As you all know by now, it’s National Handbag Day! We founded NHD in 2013 to give bag lovers like us an opportunity to have a little fun with our favorite parts of our wardrobes, and that’s exactly what we’ll be doing all day today. When it comes to high fashion, though, bags aren’t just fun–they’re also big business and a fascinating marketplace unto themselves.
Every now and then, we like to take stock of the luxury bag landscape to see where things stand and who is doing outstanding work that shoppers just keep eating up. We’ve enumerated our picks below, in no particular order. If you think we’ve missed something, make your case in the comments!
Fendi DotCom Bag
$2,900 via Net-a-Porter
This new bag started off strong, and fall brings with it a smaller version with a chain strap that’s just the right size and sure to continue winning over bag lovers. Fendi can do no wrong these days.
Chanel Boy Bag
Shop Chanel Boy Bags via Vestiaire Collective
As far as designs that haven’t been around for decades go, it’s tough to beat the demand for the Boy Bag–seasonal versions sell out quickly and it’s not uncommon to find yourself on a wait list for a popular color.
Chloé Hudson Bag
$2,090 via Neiman Marcus
For a couple of the bags on this list, it was hard to pick just one bag as a representative because the designer’s dominance has extended to big popularity for a handful of its bags at the same time. Chloé is one of those brands: the brand is doing masterful work lately and that shows in how quickly consumers are snapping up a bunch of its designs.
Coach Rogue Bag
$795 via Coach
Coach is back. The Rogue Bag is the brand’s best new design yet of the Stuart Vevers era, and its first run sold out nearly all of the available colors. That’s no small feat for a bag that’s a couple hundred dollars more than Coach lovers are used to spending on the brand, and it demonstrates well the smart, functional design’s appeal.
Dior Diorever Bag
Brand die-hards are not always quick to come around to a big new debut, but Dior fanatics on our PurseForum loved the Diorever immediately.
Gabriela Hearst Nina Bag
This bag is the most curious case on the list. Hearst did a run of 20 bags and gave them out to some of her stylish friends last year, including Miroslava Duma and Brie Larson. Those two in particular were snapped carrying the Nina, and Vogue reported that a thousand-name wait list sprouted from there. The only way to get the bag, which comes in only cognac and black and retails for $1,995 in leather and $12,000 in crocodile, is to email the brand and inquire–no sales are done online or in any stores. That extreme exclusivity may explain much of the bag’s draw, especially when you consider how odd-looking it is.
Gucci Marmont Bag
Shop the Marmont Collection via Gucci
This fun-but-functional collection distills the rococo Gucci look into something that can be carried everyday, which makes its appeal to shoppers clear.
Loewe Puzzle Bag
Shop Loewe Bags via Nordstrom
If you had to pick a luxury brand to watch right now, I’d pick Loewe. Jonathan Andersen is doing something special at the Spanish house, and its bags are just about to bust through in a big way. That goes for the Puzzle Bag as well as the Flamenco, Amazona and pretty much all its other creations.
Mansur Gavriel Sun Mini Tote
$1,095 via Net-a-Porter
Another season, another new Mansur Gavriel launch, another bag that everyone I know in the fashion industry is thinking about buying, if they haven’t already. With the new Sun Bag, the mini and mini mini versions appear to be the way everyone is going.
Prada Corsaire Bag
$2,440 via Net-a-Porter
Prada launched a bevy of new styles for Fall 2016, and they’re pretty much all worth your attention. Of the new crop, this one is the biggest star because it feels like the design moves forward the conversation of constitutes a Prada bag.
Can Loewe please now get its due with a dedicated board?! Don’t get me wrong I LOVE that its a sleeper which was part of the draw for me! Not over saturated, gorgeously different yet so very classic! Seriously can’t wait for mine to arrive!
Yes! I’m always on the Loewe thread. Congrats on your new Loewe! 🙂
It’s funny that the hottest bags list does not list one bag from Louis Vuitton, which is the brand that sells the most luxury handbags. Sometimes I feel like PurseBlog is biased against Louis Vuitton.
I think LV has just become too common. I work in a major city and live in adjacent suburb. LV is everywhere in both communities. More than have the woman at the grocery store on Saturdays are carrying LV. It becomes the first bag anyone purchase when they have extra money to spend. Thus being said, the bags are beautiful and are of great quality.
I think LV has some real “work horses” like the Neverfull or the Speedy….. but not so sure they have had any real break out bags in a while… I have to admit to not following them much lately… I’ve been collecting handbags for over 20 years and have created quite the collection over the years. I do own two LV’s; a Mizi and Irene both in classic monogram canvas. It’s been a while since LV came out with a bag that I just had to have… that may be why they are not mentioned often on Purse Forum. I’m a huge Prada fan and don’t see them here often… there are just so many great brands/bags that they can’t all get mentioned. Fortunately, I am flexible and if I see a purse, I don’t care what brand it is, it just has to have high quality materials and craftsmanship and I have to love the look… so I find a lot to like on Purse Forum. I am not a fan of Channel flap or boy bags, but I see why others are. I just don’t care for the small boxy look. I like satchels and totes, structured and slouchy… so I think this is the perfect forum for anyone who loves bags!
ok so im in kind of a dilemma….the Chanel Classic Flap has been my holy grail since the beginning of time and now I’m a proud owner….now I know that eventually I do want to add a Boy Bag to my collection but I don’t feel as strongly about it now however I keep thinking with the ongoing price increases that its better to get sooner rather than later….thoughts please
I’m not a Boy bag person either. I have a couple of classic flaps, which are great. Have you considered reissue? It’s classic and edgy at the same time.
After buying my to-die-for Le Boy, I realize that it is not the most practical bag. The small size, which I bought, has a strap that is not quite long enough for comfortably wearing cross-body. It IS possible to wear crossbody, but then the bag falls just above my waist, which I don’t prefer. In addition, the bag surprisingly doesn’t hold as much as it seems to from the outside. But the look is absolutely gorgeous, so I don’t regret it.
I’ve had my Chanel Classic Flap for a little under two years now and while I’ve always loved it, last year I thought I had to have the Boy Bag (for reasons I am currently blanking on). So I bought a large pink Boy Bag and used it a few times and was ‘meh’ about the whole thing thinking it had to do with the large size (I’m 5’3″). So I sold it and, after researching and going back and forth between the small, medium and new medium, I bought a new small Boy Bag. Fast forward to earlier this week: I’m sitting at home, watching Downton Abbey and, for once, not at all thinking about bags. Then I realize, dear lord, I NEVER use that freaking Boy Bag! It’s cute but it’s really heavy for being so tiny and actually really annoying to get in and out of AND, because of it’s structured and boxy silhouette, doesn’t exactly mold to you like a classic flap does. Long story short, I’ve realized that I let being “trendy” get to me when I should have just stuck with my usual instinct to go with the classics. So I’m going to sell my second Boy Bag now while my classics continue to enjoy their top spot in my bag wardrobe and my heart. 🙂
I just got my HG – the Classic Flap – and I’m SO happy with it! I’m not even a bit impressed by the Boy Bag, not sure why, but it’s nowhere near the Classic. I say get it!!!
Call me an old fashion but I prefer classic bags to this new trendy waves. Chanel 2.55 stays the favourite.
If you like to have a bag as an investment, buy the classic one. They always stay fashionable. Make sure you not overpay, Invest in a pre-owned designer bag. http://www.vintage-united.com is a great source of the affordable authentic luxury bags from Europe, Netherlands.
my all time favorite bag is speedy!!!
I love my Speedys!
I love the Sun Tote! The Chanel Boy Bag isn’t at all attractive to me… The Classic Flap however <3 <3 <3!
Cannot get over how the Diorever and the MG Sun tote look too much like the Sac de Jour. Like the Loewe Puzzle but won’t buy it. Still considering the Gucci Marmont. Love the Chloe Hudson, still regret not getting it last year when I first saw the black version and my hubby wanted to treat me to it but I thought “its not a classic, why waste money?!”Now when I see it about on others, I realise just how much I really really want it.
Ooh… i love them all ..but the Mansur Garivel is my personal favourite! And with 2016 coming to end, the countdown for IT bags of 2016 has already started..Check this out >> https://goo.gl/A8Qq5w
I dissasgre about the Hudson, I think the Drew and Faye are way more popular, and nicer for that matter.
Chloe, Dior and Prada happen to be my favorites of the moment!
I would have to disagree with Coach, not popular in Europe at all…at all…at all…barely known actually…