October 10th marks a day of serious importance: National Handbag day. Every couple of years there’s a bag that shows everyone it’s won the title of the “It Bag”. The definition of it bags vary over the years based on trends and personal preference. However, these classics made an impact worthy of the title for years on end. Below, take a look at the “It bags”that have brought the fashion world to where it us today and how they did it.
1940’s: THE GUCCI BAMBOO BAG
During the difficult years of a fascist dictatorship in Italy, Gucci didn’t have a choice but to begin experimenting with avant-garde replacements for luxury materials such as hemp, linen and jute. One of their designers most impeccable decisions was to create a handle of their now iconic bamboo bag. This bag has been carried by royalty as well as celebrities.
1954: THE HERMÈS KELLY BAG
The Kelly bag (formerly known as the Sac à dépêches) is a leather handbag designed by the Paris-based, Hermes. Originally a saddle holder, it was redesigned several times before it was popularized by and then named after the American actress and Monégasque princess Grace Kelly who used the bag to shield her pregnancy. The bag is now an expensive status symbol.
1955: THE CHANEL 2.55 FLAP BAG
Coco Chanel released the first version of her now famous shoulder bag in the 1920s, post war she redesigned the bag to reveal the shoulder bag that is a staple today. It’s name comes from it’s creation date, February 1955. The popularity of the bag was revamped once Karl Lagerfeild redesigned this classic in the early 2000’s – making it one of the most prominent bags today.
1984: THE HERMÈS BIRKIN BAG
The Birkin bag is larger bag made by Hermès that is handmade in leather and named after actress and singer Jane Birkin. The bag is currently in fashion as a symbol of wealth due to its high price and use by celebrities. This bag is exclusive enough to be featured on sex and the city as well as many other popular T.V. shows. This bag has not changed in style since it’s creation.
1995: THE CHRISTIAN DIOR LADY DIOR BAG
The Kelly isn’t the only bag with ties to royalty, the lady dior also has been blessed with the interest of royalty. In 1995, French First Lady Bernadette Chirac presented a Lady Dior Bag, as well as Princess Diana. It wasn’t named the Lady Dior at the time, though; after Diana carried it repeatedly during press trips, the house christened it Lady Dior in her honor. She is credited with the popularity of the bag by making it internationally recognized and untimatley the “It Bag” of that time.
2001: THE BALENCIAGA MOTORCYCLE BAG
When the first motorcycle bags were first introduced, the only place to buy Balenciaga in the US was Barneys; the limited availability certainly evoked the supply and demand hype. The company was not initially told on this style until caresses began to promote the style and later fueled the Balenciaga motorcycle bag frenzy.
2003: THE LOUIS VUITTON MONOGRAM MULTICOLORE SPEEDY
Longtime Louis Vuitton creative director Marc Jacobs pioneered the brand’s long-running tradition of working with notable names from the art world, and although Takashi Murakami’s colorful, cartoonish spins on the brand’s monogram weren’t LV’s first artsy designing they are certainly the most memorable. This style has just recently been retired this year after a solid 12 year run.
2004: THE CHLOÉ PADDINGTON BAG
At the time, magazines declared it the fastest-selling handbag ever made; according to Vogue, all 8,000 of the Spring 2005 bags sold out on pre-order and not a single one touched a shop sales floor.
2010: THE CÉLINE LUGGAGE TOTE
The Luggage Tote is Phoebe Philo’s second act, but it’s the bag that turned Céline into a household name among anyone with even a passing interest in fashion. For several seasons running, it has been a top seller and is also worn by everyone including almost every member of the Kardashian family.
2011: THE GIVENCHY ANTIGONA
The Antigona, which was first introduced in 2011, has taken a bit longer to gain its popularity opposed to many of the other hand bags featured on this list. However, its current ubiquity qualifies it to be one of the top “it bags” It’s easily Givenchy’s most popular bag of the all time, and it had a huge hand turning the bag into something of an accessories powerhouse as far as popularity among celebs.
2013: THE CHANEL BOY BAG
The Chanel boy bag is a timeless classic that seems to be pretty popular, but until you’re in the market for one then i highly doubt that you realize how difficult it is to get your hands on one of these. The most popular sizes and colors of the Boy Bag are a struggle to obtain unless you’re getting them second hand.
CHECK BACK TOMORROW FOR THE “IT BAG” OF 2015!