Friday is National Handbag Day (did we already mention that?), and that means that our week is even more dedicated to handbags than it usually is. We profile at least one bag collection of some sort per week, whether it’s based on an individual’s ample closet or the attendees at a particular event, but because of the looming spectre of NHD, we wanted to do something a little extra this week. Exotic handbags, especially those made of alligator or crocodile, are designer bags taken to their logical extremes, so they seemed to fit the bill.
Celebrities are some of the only people in the world actually capable of purchasing one of these bags, which often soar well into the mid-five figures (and, in one case, the sixes), and that’s good, because these aren’t the kinds of bags that brands give out for free. Of the hundreds of thousands of dollars of bags you see below, you can bet that almost all of them were purchased instead of gifted.
When we know if a particular brand is alligator or crocodile because of the particular collection or the designer’s known preference, we’ve included that information. For all others, we’ve assumed crocodile–it’s the most common material for ultra-exotics. Enjoy the photos below.
Ashley Olsen
The Row Mini Alligator Tote
Shop The Row via farfetch.com
The Olsens’ brand debuted its handbag line with a $39,000 backpack, so of course these two carry a ton of exotics.
Chiara Ferragni
Chloé Python Drew Bag
$2,500 via Net-a-Porter
Chloé’s not a brand that automatically comes to mind when you think of exotics, but seeing how pretty this one is makes me wish it made more.
Chrissy Teigen
Valentino Crocodile Lock Bag
Shop Valentino via Saks
All ivory everything, including crocodile.
EJ Johnson
Chanel Alligator Flap Bag
Plenty of celebrities have exotic Birkins, but an exotic Classic Flap is a much rarer sight.
Jennifer Lopez
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
Jennifer Lopez’s entire existence feels like a crocodile Birkin to me.
Kate Upton
Christian Dior Open Bar Crocodile Bag
Kate is a big fan of exotics–look below for more evidence.
Maria Shriver
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
Maria Shriver is a Kennedy who was married to one of the biggest movie stars of all time for decades. Of course she has some expensive bags.
Maria Shriver
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
And at least two crocodile Birkins, by our count.
Nicky Hilton
Bottega Veneta Python Knot Clutch
Shop Bottega Veneta via Neiman Marcus
The classic Knot in natural python is a stunning combination.
Olivia Palermo
Analeena Dynasty Bag
This gorgeous bicolor bag is a perfect way to make a casual outfit pop.
Olivia Palermo
Christian Dior Lady Dior Pocket Bag
“Stunning.” (Imagine that in the voice of Christian from Clueless.)
Irina Shyak
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
There is no more luxurious way to tell the paparazzi to get out of your face than to swing your brand new, glossy croc Birkin at them while you swat them away.
Victoria Beckham
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
Victoria almost always carries bags from her own brand now, but she has an incredible Hermès collection in her arsenal as well. The color on this bag is incredible.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Fendi Python Spy Bag
Spy bags were made in a handbag era when exotics were much less prevalent, so this beautifully color-varied snakeskin version is quite notable.
Daphne Guinness
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
Daphne’s fashion archives would be a dream come true for any fashion lover, and although the paparazzi doesn’t follow her as ardently as it does pop stars and actresses, it’s always fun to see what she’s carrying when they get a few snaps of her.
Beyoncé
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
Bey once said she’s never buy an exotic Hermès bag because the prices were ridiculous, but it appears as though she changed her mind.
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
What other bag would an actual European royal carry, if not an exotic Hermès?
Poppy Delevingne
Fendi Crocodile Bag
I don’t know for an absolute certainty that this bag is real crocodile, but the faux stuff almost always lacks the depth of texture that you can see here. Also, Poppy Delevingne is fantastically rich.
Ashley Olsen
The Row Day Luxe Alligator Tote
Shop The Row via farfetch.com
The Olsens were carrying rare, exotic bags while they were still in college, so of course their own line is full of extra-pricey alligator.
Miranda Kerr
Balenciaga Crocodile Part Time Bag
Shop Balenciaga via Barneys
Balenciaga made very few of these exotic Motorcycle bags, so it’s always notable to spot one.
Jennifer Lopez
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
Jennifer Lopez carrying a five-figure handbags that matches her orange tracksuit is almost self-parody at this point.
Tamara Eccelstone
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
This color is so beautiful that it may very well be my favorite bag on the list.
Petra Ecclestone
Hermès So Black Alligator Birkin
Petra shall not be outdone by her sister.
Ashley Olsen
The Row Alligator Doctor Bag
Shop The Row via farfetch.com
This is another contender for my favorite bag on the list; the shape is classic and minimal, and the blue-grey color is so interesting.
Florence Welch
Dolce & Gabbana Python Sicily Bag
Shop Dolce & Gabbana via MATCHESFASHION.COM
It always surprises me that Dolce & Gabbana doesn’t make more crocodile and alligator bags; the company’s clientele certainly has the money for them.
Kate Upton
Céline Crocodile Luggage Tote
While many celebrities have the cash for exotic bags, a select group seems to really, really love buying them over all else. Kate Upton is firmly in that group and has been since she became famous.
Kris Jenner
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
I’ve seen this picture of Kris a million times, and every time, I’m struck by how gorgeous the color of her bag is.
Lady Gaga
Versace Signature Python Tote
$2,763 via farfetch.com
Gaga doesn’t carry as many exotics as you might expect, but this gorgeous lavender snakeskin is of particular note.
Maria Shriver
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
Even if she weren’t famous and accomplished in her own right, Maria is exactly the kind of woman you’d expect to buy and carry (regularly, from the worn-in look of this bag) exotic Hermès: a well-bred former First Lady of California.
Tamara Ecclestone
Hermès Himalayan Crocodile Birkin
When you’re an heiress to a billion-dollar fortune, an extremely rare crocodile handbag seems like the perfect courtside companion at a Lakers game.
Jay-Z
We don’t know who made this backpack (Margiela, perhaps?), but it seemed worth mentioning that men sometimes love exotic bags as much as women do.
Marjorie Harvey
Hermès Himalayan Birkin with Pavé Diamond Hardware
Steve Harvey’s wife Marjorie is the source of a number of the most interesting bags on this list, and this one is inarguably the rarest and most expensive.
Anna Dello Russo
Bulgari Isabella Rossellini Alligator Bag
$28,000 via Bulgari
Carrying a handbag that costs more than many cars is a perfect opportunity for a contemplative moment at fashion week.
Kate Upton
Christian Dior Alligator Diorissimo Tote
This is the most casual outfit you’ll ever see paired with any five-figure piece of Dior.
Amber Heard
Alexander McQueen Python Heroine Bag
$5,995 via Net-a-Porter
McQueen is another brand that’s been somewhat more tentative about getting into the most high-dollar of exotics, but this beautiful blue python specimen makes us wish they’d give it a shot.
Jada Pinkett-Smith
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
Personally, I’d love to be swaddled in a giant, cashmere blanket-coat with a very expensive handbag.
Tamara Ecclestone
Hermès Himalayan Crocodile Birkin
For how few of these bags were made, famous people sure do own a lot of them.
Daphne Guinness
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
I wonder what it’s like to be rich enough that you use a five-figure handbag as a regular carryall that can be stuffed absolutely full if necessary.
Ashley Olsen
The Row Alligator Carryall
Shop The Row via farfetch.com
Ashley is rarely seen without an exotic bag from The Row over the past few years.
Emmy Rossum
Ralph Lauren Alligator Ricky Bag
$22,500 via Ralph Lauren
Brands rarely give out exotic bags, even to very famous celebrities, but Emmy’s long-standing relationship with Ralph Lauren may very well have netted her this one.
Marjorie Harvey
Christian Dior Crocodile Lady Dior Bag
I told you that Marjorie wouldn’t disappoint.
Kirsten Dunst
Salvatore Ferragamo Alligator Sofia Top Handle Bag
Shop Ferragamo via Bloomingdale’s
Kirsten isn’t the woman I’d normally peg as a lover of exotics, but she certainly has the cash for them.
Olivia Palermo
Christian Dior Lady Dior Alligator Bag
I’m guessing Olivia had to send this one back after her appearance at the Spring 2015 Dior show, but it’s pretty nonetheless.
Marjorie Harvey
Valentino Crocodile VaVaVoom Bag
Shop Valentino via Net-a-Porter
My favorite thing about Marjorie’s collection is that her exotics go well beyond the standard Hermès bags that many celebs have.
Marjorie Harvey
Louis Vuitton Deesse MM Bag
$32,500 via Louis Vuitton
See what we mean?
Tamara Ecclestone
Céline Phantom Luggage Tote
I’m making an educated guess on this bag, but it certainly doesn’t look like any of the embossed Céline bags I’ve ever seen.
Petra Ecclestone
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
This bag, on the other hand, is certainly not embossed.
Petra Ecclestone
Hermès So Black Alligator Kelly Bag
This exotic Kelly might be the rarest of the rare So Black collection bags; Petra’s is the only one I’ve ever seen on a real, live human being.
Tamara Ecclestone
Hermès Crocodile Birkin
Does it get any prettier than ivory croc?
Kim Kardashian
Bottega Veneta Vendôme Crocodile Shoulder Bag
Shop Bottega Veneta via Net-a-Porter
This bag once sat on my desk, and it was just about as beautiful as a bag can be. The sueded, blue-grey crocodile is perfection.
Kim Kardashian
Hermès So Black Alligator Birkin
Speaking of exotic, Kardashian-owned perfection…
Kate Upton
Chanel Alligator 2.55 Reissue Flap Bag
Kate has extremely sophisticated taste in exotic handbags for her relatively young age.
Padma Lakshmi
Hermès Ostrich Birkin
It seems as though Padma has so far declined to go for full-on croc, but we like this ostrich version of the Birkin quite a bit.
Anna Dello Russo
Valentino Alligator Scarab Bag
Shop Valentino via Net-a-Porter
Anna always gets loaned the weirdest, most expensive things to wear to Fashion Week.
Anna Dello Russo
Prada Crocodile Bag
Prada has been relatively exotics-shy in its major production bags, and Anna’s is the only version I’ve ever seen of this shape in any leather.
Anna Dello Russo
Bulgari Isabella Rossellini Alligator Bag
It’s genuinely impressive how perfectly this bag matches the print in Anna’s dress.
Anna Dello Russo
Valentino VaVaVoom Alligator Bag
Shop Valentino via Net-a-Porter
Sure, this is an impressive bag, but just look at her jacket.
Miroslava Duma
Hermès Crocodile Kelly Bag
Mira has the best collection of tiny Kelly bags of anyone I’ve ever seen.
Marjorie Harvey
Fendi Alligator Mini Peekaboo
$19,500 via Bergdorf Goodman
Marjorie, if you need to clean out your closet, please call me.
Selita Ebanks
Chanel Quilted Python Flap Bag
Don’t let Selita’s normcore baseball cap distract you from her beautiful bag.
Kim Kardashian
Hermès Himalayan Crocodile Birkin
My favorite thing about this photo is that Kim’s Birkin was new, and you can tell that she planned her outfit around it.
Victoria Beckham
Hermès Himalayan Crocodile Birkin
Victoria, on the other hand, chose to mix her Himalayan Birkin with other neutrals.
Alessandra Ambrosio
Chanel Quilted Python Classic Flap Bag
“Hey look, mom, I found some people who are jealous of your handbag!”
Lapo Elkann
Gucci Crocodile Briefcase
Shop via Gucci
Again, it’s not just women who appreciate a well-done exotic leather.
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham Crocodile Hexagonal Chain Bag
Shop Victoria Beckham via Net-a-Porter
Victoria loves exotic bags so much that she now makes her own.
Anna Wintour
Louis Vuitton Crocodile Old Speedy Flap Bag
Anna Wintour very, very rarely carries a bag of any kind, but when she does, it’s a doozy.
Ashley Olsen
Hermès Crocodile Constance Bag
This bag is probably vintage, which makes it all the more special.
Ashley Olsen
Fendi Crocodile Tote
Shop Fendi via MATCHESFASHION.COM
This bag, on the other hand, is definitely vintage, and people got so excited about it once they saw Ashley with it that Fendi reissued a similar design, dubbing it the Twins Tote.
Ashley Olsen
The Row Alligator Day Luxe Carryall Bag
Shop The Row via farfetch.com
At this point, I’d almost be shocked not to see an exotic bag on Ashley’s arm at any given time.
Ashley Olsen
The Row Alligator Backpack
$42,045 via farfetch.com
I would do a lot of dastardly things to own this bag.
Ashley Olsen
The Row Alligator Shoulder Bag
Shop The Row via farfetch.com
It only seemed right to end on an Olsen note.
