Holiday Gift Guide 2011: Classic Handbags

Picking out a designer handbag for someone else is hard. Unless you know that person’s style in and out or she’s given you a specific bag to look for, choosing an expensive gift out of thin air can be a daunting task. We’re here to make it just a little bit easier for you with our Holiday Gift Guide 2011, and today’s installment will focus on the safest kind of accessory gift: The Classic Bag.

These are not your grandma’s classics, though, even if grandma would probably be delighted to receive a few of them. After the jump, we have our picks for nine modern-but-timeless bags that will dazzle the lucky ladies on your giving list. Or, you know, your favorite blogger. My birthday is Christmas Eve. Just saying.

Victoria Beckham Victoria Small Tote, $2995 via Net-a-Porter

Balenciaga Giant Velo Bag, $1895 via Barneys

Prada Saffiano Lux Tote, $1730 via Neiman Marcus

Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap Bag, $4300 via Chanel

Yves Saint Laurent Roady, $1495 via Neiman Marcus

Kate Spade Irving Place Little Nadine Satchel, $395 via Neiman Marcus

Rachel Zoe Margaret Minaudiere, $275 via Neiman Marcus

Proenza Schouler PS11, $1850 via Net-a-Porter

Louis Vuitton Mirabeau PM, $1740 via Louis Vuitton

bindc

Gosh I love that LV Mirabeau. The color…the shape. Love it.
rose60610

I either love or like ALL of them! Good selection.
MicG

I love that you added some bags that weren’t in the $1000 range. This is a great selection and I agree with them. I am surprised that you didn’t include an Hermes, though.
Laura

any of those will make me extremely happy. I will forward this list to my hubby :-)
J Umm

PS11!!!!
STYLE DECORUM
Kat

Classics, indeed!!

The Roady looks so soft and the color is gorgeous. And the PS11 is haunting me and making me rethink my bag-ban! Aaaaaaah!

http://dontaskmetosmile.wordpress.com
louch

Love them. Don’ want to sound pretentious, but what about a Hermes? Can’t get more classic than that.
- http://www.purseblog.com/ Amanda Mull
  
  We wanted to include some stuff that was a little more unexpected, which meant that some of the easy picks had to take a rest this year! Don’t worry, we’ve got some Hermes showing up in future gift guides :-)
Bagolicious

The LV Epi is gorgeous!
DanaaGH.

My favorite top 3 bags are;Balenciaga,Chanel and Prada.
I ADORE THEM ALL!!
Leah

I went to Louis store today. The Mirabeau is over $2000 not $1740 as posted.
Rashida

I don’t like the PS11, the LV is kinda boring but classic, but the Rachel Zoe is to die for!!!!!!!!!!!
Elyse Greenberg

I will be dreaming about the Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap Bag until the end of time
Shirley J

this will always be a classic!! ….. Chanel Jumbo Classic Flap Bag
Nadia

These are such great choices and theyve all been on my wish list, maybe soon I’ll cross a few off!
Mari

Beautiful roundup! I wish my bf wasn’t a student so he could get me either chanel, balenciaga or the ps11…. Cheers to dreaming!
Alexandra Davidoff

*drooling, dreaming, (mostly drooling)*

The Balenciaga Giant Velo…..my knight in shinning leather!
Jennie

The only classics here I would actually get are the Balenciaga city (already have one but must own more!) and the PS11.
Sarah

I adore so many of these bags (and they’re all on my list of must haves). I guess I have super boring taste.
camilla

prada, chanel, YSL nothing else…