The Most Iconic It Bags Of All Time

Would you consider a handbag to be worth a life-long investment? Sounds like a crazy question, but there exist iconic handbags in the world that are worth their weight in gold. Take for instance the one-of-a-kind Hermes Birkin bag that was auctioned off at Christie’s for a whopping 2 million dollars making it the second most expensive bag in the world. The crocodile leather bag crafted in 18k White Gold and Diamond Hardware was later spotted dangling on Nita Ambani’s when she stepped out with Kareena Kapoor and her gang of girls. Further away from home, Fendi launched its latest campaign featuring Emma Roberts and Amanda Seyfried which brought back the iconic Fendi Baguette into the spotlight. Owning an ‘It’ bag back in the day meant that you had arrived and your status in society was unquestionable. So, it’s no wonder that they are having a major revival moment with luxury fashion houses bringing back the classics in all their glory. Here’s taking a look at the bags that will end up being a family heirloom.

 

Birkin by Hermes

By far the most well-known bag in the history of fashion, the Hermes Birkin has garnered quite the reputation. The Birkin is notoriously known for having a 2-year-long waitlist, which means that you can’t simply skedaddle into a Hermes store and buy one. Named after French actress and singer, Jane Birkin, the bag’s inception took place in an aircraft when Hermes’ CEO Jean-Louis Dumas saw Birkin struggling with her luggage. And the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Lady Dior by Dior

A bag worthy of a Princess, quite literally. The Lady Dior was named famously after Princess Diana who became an unabashed fan of the ‘it’ bag which was gifted to her by Bernadette Chirac, the then First Lady of France in 1995. Diana was said to have loved the bag so much that she ordered it in a myriad of colours. The Lady Dior features a cross-stitch square pattern which is inspired by the Napoleon III chairs that were on display during Dior’s first-ever fashion show in 1947. In recent times, the bag has been spotted on the arms of A-listers like Blake Lively, Bella Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and more.

 

2.55 by Chanel

The bag gets its name from the date it was created, February 2nd, 1955 by none other than Coco Chanel herself. When it was launched for the first time, it stirred quite the scandal as it was the first bag that came with a shoulder strap, something that was considered akin to a taboo back in the day when most upper-crust ladies carried clutches. The design for the bag remained the same until Karl Lagerfeld came on board and gave it a new touch by adding the ‘CC’ closure in place of the Mademoiselle lock.

 

Speedy 30 by Louis Vuitton

Ladies, you have Audrey Hepburn to thank for this bag for it was she who asked Vuitton to design a smaller version of the house’s Keepall bag for everyday use. What started off as a custom-made bag quickly gained popularity and has since been LV’s most popular bag. It’s hard to miss the monogrammed bag which is scratch-proof and water-resistant, thus making it not only a status symbol but also a sturdy companion.

 

Saffiano by Prada

Nothing screams class as much as the Prada Saffiano. A longtime cult classic, it has all the qualities of an It bag. Right from its smooth leather finish to Prada’s branding embossed on the exterior of the bag, it is minimalistic and perfect for every occasion.

 

Le Pliage by Longchamp

We’re christening this as the most practical bag on the list. The Le Pliage has been around since time immemorial and often spotted on the arm of Kate Middleton who seems to have a soft spot for it. The utilitarian bag recently got an Indian edit when it was launched in an Ikat print after the creative director of Longchamp, Sophie Delafontaine was inspired by her travels to the country.

 

Baguette by Fendi

The Fendi bag’s claim to fame was that iconic moment in Sex And The City, when Sarah Jessica Parker was spotted toting it around on the streets of New York. With her stamp of approval, it didn’t take too long for the bag to become a hot favourite among ladies with unending credit card limits. The bag also got a reboot in Fendi’s latest #BaguetteFriendsForever campaign which is a series of 3 short films that follows the lives of best friends featuring the Baguette. Looks like the bag is here to stay and who wouldn’t want a bite of this baguette.