Designer Bags: Classic vs Trendy
Welcome to the world of designer: where thousands of dollars are just drops in the bucket showing the world how lux you are.
If you're dipping your toes into luxury brands for the first time, be ready for sticker shock: bags are easily $8,000 (looking at you Chanel) belts are a steal for $960 at Hermès and once you buy one... you need two more. After you drink the koolaide and are ready to make a purchase of your own, you'll want to making sure you're making smart choices with your money!
In the ever-expanding designer market narrowing down which bag to splurge on is no small task — so we're here to help! Here are some of the timeless vs trendy pieces of 2022:
1. Chanel: Small Classic Double Flap Handbag
$8,200
This bag literally has 'classic' in the name. The most iconic bag on the market IMO and the it bag of Chanel. With black leather with gold hardware, this timeless piece holds its place in history. Designed by Karl Lagerfeld in 1983, the bag itself also showcases the quality of design and structure with Classic Double Flaps from the 90's and 2000's finding new homes on the re-sale market. This bag is so popular that in addition to major price increases, Chanel has limited the number of Classic Flap handbags customers can buy in a year. This is in an effort to keep the exclusivity of such a beloved bag and to help it stay classic without being basic.
2. Gucci: Jackie 1961 Small Leather Shoulder Bag
$2,600
Bringing back an absolute classic — designed in the 50's and popularized in the 60's by first Lady Jackie Kennedy, Gucci modernizes the Jackie 1961 with cleaner lines and an additional shoulder strap for usability. The recognizable hobo shape is classic, and no one does it like Gucci's Jackie Bag. After it's initial launch, the Jackie was famously reinvented by Gucci creative directors Tom Ford in 1999 and Frida Giannini in 2009 so if you're looking to buy pre-loved this bag has lived many iterations. The designers are respectful to it's past and always keep the heart of the bag making it a classic.
3. Celine: Classique Triomphe Bag in Shiny Calfskin
$3,950
Inspired by the vintage designs of the 70's and the classic box shape, it may come as a surprise that the Triomphe Bag is the newest design thus far, released in 2019. The logo clasp on the front of the bag is the Triomphe logo, designed in 1973 by Céline Vipiana, with inspiration from the famous Parisian monument. The logo was inspired by the motifs on the chain links that are still in front of the Arc de Triomphe today. This melding of history and classic shapes makes the Classique Triomphe Bag an instant classic. It's versatile as it elevates your jeans or subtly compliments your look on a night out all while holding everything securely in place with the golden clasp. Sleek, minimalist and made of beautiful calf leather, Celine strikes gold.
1. Bottega Veneta: Mini Jodie Leather Hobo Bag
$2,500
Is this bag chic? Absolutely. Is it a classic? Not really.
Beautifully crafted calfskin and lambskin leather paired with striking colors and a bold design, the Mini Jodie is certainly a bag of the season. If you have a spare $2,500 and a love of design this bag is for you! But, if you're looking for a bag that you can wear time and time again without worrying about "is this in season?" this bag is not it. A great example of the hobo bag design being replicated and on-trend, but unlike Gucci's Jackie 1961, the Mini Jodie will come and go.
Jacquemes: Le Grand Chiquito Bag
Under $1K
The price point is *chef's kiss* and Jacquemes bags have certainly made their mark among influencers and well... the rest of us. Trendy bags with tons of shapes and colorways to make your mark, the brand has positioned itself as the trendy brand. But that's just it, they're trendy and fun, not here to stay. Specializing in the micro-bags and bright colors, these trends will pass and so will the novelty of the Jacquemes bag. One of the reasons the price isn't listed above is you can find discounted new Jacquemes bags even as I write this. This is a tell-tale sign that this is not the bag or brand to drop your money on if you're looking for an investment piece.
Prada: Re-Edition 2005 Re-Nylon Bag
$1,790
I kind of love how specific and seemingly random the price point of the Re-Edition 2005 bag is. This bag was everywhere in 2019-2021 but there's a few key reasons its on the trendy-not timeliness designer bag list. 1. Everyone had this bag. There is no exclusivity or name-brand effect when carrying this bag when high schoolers are carrying it too. I'm against spending almost $2K to be 'another girl with that bag.' 2. They priced a bag made of recycled plastic/nylon at $2K. This is just not speaking to the realities of the product and materials used, but instead betting on consumers to follow the trends and lean on the Prada brand name. 3. There are three bags of the hobo style on this list, Prada's version is the edgy younger sister of the cool, trendsetting Bottega Veneta and Gucci's Jackie reigns supreme with more class and an effortlessly chic appeal.