Searches for vintage handbags and accessories are at an all time high. Our expert dealers have got the goods and the insights to advise you on what special pieces you should be investing your money in.
Name the bag, and we’ll name the era and the mentality of a nation.
The Birkin Bag. Late 90’s: Earning its place as a cultural icon at this time, the bag’s high price and exclusivity contributed to its desirability. The bag was created after a chance meeting between the actress Jane Birkin and the Hermes CEO Jean-Louis Dumas where Birkin’s request for a tote bag for her travels based on a 1982 design led to the creation of what is, without doubt, one of the most famous luxury goods of all time. But it wasn’t until a good decade later, when the rise of the internet as a mainstream tool allowed people to covet what they didn’t have more easily. More recently, in 2022, the most expensive Faubourg Birkin 20 Snow sold for just over $300,000.
The Chanel Classic 2.55 Flap. Released in 1955, it retailed at about £155 at the time. The price for the same Medium Chanel Classic Flap bag now? £8,850, after a price increase in 2024. It’s a long game, but we’d bet all our gold on this one never going out of fashion. As Coco said, “fashion changes, style remains”....
The Fendi Baguette. 1997: This cult classic quickly became a hit after featuring in Sex and the City, becoming one of the first ‘It bags’ after Carrie Bradshaw famously quips, “It’s not a bag, it’s a Baguette”. Logomania peaks in the early 2000s, and the distinctive FF logo is what everyone wants, until too many knock-off’s flood the market leading to a decrease in interest. 2025 and their price has gone right back up, proving that old stock market adage that the best time to buy one was yesterday.
Celine’s Luggage Tote created by Phoebe Philo. 2010: Minimal in style and impossible to disconnect from Philo’s tenure at the house, which coincided with the height of the Marie Kondo frenzy where less was more, and the sense that everything you owned should spark joy.
The Alexa by Mulberry. 2010: The satchel paying tribute to Alexa Chung, whose chic tomboy style was celebrated with this release following pictures of her carrying the Mulberry Elkington, a more traditional men’s style. The idea of It girls with It bags really exploded in this decade alongside social media, making these girls key players in the fashion landscape – with big brands gifting to cool girls with big follower counts.
The Jacquemus Le Chiquito Bag. Louis Vuitton Speedy Mini. Late 2000’s: Mobile phones are getting bigger, and bags are getting smaller. Functionality? We don’t know her! These tiny bags made a big impression – what an indulgence, but let’s have one in every colour.
Handbags are continuously evolving to reflect the social, cultural, and economic shifts of prevailing trends and attitudes. Their resilience during economic downturn has previously proven them to be a stable investment and given the volatility of, well, pretty much everything right now, handbags are only becoming more attractive to people who are serious about investing and who are seeking to diversify their portfolios.
Whether you’re investing for long term gains, or simply want to avoid a long waiting list, brand prestige and quality remain key components when you’re looking for the best bag for you.
We always have an incredible curation at Known Source, and we verify each piece that we sell, so you can be sure you are buying with trust. What’s more, we will always resell any item you buy after your purchase if you change your mind at any time. Thanks to our RENEW FEATURE.
