Welcome to our list of The Most Iconic Luxury Bags In History!
Some designer bags are so important they change the course of fashion history! Here I’ll show you the most significant bags of all time, they will forever be icons!
So, without further ado here are The Most Iconic Luxury Bags In History:
1. Hermès Kelly Bag
In 1935 Émile-Maurice Hermès diversified the brands offerings designing a bag for his wife to carry. Called the Sac à Dépêches the bag was practical and elegant with a classic style. The accessory achieved worldwide recognition in 1956 when the American actress and princess of Monaco Grace Kelly used her Sac à Dépêches to cover her pregnant belly. As soon as the photo of that is published on the cover of Life Magazine women from all over the world start running to Hermès asking for the Kelly Bag. In response the brand changed the bags name to the Kelly, and history was made. Today an icon of elegance and sophistication, the Kelly is one of the most sought-after bags on the resale market, not only for its timeless style but also for the enduring allure of the woman it is named after.
The Kelly is sold in Hermès stores for around $9,000 and can be sold in the resale market for more than $20,000!
2. Louis Vuitton Alma
One of the most classic top-handles ever, I would love to have the Alma in my collection! Rumor goes that the Alma was originally made for Coco Chanel in 1925 as a custom order. It’s rounded shape and two top handles are inspired by Art Deco, it is as iconic today as it was 100 years ago. In 1934 Coco gave permission for Louis Vuitton to sell the bag to the public and history was made. Its unmistakable shape makes this compact bag a timeless classic. There are multiple colors and materials to choose from, as well as sizes. It also comes with a detachable strap so you can wear this bag as a crossbody or top handle. There is an Alma bag for every taste.
The Alma bag was the only non-Chanel bag that Coco Chanel ever carried. If it was good enough for Chanel it is good enough for me!
3. Chanel Classic Flap
The Chanel handbag that would ultimately become synonymous with the brand was not created until 1983. The Chanel Classic Double Flap was first introduced when Karl Lagerfeld became creative director and decided to reinterpret Chanel’s iconic 2.55 Flap Bag. From his artistic vision came two new features – a leather woven chain and Double C turn-lock closure. Lagerfeld’s Classic Double Flap was a breakout success.
Almost forty years later, and out of all the Chanel handbags on the market, the Classic Double Flap remains one of the most sought-after pieces ever crafted.
4. Hermès Birkin
The Birkin bag is perhaps the most famous bag in the world, and for sure one of the most classic. The Birkin was designed in 1983 when Hermès creative director Jean-Louis Dumas set next to the actress Jane Birkin on a flight. She was wearing a straw tote and explained that most leather bags were too structured for her taste. So Dumas designed the bag on that flight on the back of a napkin. Today the Birkin is an icon and is the kind of bag that will last you your whole life.
The price of a Birkin when buying directly from an Hermès store varies depending on size, leather, hardware and color, starting at $10,075. On the resale market it can easily sell for double the original price!
5. 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.
6. Gucci Jackie 1961
Like the enduring allure of the woman it’s named after, The Jackie is a bag that will never go out of style. In 1961, Gucci introduced a Hobo-style bag that caught the eye of Jackie Kennedy, whose husband so famously loved Gucci’s loafer moccasins. It’s said that upon seeing a paparazzi image of Jackie Kennedy with the bag (then called the Fifties Constance), the Gucci family quickly christened the bag the Jackie. The classic hobo-shape saw many iterations under Tom Ford and Frida Giannini, but its latest incarnation comes by way of Michele, who in 2021 gave us a spin on The Jackie with a bit more structure, an adjustable strap, and a piston closure. Brought back to the forefront, the recognizable shape is presented in many materials like leather and the GG Supreme canvas.
No matter which one you choose this is a beautiful bag that will be a cherished item in your wardrobe forever, perfect for any occasion!
7. 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 its 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. The bag was a breakout success. More than 100,000 bags were sold in the first year alone, and its appearance 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!
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Louis Vuitton Speedy
The Louis Vuitton Speedy was first introduced in the 1930s but remains one of the most recognizable and popular styles of all LV bags. The LV Speedy purse was designed in response to advances in public transportation and the new need for a compact lightweight bag that was also large enough to hold your daily necessities. The shape is a mini version of the Louis Vuitton Keepall. This Louis Vuitton bag was made popular in the 1960s when Audrey Hepburn was seen carrying the Speedy multiple times, people say the bag was designed especially for her. The original Louis Vuitton Speedy bag was designed without a strap, but in 2011 Louis Vuitton released the Speedy Bandoulière with an adjustable shoulder strap that can be removed.
Until this day the Speedy remains one of the most collectible Louis Vuitton bags.
