Fendi    PurseBlog Asks

PurseBlog Asks: Which Currently Popular Bag Do You Think Will Become a True Classic?

“Classic,” when it comes to handbags, is an idea everyone conceptualizes a little differently. A bag can be classic-looking without being a classic, and today, my interest lies in the latter concept. When it comes to designer bags, classics are a small group that rarely expands; it takes a special piece not to look dated after a handful of years, and the current market emphasizes seasonal trends to help churn through inventory. Still, there are a few contenders.

For my money, the Fendi Peekaboo Bag is the design most likely to eventually join the ranks of the Chanel Classic Flap, Hermes Birkin and Dior Lady Dior. Not only does the bag have the traditional, sophisticated structure and versatility that are hallmarks of designs that can go the distance, but the Peekaboo has already done one very important, very difficult thing that few other handbags can do: it’s made a comeback.

The Peekaboo debuted in 2009, and at first, it did what freshly debuted designer bags normally do: the Peekaboo enjoyed a couple years of popularity and then got rotated to the back of the lineup in favor of whatever Next Big Things the brand had in the pipeline. Generally, that’s followed by a bag being mostly ignored and then eventually put out to pasture quietly, when people are unlikely to notice its eventually absence. Instead of that slow march into the sunset, Fendi decided to reintroduce the Peekaboo and shoppers ate it up.

It’s not unheard of for brands to try and re-promote a bag that was once very popular, but it rarely works. Shoppers want novelty, and most bags that are eligible for re-promotion just don’t have the enduring appeal necessary to feel fresh instead of dated when a customer sees them again, five years down the road. The Peekaboo has already passed that test with flying colors, and there’s not reason to think it won’t stick around for a long time.

Also worth noting is the Peekaboo’s positioning within Fendi’s lineup; the bag is the brand’s most expensive, on average, and bags that become enduring classics usually hold that spot in their designers’ collections. After all, if a design is destined for greatness, it should at least be the best in its class. For instance, the one you see above can be yours for $3,550 via Net-a-Porter.

Now, you tell me: which currently popular bag do you think we’ll be seeing for a long, long time to come?

guest

56 Comments
Most Voted
Newest Oldest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments