Four of the Most Underrated Vintage Designer Bags

When Dior revealed it would revive its iconic Saddle Bag for Fall 2018, the fashion world collectively lost its mind. By summer 2018, the Saddle Bag—reimagined in mini and medium sizes, leather finishes, and the classic Oblique canvas—had officially returned to stores. It didn’t take long for other luxury houses, including Fendi, Gucci, and Celine, to follow suit, each reintroducing its own archival designs.

Fendi’s Baguette made a particularly buzzworthy comeback, quickly becoming a favorite among both longtime devotees and a new generation of fans. Two years after its re-release, the bag remained so beloved that Fendi reintroduced the original 1997 Baguette, and nearly five years later, the Baguette remains an integral part of the Fendi lineup, paving the way for the return of the Fendi Spy last year.

Gucci, too, has enjoyed enormous success revisiting its heritage: the revival of its classic Horsebit emblem paved the way for a second comeback—the return of the iconic Jackie Bag. Chloé also hopped on the archival bandwagon, albeit a bit behind, bringing back the lesser-known Edith Bag before eventually knocking it out of the park with the revival of the iconic Chloé Paddington.

Of course, there’s also Louis Vuitton’s many Monogram comebacks…swoon.

While the archival revival boom has been exciting for nostalgia lovers, it’s also driven up the cost of these bags (and other vintage gems) on the resale market. Still, the secondary market is full of bags of yesteryear, some of which are incredibly slept on, meaning you can still snag one for a fraction of the cost of a luxury bag.

If you’re in the market for a new (to you) bag, we’ve got four of the most underrated vintage bags out there right now. Let’s take a look!

Celine Boogie Bag

The C(é)line Boogie Bag was designed during the Michael Kors Celine era. A true relic of the early aughts, the Boogie Bag made its debut in 2002, five years after Celine had joined the LVMH portfolio. Kors was hired to help revamp the brand—he walked so Phoebe Philo could run.

The Boogie Bag’s simple, yet sleek silhouette aligned with the House’s vision of simple elegance—an ode to Celine’s rich Parisian history and heritage. Its simple shape became the perfect canvas for reinvention with options including leather, Triomphe logo denim, suede, and more.

We first looked back at this celebrity favorite back in 2022, yet even with a Vogue shoutout last year, it remains one of the most slept-on, affordable bags from the early aughts.

Marc Jacobs Multi Pocket Bag

One of the most influential American designers, Marc Jacobs, ruled the handbag scene in the 2000s. In the aughts, a Marc Jacobs Bag was the It-item to have on your arm. There were hits like the always-sold-out (and also reissued) Stam, and of course, the beloved Blake Bag.

Marc Jacobs later launched a more affordable diffusion line, Marc by Marc Jacobs, which led to oversaturation and eventually necessitated a rebrand. Still, the 2000s were when Marc Jacobs was at his prime, and his collection bags are highly slept on.

The Multi Pocket Bag, which we covered way back in 2008 (it retailed for $1,150!), was one of the hottest bags in the mid-2000s, cementing its place in the cultural lexicon with sightings on screen in The Devil Wears Prada and Gilmore Girls. You can find these on Poshmark, eBay, and other resale sites for a fraction of their original cost.

Chloé Bay Bag

When it comes to handbag hits, few designers have knocked it out of the park like Phoebe Philo, who reigned at Chloé from 2001 to 2006. She created the iconic Paddington Bag at the height of the It-bag era before departing the brand in 2006, leaving Chloé in a transitional period.

Though many online sources cite the Chloé Bay Bag as a Phoebe Philo era design, it was actually designed by the brand’s in-house design studio for Spring/Summer 2007. The Bay Bag, which came in quilted iterations in an array of colors and smooth leather like the one below, is giving peak Y2K.

The Bay was beloved by celebs like Britney Spears, Kylie Minogue, Jennifer Garner, and more. While the Paddington’s resale value has skyrocketed in the wake of the revival, the Bay is widely available for a fraction of the price.

Saint Laurent Muse Bag

Designed by Stefano Pilati in 2005, the YSL Muse Bag was considered by many to be the House’s first It-Bag. It was released in early 2006 to much fanfare, defined by its semi-structured, bowler-like shape and distinct Y-stitching.

Yves Saint Laurent had many famous muses during his early years, and when Pilati named this now-iconic bag the Muse, he was setting it up for success. The bag was an immediate hit amongst modern-day muses in its heyday, including Kate Moss, Nicky Hilton, Jennifer Lopez, and more.

Arguably the most slept-on bag on this list, given its popularity in the aughts, the Muse can be found for well under $500.

Featured image via @clossue