and The City solidified it’s place as the ultimate It Bag.
Today, 25 years after its debut, the Fendi Baguette, remains a stylish it bag that is iconic of the brand and one of the most classic designer shoulder bags!
5. Hermès Bolide Bag
The first ever handbag to come with a zipper, the Bolide is and always will be iconic! The Bolide was designed with global travelers and top drivers in mind. The trapezoidal shape of the Bolide makes it simple to pack in sports vehicles or luggage. While visiting America, Hermès CEO Emile-Maurice Hermès discovered the zip closure. Hermès was struck by the zipper he noticed on a car’s cloth top while visiting Henry Ford’s factory. Inspired suitably, Hermès took the zipper back to France and designed a bag called le sac pour l’auto. This bag is now known as the Bolide, and there is also a simpler version called the 1923. The Bolide is iconic until this day!
The style of this handbag combines traditional elegance with practicality. The Hermès bag’s functionality is highlighted by its rounded form and detachable shoulder strap. So you can wear it to any occasion! This is a timeless bag that was created almost a century ago, so it will undoubtedly be a lifelong companion.
The Hermès Mini Bolide is priced just above $5,500.
6. Louis Vuitton Speedy
The Speedy bag is one of the most classic and iconic bags of Louis Vuitton! In 1930 the brand designed the Keepall weekender bag as a response for the advances in transportation and the new need for a compact and lightweight bag. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that the Speedy took the form that we known today. Audrey Hepburn commissioned Louis Vuitton to custom make her a smaller version of the Keepall, one that was fit for everyday life. After being spotted multiple times with the bag in hand Audrey has helped the Speedy become one of the most iconic bags ever designed!
Perfect for everyday wear and stylish enough for any occasion, this is a bag that will never go out of style!
7. Celine Luggage
One of the most popular bags of all time and the most famous Celine bag, the Luggage is an icon, and reportedly the most copied bag in recent handbag history. It was Phoebe Philo’s first It bag for the brand, released in the Spring 2010 collection. With its distinctive front face adorned with a zipper and availability in multiple colors and materials, it is not hard to see why the Celine Luggage, even after a decade of its launch, still appeals to fashion connoisseurs of all ages and tastes. This bag was extremely popular in the 2010’s and because of it’s minimalist style and colors, it really would be a staple in your collection. The bag comes now in 3 sizes: Nano, Micro and Mini.
I know this bag is not so popular anymore, but as Yves Saint Laurent said: “fashion fades, style is eternal”. And this is an eternal bag.
8. Lady Dior
A bag that was designed almost 30 years ago in honor of one of the biggest style icons in fashion history, the Lady Dior is a classic! In 1995 Bernadette Chirac, then First Lady of France, requested Dior to custom design a bag for Lady Diana. The bag was gifted to the princess while she was on an official visit to Paris, it instantly became one of her favorite bags! After that Lady Diana was spotted multiple times carrying the bag, so Dior decided to change it’s name to the Lady Dior in 1996, with the princess’s blessing. Described as iconic and legendary the brand launched the bag in a larger series, becoming a favorite of Dior clients.
This is a bag that will take you through any occasion, it goes from day to evening seamlessly.
9. Goyard Saint Louis Tote
One of the most classic monogram tote bags, the Goyard St. Louis served as inspiration for all the monogram tote bags that came after. The Saint Louis bag was initially designed as a beach bag. Reversible, with the Goyardine on the inside it is perfect for taking home wet things after a day at the beach. It is also a perfect tote for everyday wear, from work meetings to running errands. The name of the bag is a reference to King Louis IX of France, known as Saint Louis. This tote is the most iconic and famous bag of Goyard! The tote gained mainstream popularity in the early 2000’s on the arms of celebrities like Hillary Duff and Pharrell Williams. The St. Louis tote is made from Goyardine and is unlined. It is also extremely light and completely reversible.
This is a staple bag that will always be chic.
10. Gucci Bamboo 1947 Bag
This is the first designer handbag to ever be crafted with bamboo! In post-war 1947, when traditional materials were difficult to find, Guccio Gucci and the House’s Florentine artisans decided to use the lightweight, durable bamboo for the handle of a new bag, forging an instant emblem. A material that speaks to the long-lasting traditions that come together to create Gucci’s heritage, this bag’s bamboo handles are curved using a flame. Alessandro Michelle brought the Gucci Bamboo back in his Aria collection in 2021, with options in leather and logo canvas. The style is enriched by a detachable Web strap that allows the accessory to be worn on the shoulder or as a top handle.
Classic, yet contemporary at the same time, and designed to be worn again and again, Gucci’s Bamboo bags are timeless pieces meant to be kept forever.
Check out my list of the Luxury Bags That Deserve More Attention!
