7 Designer Bags That Will Never Go Out of Style
Beloved by many, from First Ladies to Hollywood stars.
There are countless handbag designs out there, but only a prestigious few have managed to withstand the test of time as must-buys season after season. The bags below are, of course, lovely to look at, but they also come with rich backstories that go back decades. They hold the power to elevate any outfit they’re paired with, and have proven to be investment pieces that can be passed down from generation to generation.
From the Gucci purse that was renamed for a stylish First Lady to the Louis Vuitton must-have that Audrey Hepburn used to tote around, here are seven designer bags that are timeless.
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You don’t have to be an equestrian to appreciate the Dior Saddle bag. Designed by Dior’s former artistic director, John Galliano, the purse made its debut during the luxury label’s spring/summer 2000 ready-to-wear runway show. Models strutted down the catwalk carrying the bag while wearing denim skirts with asymmetrical hems, midriff-baring tops, and plenty of leather.
Following its introduction to the masses, the bag started popping up everywhere—Carrie Bradshaw famously sported one in a season three episode of Sex and the City. Popular early-aughts celebs, like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, were often seen out and about with them, too.
What makes the bag so desirable, however, isn’t just its eye-catching shape but the fact that it’s available in an array of different prints and colors. Leopard, velvet, monogram, floral, silk green—the options are seemingly endless. Over two decades past its debut, the accessory is still instantly recognizable.
Imagine having a designer bag named after you? For Jane Birkin, at least, this dream was a reality. In 1983, the always-stylish Birkin was sitting on an Air France flight when Jean-Louis Dumas, then CEO of Hermès, sat next to her by chance. Birkin, who was without her signature wicker basket, complained about not having a handbag big enough to store everything she needed, so Dumas came up with a solution. He sketched a rough outline of a bag that would be able to accommodate more items, and voila! The Birkin bag was born, making its debut just one year later in 1984.
Not only is the bag functional and pretty to look at, but it also boasts a very high resale value of nearly 200%. Talk about a good investment.
The singer and actress was spotted carrying her Birkin bag while on her way to the “Jane Birkin Sings Serge Gainsbourg” press conference in Tokyo.
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The Fendi Baguette bag may be the ultimate It bag. The stylish purse got its start in the late '90s when Fendi’s then-Creative Director of Accessories, Silvia Venturini Fendi, created it as an homage to how French women nonchalantly carry baguettes under their arms. You may have seen the bag in Sex and the City (remember the episode when Carrie gets mugged?), as well as on the shoulders of countless Hollywood stars through the years—including Paris Hilton, Gigi Hadid, and Rihanna.
In 2022, the bag celebrated its 25th anniversary and can still be purchased today.
The Louis Vuitton Speedy, which dates back to 1930, has an appeal that reaches far and wide—it was a “must-have” for many 1960s icons, came back during the early aughts, and is still the bag of choice for many Hollywood stars now. Offered in a range of sizes and styles throughout the years—mini, cherry print, Murakami monogram, checkered, and more—the versatile purse has become a permanent fashion fixture.
It only makes sense that one of the most stylish people in the world, Jackie Kennedy Onassis, has one of the most coveted handbags out there named after her. Initially dubbed the Constance, the crescent-shaped purse was so beloved by the former First Lady that she didn't own just one, but several. As the story goes, Kennedy visited a Gucci boutique and bought six right on the spot. After she was photographed carrying it regularly, the design house decided to rename the popular purse “The Jackie.”
Although the style has been slightly altered over the years—in 1999, Gucci’s then-creative director Tom Ford switched out the lock, and in 2009 Frida Giannini brought the lock back but made the bag larger and slouchier— its allure still remains.
The Chanel flap bag, with its signature chain-link straps and double-C closure, can be spotted from a mile away. Not to be confused with the Chanel 2.55 purse (originated by Coco Chanel in 1955), this one was designed as an ode to the earlier model by Karl Lagerfeld in the 1980s. It's available in various sizes and colors and has become a go-to for celebrities since its release.
In 2014, Chanel transformed the Grand Palais in Paris into a chic supermarket filled with everyday pantry items adorned with the brand’s signature double-C logo. One highlight of the show was the design house’s signature flap bags, reimagined to look like something you’d find packaged on a grocery store shelf.
There’s nothing quite like a nylon Prada bag. Although this style first rose to prominence in the early-2000s, it's still one of the most sought-after Prada bags to this day. And thanks to Prada releasing two updated versions in 2020 (the Prada Re-Edition Nylon 2000 and 2005), it’s now even easier to get your hands on one—no more having to search through eBay.
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