You’re likely well aware of the vintage bag boom going on right now. From battered and beaten Hermès Kellys a la the Olsens (a girl can dream) to angular Old Cèline holdalls, swinging something with a little life experience from your shoulder is officially a shortcut to sartorial superiority.
Of course, there’s a financial factor driving the demand for vintage designer bags: whether you’re after an original Fendi Baguette or a prim and polished Prada, a pre-loved option is (almost) always going to be more affordable than a brand-new bag (especially now blockbuster releases are tipping well into four-figure territory). Gucci’s newly relaunched Jackie will set you back over £2000, but an original? Well, Vestiaire Collective has over 3000 of them, with prices starting from £210.
Veering into vintage isn’t just good news for your bank balance though: tracking down a super-coveted piece from seasons past comes with major bragging rights. Trending bags might come and go with the seasons, but there’s nothing more satisfying than saying ‘thanks, it’s vintage,’ – especially when the runway relic in question is a Tom Ford for Gucci Horsebit bag or a weighty Balenciaga City (both so in-demand, they’re been revived in fresh new guises for SS24).
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Of course, when looking for a vintage bag, you can trawl the Chelsea charity shops with your fingers and toes crossed, but the easiest route to success is via the resale apps. Vinted, which has grown in revenue by 61% year-on-year, is reporting huge demand for Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Chanel, while over on Ebay the Fendi Baguette is the most searched-for vintage bag.
According to Bjorn Holzhauer, senior brand expert at Vinted, there’s currently particular demand for pieces from the before the millennium. “While the last few seasons have focused on the late ‘90s and Y2K trends, which saw the revival of the Dior Saddle Bag, Fendi Baguette and Prada Nylon Bag, things are now going even further back in time with elements from the ‘80s and even ‘50s,’ he says.
Amy Bannerman, Ebay’s pre-loved style director knows the joy of finally finding your perfect resale piece better than most. ‘When I started working with Ebay on the Love Island partnership I wanted to mark the occasion and invest in something I would cherish until I am an eccentric granny with a great wardrobe,’ says says. ‘I had been a long time admirer of Chanel handbags and after a short search I found my long awaited and very rare, mini pleated Coco on Ebay – for a great price and verified by the site’s Authenticity Guarantee.’
To help inspire your own second-hand shoulder bag, tote or clutch, we’ve rounded up the most in-demand vintage bags from across the resale realm.
The Vintage Bags About To Blow Up – Again
Burberry Bridle
Emerging as one of the most-liked pieces on Vinted this year, it seems the Burberry Bridle is next in the queue for a resurgence. A quintessential house design from the brand’s ruling 2010s era, it’s distinguished by its lattice of straps and, of course, that inimitable check. Go gargantuan with the shopper-style tote, or keep to the quiet(er) luxury blueprint with a tiny crossbody.
Burberry Bridle Tote
Burberry Bridle Crossbody
Burberry Kent Bridle Tote
Fendi Baguette
The Carrie Bradshaw effect only grows stronger with age, and of course the Fendi Baguette is still as popular today as it was back in the early Noughties: in fact, Ebay searches have soared 43% in the last six months, and the style remains on the top 10 most-wanted list at 1stDibs, who specialise in sourcing rarified pieces. The driving force behind the demand here is likely the sheer amount of different designs: the house produced new colourways, embellishments and trims every season, meaning there’s bound to be a baguette that whets your appetite.
Fendi Pre-Owned Mamma Baguette
Fendi Zucca Mamma Baguette
Fendi Vintage Baguette
Gucci Jackie
Named in honour of its most prominent fan, Jackie Onassis, this Gucci classic is as timeless as they come. The design has hardly changed since 1961 (see Dakota Johnson carrying the latest iteration in the brand’s SS24 campaign for proof) and there are thankfully thousands of well cared-for vintage models doing the resale rounds. In fact, it’s the most popular vintage bag on Vestiaire Collective this year, and over on Ebay, demand for the Jackie has risen 20% in the last six months.
Gucci Canvas Jackie
Gucci Canvas Jackie
Gucci 1961 Jackie
Louis Vuitton Speedy
One of the most searched-for bags on 1stDibs, the Speedy is a Louis Vuitton classic for truly timeless dressers. Whether in monogrammed canvas or the house’s signature treated leather, this practical hero is loaded with practicality and pretty much indestructible (take it from someone who has been carrying their own vintage find around for almost two decades).
There are bonus bragging rights in store for anyone savvy enough to track down one of the house's legendary Speedy collaborations. Takashi Murakami's rainbow-hued monograms, and Stephen Sprouse's vibrant graffiti were last seen on the arms of the Noughties It-girls, and remain just as coveted today.
Louis Vuitton Epi Speedy
Louis Vuitton Monogram Speedy
Louis Vuitton Stephen Sprouse Speedy
Balenciaga City
On Vestiaire Collective, where vintage uploads sell 30% faster than non-vintage, the beloved Noughties throwback is up 13.32% in popularity, with black, blue, red and pink proving the most in-demand. Well, Kate Moss has been carrying hers again, after all…
Balenciaga City
Balenciaga City
Balenciaga City
Chloé Paddington
With a Sienna Miller-sponsored boho boom on the horizon this year, we're predicting big things for the bag of the Noughties: the Chloé Paddington. Squishy enough to be stuffed under one arm, deliciously designed to only get better with age, and punctuated by a padlock that seriously weighs a tonne, this one is destined to be worn with bootcut jeans and wedge heels. Crochet halter-neck optional.
Chloé Paddington
Chloé Paddington
Chloé Paddington
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Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has over fifteen years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find.
Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
