The Chloe Paddington is back, apparently immortal

I bet I’m not the only one among us who had her introduction to high-end designer bags with the Chloe Paddington. Back in late 2005, I was a college student who had just found the PurseForum, and something about the Paddington (Was it the lock? The handle attachments? Who knows.) sucked me straight in, just as it had sucked in so many others before me. By then, waiting lists were already a mile long and getting longer; the fashion industry was in a full-on Paddington panic, and the fervor we saw last year over the Celine Luggage Tote doesn’t even compare. Now, eight years after its launch, the Paddington is back on store shelves as part of Chloe’s 60th anniversary celebration. But do you care?

Walking down Madison Avenue a couple of weeks ago, a friend and I saw a woman carrying a Paddington and got to talking about how the bag had aged in the almost-decade since its debut. Our conclusion was, resoundingly, not well. Everything about it – the enormous lock, the abundance of detailed trim, the proportion of the bag, the long handles, the lack of shoulder strap – feels very much of that time. Perhaps it’s because the Paddington was so omnipresent in the mind of handbag aficionados of the mid-aughts, but carrying a Paddington now feels retro in a bad way. Of course, eight years out, very little in the way of fashion feels pleasantly nostalgic.

Personally, I don’t think it’s just the bag’s former ubiquity that serves it poorly. The Balenciaga Motorcycle Bags, for example, have been hugely popular for over a decade, and they still look right at home on the arm of a fashionable woman. They’re simpler, and when compared to the Paddington, they’re downright minimal, which is much more in tune with what’s going on in the handbag world right now. Even the Marc Jacobs Stam, with its frame structure and signature chain, feels more current (and if any It Bag of yore could be primed for a comeback, it’s probably the Stam – Fall 2013 runways were covered with chain accents).

This new version of the Paddington looks largely unchained, but unfortunately, the price does appear to have been updated. Paddingtons retailed for around $1,300 at their debut, but this one will set you back $2,195 via Barneys.

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Liz

10 years ago

I love my Paddington still, it smells great and I do love the hardware. I think it’s retro … in a good way though. It’s definitely not an easy bag to carry though.

Ali

this belongs in the history books, and should never be brought back.

AshleyG

The addition of a shoulder strap would have done wonders for such a large (and let’s be honest, cumbersome) bag. Please leave it in the back of the closet where they found it.

bir

i think the concept of comeback …… does not apply in this case this bag is ….. to full to many elements that should stay in back 2005 together with paris hilton

viewer

9 years ago

Reply to bir

I agree. I was in a high end department store, weekend before last, where they were featuring it as retro and the salesperson and I had a real good laugh. The bag isn’t that old as it came out in the 2000s. But, then again, I’m mid fifties and might have a different definition of the time period for retro.

I don’t think it should have been brought back and at that new, outrageous price? It’s a bag that doesn’t have high resale value as my best friend couldn’t even get $400 for the one she bought about 5 years ago. There are plenty of the original ones that pop up in resale.

I have a Paddington, but a different model Paddington. I don’t remember what model mine is but it’s a rectangular-shaped bag with a thick, flat, short, shoulder strap and small lock. I haven’t seen that model since I bought mine. I bought it at Nordstrom and only saw it there.

My bag is in a butter soft, metallic, bronze leather. I hold on to it as that particular model I really think will be worth quite a bit in years to come. I usually have a very good eye regarding what will increase in value over the years. I seldom use mine as the lock has to be unlocked and re-locked each time one goes into
or out of it, due to the design. But, it’s a real gorgeous bag.

DreamReelz

6 years ago

Reply to viewer

I pity those who buy work of art for resale. Tell me which bag has resale, I mean even Hermes Birkin which is touted to get excellent resale value is actually not exactly true. People who own Hermes Birkin do not use/abuse their bags as much as they use/abuse their other bags…

Even here in the Hollywood where I belong to, Hermes owners bring out their Birkins occasionally, like once, twice or at the most 3 times in a year. Whereas less expensive bags like Chloe Paddington were seen dangling in their arms almost every second or third day. If you factor this in the price you fetch on resale website for Paddington’s is truly remarkable. As for Birkin’s we forget to factor in the inflation when we go about reselling them. So technically, the Birkin your gradma brought for $1K in 1955 & the one which you sold in 2016 for $4K has lost much of its returns thanks to inflation…it should have ideally sold for at least $10K. But you wont have that many suitors at that price point…so when discussing retails factor in the value lost due to inflation.

Moral of the story: Don’t buy bag’s as an investment, buy it for what they truly are, REMARKABLE WORK OF ART & CRAFTSMANSHIP to be cherished & lovingly fondled till either you or they FALL-APART.

Christina

7 months ago

Reply to DreamReelz

i like your mentality 🙂

Sandra

The Chloe bag that I needed (yes, needed) back then was the Edith. Not that I would purchase an Edith now…but with some tweaking I think the Edith would be more “now” than the Paddington. I am not certain why Chloe feels the needs to go back…the fall runway bags were note worthy.

Amanda Mull

Reply to Sandra

I still see women carrying Ediths every now and then, and they do indeed stand the test of time for better than the Paddingtons. I still wish I had bought a grey one back in the day.

Kim

This looks like a bag that I could buy in Target. I think this bag is past it’s prime. It was a trendy bag but by no means a classic bag.

Reply to Kim

I am sorry but, your lack of understanding of design aesthetics simply amazes me. I agree Chloe Paddington started out as being the ‘IT’ Bag but today even after 12 years, it’s flawless design language, definitive structure & the iconic metal hardware does not fail to turn heads.

I think both you and Amanda Mull needs to stay buried in Target’s bag aisle because that is where you 2 belong to.

Chloe Paddington, along with the below mentioned infamous 5:

Salvatore Ferragamo Ganicin Woven Leather Tote,
Dior’s CD Bee Hobo,
Tod’s G-Line Raffia Sacca,
Gucci’s Aviatrix Boston,
And
Yves Saint Laurents Muse Tote

are some of the lesser known, most underrated handbags which will soon join the likes of

Gucci’s Jackie,
Givenchy’s Antigona,
Herme Birkin/Kelly,
Chanel’s 2.55
&
Louis Vuittons Speedy

into handbag’s history books of all time ICONIC designs.

Remember, you heard it hear first.

I am amazed at your complete lack of

joey

8 years ago

Clearly you’ve never held a Chloe paddington before, nor have the eye for well made purses

EGlez ?

The only it-bag that deserves a comeback is the Fendi Spy.

Duim Daley

i love it but looks too heavy like the other after fell makeups , wallet not sure if we are shoulder can carry on…

AMDG

I can’t believe anyone would buy it now at this price especially. I really liked them at the time but didn’t buy one. I did however invest in a Fendi Spy towards the end of its reign. I feel some regret. I want to get use out of it but it looks so dated now. Hope I won’t regret my celine luggage!

gpc

I didn’t bite back then, and surely won’t bite now. I couldn’t understand the hysteria the first time I saw and held this bag. Might as well been lugging around a ball and chain…

The Chloe Paddington is back, apparently immortal

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