Welcome to our video listing the Top 10 Classic Bags That Hold Their Value in the Resale Market!
Have you ever wondered which bags actually hold their value? Or if the bag you are dreaming about buying is actually worth the investment? If so, then you have come to right place! Here I’ll show you 10 bags that will hold their value trough time and that you can rest in piece knowing that if you ever need to sell your bag, you will not lose all your money. You can already imagine that classic styles are better than the trendy ones, but there are some bags on this list that really surprised me! To bring you the best information possible I researched on resale platforms such as The RealReal and Rebag, and also the Clair Report, a tool that ranks the best brands in the pre-loved market.
So, without further ado here are the Top 10 Classic Bags That Hold Their Value in the Resale Market:
1. Hermès Birkin Bag
The most famous and sought-after bag in the world is number one on this list. The Realreal says the average resale value of a Birkin bag is 85% but last year the average was 210%! The value floats depending on the scarcity of the market, if there aren’t too many Birkins to be sold their value will increase significantly. 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.
2. Hermès Kelly Bag
No surprises here right? Of course Hermès would be on the top of our list! Hermès bags resell so well because of the difficulty consumers face when buying one directly from an Hermès store. For the Kelly bag demand is always higher than the offer, that is why it will hold its value extremely well. In 1935 Hermes launched one of their most recognizable original goods, the Sac a depeches bag, which would later go on to become known as the Kelly bag. In 1956 the American actress and princess of Monaco Grace Kelly used a Hermes Sac a Depeches to cover her pregnant belly. As soon as the photo of that is published on the cover of Life Magazine, woman from all over the world start running to Hermes asking for the Kelly Bag. After that, Hermes renames the Sac a Depaches as the Kelly.
The average resale value of a Kelly bag is 92%, but depending on leather, hardware and rarity of the bag it can easily sell for more than the original price.
3. Chanel Classic Flap
It’s no surprise that this true classic has taken a spot on our list of top resale bags. The Classic Flap is the iconic Chanel bag with the interlocking CC locks that debuted in the 1980s designed by Karl Lagerfeld. This bag reinterprets the Chanel 2.55 handbag. This is today the most iconic and classic Chanel handbag. You can have absolute certainty that this bag will keep its value and will never go out of style. Recently Chanel announced that they will limit the number of classic bags each customer can buy per year, which will only elevate the prices in the resale market. The Chanel classic flap is relaunched every season in new colors and materials, but you can never go wrong with the neutral ones.
This is a bag you will be wearing for the rest of your life and the average resale value is 97%.
4. Louis Vuitton Speedy
Louis Vuitton classic styles are a safe bet and fewer bags are more classic than the Speedy. The Speedy was originally launched in 1932 as a travel bag. It was a phone call from Audrey Hepburn that gave this bag the iconic form and size we know today.
Audrey requested Louis Vuitton to custom-make a mini-Speedy for her, so it would be more befitting for everyday use.
5. Dior Book Tote
This one was also a surprise for me! Usually classic bags are the ones that hold their value, but maybe at this point this tote is getting its classic status. The Dior Book Tote is distinguished by its seamless combination of sophistication and relaxed style. The Maria Grazia Chiuri creation has been reimaged in an array of silhouettes and styles, each one as elegant as the last. The tote exemplifies the House’s signature savoir-faire and may be carried by hand or worn over the shoulder.
Its resale value is 98%, making it one of the most sought-after bags on Rebag.
6. Chanel 2.55
In 1955, Coco Chanel created the famous 2.55 handbag. A quilted handbag with a gold chain that allowed woman’s hands to be free, by carrying the bag on your shoulder. The name 2.55 comes from the date of its creation, February of 1955. Its thoughtful design was truly for the modern woman on the go: the zippered inner pocket design was rumored to stash love letters, the space in between the two internal pockets is designed to hold a single lipstick, and the back outside pocket is designed to securely hold money without opening the bag. This bag is to this date one of the most classic, iconic handbags ever. Is that kind of bag that will never go out of style.
This is a safe bet when it comes to resale value, according to Rebag they see more demand than supply for this one, which is always good news.
7. Hermès Evelyne Bag
Hermès is the Holy Grail of handbags; they can even increase in value after you buy it! Named after Evelyne Bertrand, the former head of Hermès’s equestrian department, this bag was originally conceived in 1978 to hold horse-grooming equipment. It soon became a classic cross-body favorite with Hermès collectors. This Hermès bag is often overlooked but it is perfect for that chic understated look. The Evelyne is not a part of the Hermès trinity meaning is not one of the most sought-after in the resale market.
But this is an entry bag that not only will last many years but will also hold its value very well.
8. Bottega Veneta Mini Jodie
This is the Bottega Veneta bag that hold its value the best. The Jodie bag is the perfect combination of Bottega Veneta’s history with Daniel Lee’s iconic style. The Jodie has been one of the most frequently seen it-bags on Instagram in 2020 and into 2021, either in the small size or in the maxi one. From its sumptuous leather to the minimal yet elevated shape, it’s not difficult to get why the bag has a growing legion of fans. It is made from nappa leather in the house’s notable intrecciato weave and comes in a looped-handle silhouette that looks ever so modern.
Its value retention averages at 90% on Rebag, which we have to agree: it’s a lot! It is one of the Top 10 Classic Bags That Hold Their Value in the Resale Market!
9. Chanel Boy Bag
Of course you would see a Chanel bag on this list! Chanel is considered to be in the top three brands of the vintage market. The Chanel Boy bag was only introduced in 2011, but quickly became one of the true iconic bags of the French fashion house. The bag is designed by Karl Lagerfeld and is inspired by a cartridge bag, which is made for hunters. You know those yearly Chanel price increases? They are the reason why Chanel bags hold their value so well. When Chanel increases its prices almost instantly the value of the Chanel bags in the resale market will increase too.
So yes, prince increases are bad when you want to buy a bag, but they are actually great if you already have one.
10. Louis Vuitton Neverfull
This one for me was a surprise! Louis Vuitton is usually considered to be one of the three brands that best hold their value so you could probably expect to see a lot of LV bags on this list. But with the recent popularity of the OnTheGo tote the Neverfull was a little left out, so you would have thought that it would have lost its resale value, but not at all! This bag is considered by many to be a classic, that is why it will remain relevant despite of trends.
According to online platform Designer Vintage, if your Neverfull is still in excellent condition, you could possibly have a resale value of about 80%.
