Christian Vierig / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use light pink GG Marmont flap bag Gucci | Getty Editorial Use
We love a great handbag, and there are some classics that stand out above all the great stylish options. Throughout fashion history, these are some of the top "it bags" that fashionistas can't get enough of.
Louis Vuitton Coussin
Jeremy Moeller / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use Sonia Lyson wearing Louis Vuitton Coussin red bag | Getty Editorial Use
Since 2021, Louis Vuitton Coussin handbags have flown off the shelves. LV bags have always had a huge cult following, and they hold up so well to wear that they're also popular at reduced prices on secondary markets.
Coussin is the French word for cushion, and that's the exact aesthetic of these popular bags. The lambskin leather has a puffy classic LV logo as quilting, and they come in an array of colors and styles that continue to make them really popular with luxury handbag aficionados.
Bottega Veneta Padded Cassette Bag
Christian Vierig / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use Bottega Veneta Padded Cassette leather bag in light blue | Getty Editorial Use
Luxury handbag fans love the woven, padded look and feel of the Bottega Veneta Padded Cassette Bag. The classic crossbody was inspired by vintage cassettes. The bag was first introduced in 2019 and has been a hit ever since. Celebs and fashionistas love the intricately latticed lambskin bag, and it's an often-duped design that sells like hotcakes.
Chanel Boy Bag
Edward Berthelot / Contributor / French Select / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use Chanel Boy bag | Getty Editorial Use
The Chanel Boy Bag was first introduced in 2011 and remains one of the it bags. Its smooth leather, classic quilting, clean lines, and fun colors make it a real winner both with new item shoppers and on secondary markets. It's one of Chanel's most desired bags, and it's easy to see why.
Hermès Birkin Bag
The Birkin from Hermès is one of the most buzzed-about (and breathtakingly expensive) bags around. It's also one of the most duped. In fact, a 2024 Walmart dupe, dubbed the Wirkin, caused a frenzy thanks to some TikTok love, and it sold out in days, never to return.
The Birkin tote was first introduced in the 1980s, and it has been a huge status bag buy ever since. You'll see it on the arms of celebs and the well-heeled, and it's a notoriously hard bag to score new. First, its pricing starts well into the five figures. But also, Hermès sales associates limit access to the bags and only sell to people who have an adequate purchasing history with Hermès.
These bags hold their value well, and even on secondary markets, they're pretty expensive and snapped up quickly if they're in good condition.
Loewe Puzzle Bag
Inspired by origami, the Loewe puzzle bag came out to great fanfare in 2015 and remains an it bag after a decade. The handmade bags have both aesthetic and practical appeal, and the super soft leather and quality construction mean they last for years. Like other luxury handbags, it'll set you back over $4K, but you'll love all the color options you have for this well-made bag.
Givenchy Antigona Lock Bag
Edward Berthelot / Contributor / French Select / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use Nathalie Vandenberg wears Givenchy Bag | Getty Editorial Use
Givenchy Antigona Lock Bag still reigns as a dynamic it bag. This bag has maintained popularity since 2012. In 2021, the iconic bag was reinterpreted with Matthew M. Williams's vision for a new era, taking the industrial side of things to blend with specific hardware for a contrast in creativity and industry.
Gucci Marmont Bag
Edward Berthelot / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use yellow GG Marmont matelasse shoulder bag by Gucci | Getty Editorial Use
Since 2016, the Gucci Marmont has had devoted fans. It's still in high demand today thanks to the wavy quilted super-soft leather and classic lines. Today you'll find it in several sizes and silhouettes, along with structured and unstructured options. And while it may be expensive, for an it bag, the Marmont is on the more affordable side, ranging from about $1,000 for a mini to around $3K for larger bags. On secondary markets, you can score a used one in good condition for under $1,000.
Louis Vuitton Capucines Bag
Edward Berthelot / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use Louis Vuitton Capucines Mini crossbody bag | Getty Editorial Use
The classic shape of the Louis Vuitton Capucines bag is unmistakable. The structured bag has super clean lines, a ton of style, and some really cute hardware options. The name is an homage to LV's first store opened in Paris in 1854. The bag itself has been popular since it was released in 2013.
Luis Vuitton Speedy
Edward Berthelot / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use Speedy brown leather monogram printed bag from Louis Vuitton | Getty Editorial Use
A classic top-handle carryall, the LV Speedy is instantly recognizable and infinitely practical. And maybe that's why people have coveted this bag since 1930, when it was called The Express.
The luggage-like utility of the bag has kept it at the forefront of the minds of fashionistas who want a bag that's durable and multi-purpose. And, in the 1960s, Audrey Hepburn raised the bag's cachet, and the monogram handbag has been a mainstay ever since.
Chanel Flap Bag
During the 1950s, when the iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel made a chic transformation of a clutch with a chain strap, a timeless it bag was born. As an avid fan of horses, Chanel was inspired by the quilted padded jackets worn by jockeys. To this day, the quilted, chain-strap handbags are the posh choice of celebrities and everyday fashion consumers. Chanel flap bags are immediately recognizable, they withstand the test of time, and they're still just as stylish today as they were back in the 50s.
Bottega Veneta Hobo
One it bag that is just as distinctive to the touch as it is to the eye is the Bottega Veneta hobo. The plaited woven design technique called Intrecciato is unique to the brand and was established during the 1960s to make the brand's leather accessories more durable. The simplistic bag design is one that makes this it bag a popular, timeless luxury.
Fendi Baguette
In 1997, Silvia Venturini Fendi created a bag that fashionistas everywhere craved and wanted a style bite of, called the Fendi Baguette. The structured top-handle bag has a classic shape and tons of stylish options, and women love it.
What is it exactly about the Baguette that women love? As reported in a story by UK's Independent, Silvia Venturini Fendi attributed its success not only to its new, short shoulder strap style but also that it was ergonomic, soft, and "gave you a new attitude. Your hands were free, you could really move. It was really practical… you could put really all your life in such a soft small bag." The Baguette also gained popularity when it was spotted on Sex and the City.
Dior Saddle Bag
Christian Vierig / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use denim saddle bag and strap Dior | Getty Editorial Use
What's an it bag without bringing attention to the design brand's initials? The Dior fashion house certainly brought recognition to its name when designer John Galliano launched the Dior Saddle Bag in 1999. He literally took the concept of a logo bag to a new height. The bag was shaped like a jockey's seat with a 'C' and 'D' on the handle and an 'D' charm hanging on the bag. When the bag was spotted on the television (it girl Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City carried it), the popularity went through the roof.
Balenciaga Le City
Every bag has a story, and when it comes to the Balenciaga Le City bag, the plot twist occurred on the runway. Former Balenciaga designer Nicolas Ghesquiere introduced the creation of the Balenciaga Le City bag prototype, and it was not approved for mass production due to its soft structure. However, when Ghesquiere requested that the bag be designed for a 2001 runway show, supermodel and style icon Kate Moss quickly became fond of the bag. The rest, as they say, is history.
Celine Luggage Tote
Edward Berthelot / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Editorial Use Getty Images License - Getty Editorial Use guest wears a Celine bag | Getty Editorial Use
If a design house wants an it bag, the thing to do is to hire a designer who has the Midas touch. Phoebe Philo is the it bag woman, and she contributed largely to Céline's success. After creating the infamous Chloé Paddington bag, Philo was appointed as Creative Director of Céline. For the fashion house, she designed the Céline Luggage Tote in 2010, which also grew in popularity as an it bag. The large, roomy, square-shaped bag widens at the top and has double handles.
Get Your Hands On an It Bag
Many it bags aren't financially feasible to the masses when they're new, but a lot of these iconic bags are so well-made that they're still fabulous when they're used. So if you're looking for an it bag for yourself and don't have several thousand dollars to drop, take a look at secondary markets to see if you can find them used and in good condition. They're so well made that they'll probably last for years to come.
