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The 17 Best Designer Bags of 2021 to Invest in Now and Love Forever

Add a timeless, luxury carryall to your collection.

The 17 Best Designer Bags of 2021 to Invest in Now and Love Forever

Photo Courtesy of @handinfire via IG

Last Updated
Nov 10, 2021

A great designer handbag is one of the best investments you can make. Once you find a staple bag to add to your wardrobe, it can instantly update everything from downtime denim to more formal attire, and will quickly become the most frequently used accessory in your daily rotation.

The beauty of a standout designer bag is that it's innately versatile, so you never have to worry about what to style it with. In fact, this is all the more reason to add an investment bag to your collection—it's the ultimate go-to accessory, no matter your personal style.

Fromretro-reissueslike Dior's John Galliano-designed saddle bag, which made its runway debut last year, to classics that will get even better with time, like Chanel's'19 Maxi Flap Bag and Gucci's1955 Horsebit Bag,our guide to the best designer bags of 2021 is anchored by the very best pieces to invest in now. These must-have designer items will carry you through the seasons and instantly upgrade your look.

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The Most Iconic Designer Bags

Timeless, classic, iconic. Carried by everyone from first ladies and actresses to heiresses, the investment bag is an item some people spend their whole lives pursuing. Between Hermès' Birkin and Kelly and Chanel's 2.55 and Classic Flap , you're sure to find an investment bag that speaks to you—albeit, some come with far heftier price tags than others. In fact, Birkins (named after Jane Birkin, of course) can reach a price of more than $200,000, while Chanel's classic flap continues to rise in price each year. These bags all tend to appreciate in value with age, hence their status as investment-worthy works of art.

Whether it be from the '90s or even '00s, there seems to be a retro-style bag from everyone's brand of choice in the middle of a comeback. Dior's saddle bags—which debuted in John Galliano's Spring/Summer 2000 collection for the brand and quickly became an "it" girl staple—were reinvented by the House in 2018 for both men and women alike. The nylon mini-bags Prada prides itself on were remnants of a bygone era until they started popping up on the arms of every celebrity and influencer in recent seasons. We're just waiting to see which old it-bag makes a revival next.

The Logomania Designer Bags

An archival iteration revived by one of fashion's most eccentric and revered brands, Gucci's 1955 Horsebit Small Shoulder Bag initially made an appearance at Gucci's Resort 2020 show as a reference to the House's archives from the '50s. However, not all heavily logoed bags take cues from their respective House's past. One only needs to look at pieces like Louis Vuitton's monogrammed Multi Pochette to see that although logomania may be less in-your-face than it has been in previous years, it's still thriving.

Clutches: they may not be the most practical option, but they do make for the perfect accessory. The Pouch bag by Bottega Veneta, aka the fashion insider's current favorite label, is a great example—not only is it one of the first designs produced by creative director Daniel Lee, it's also one of his most desirable pieces. The white, oversized clutch is stylishly crafted in Italy from smooth calf leather and uses intricate folding to create a voluminous, rounded silhouette that's the perfect counterpart for any ensemble. Style it against a leather jacket for double-duty tactile play.

The workhorses of the bag world, crossbody bags can be carried anywhere and by anyone. They're big enough to hold your phone (which is crucial) but compact and hands-free, so they can't get in your way too much. It's hard to pinpoint exactly when they became a bonafide trend—they're so timeless that some iteration of the crossbody bag has seeminglyalwaysbeen in style. If you're the kind of person who carries the classic phone-keys-wallet-lipstick combo and not much else, reach for one of these as your day-to-day sidekick.

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While it's near-impossible not to think of the aforementioned DiorSaddle Bag when it comes to the style, the brand certainly didn't invent them. In fact, the name saddle bag is a dead giveaway as to where this silhouette originated from: It's modeled after saddle bags worn on the sides of horses, to keep riders' hands free. Unlike the saddle bags of old, however, these are miniaturized and meant to only carry a few essentials, while also being the focal point of any ensemble.

The history of bucket bags, as we know them now, can be traced all the way back to the nineteenth century when they were present in society in the form of small handbags called reticules. Soon, cloth versions of the bucket bag were made. However, it was Gaston-Louis Vuitton who made the first true bucket bag in the form we know them now—the Noé , created purely for the extremely utilitarian reason of carrying around champagne. The bucket bag has certainly been updated over the years since, but its simple and stylish drawstring-based form will always be here to stay.

Mini bags are quite possibly the hottest bag trend of the past few years. The silhouette is nothing new, of course, but it's been updated for the Instagram era. Take Simon Porte Jacquemus' Le Chiquito , which appeared on two models in the designer's fall 2017 ready-to-wear collection. The tiny bag, despite being an anomaly in the vast collection, immediately resonated with fashion's most in-the-know cognoscente—so much so that we still consider it one of the best designer bags available in 2021.

Conjuring up mental images of elegant lunches with even more elegant friends, the top-handle bag is best used in situations when you expect to have a place to rest your bag most of the day. Perhaps the best way to style a top-handle bag falls in line with the aforementioned image: they work extremely well when dressed-up, particularly when paired with equally luxe fabrics like wool or lace. Tie a silk scarf around one of the handles and pop on some stilettos or a knit midi dress for an extra chic look.

As '90s and 2000s trends repeat themselves, it's easy to watch and find the popular, revived styles of bags dramatic, or a little too outré. For people who prefer to keep it casual, there's the hobo bag. It's the perfect style to pair with some medium-wash distressed jeans, a tee and a slightly oversized blazer—nothing high-maintenance about it. The hobo bag will fit all your essentials with no problem, and you'll look effortlessly impeccable, too.

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The Classic Black Bag

No matter who you are, there is an everyday, medium-sized black bag for you. There are plenty of benefits to owning one: They're typically big enough to hold all your essentials—for work or play—that can be difficult to place into your average on-trend handbag. And whether it be Saint Laurent's Sac De Jour or CELINE's 16 Bag, there's a classic black bag that fits with every style of dress and every personality.

If mini bags are currently the hottest bag trend around, then micro bags are the logical high-fashion next step. Initially seen on Instagram along with tiny invites to the brand's AW19 presentation, the fashion world went wild for Jacquemus' Le Petit Chiquito. The bag quickly became a status symbol amongst the elite and after the show, sold out completely on the brand's site. A micro bag—which should be worn as an accessory, almost like a body chain or necklace—may not be the most practical, but it's an unconventional statement piece that will complete any fashion-forward look.

Precious few fashion items have come so far and fallen so hard as the fanny pack. Named Adweek's 1988 "Hottest Product of the Year," what was once the pinnacle of style soon became the butt of dad jokes everywhere. However, since a spate of high profile models were spotted wearing them in 2017, fanny packs have experienced a surprising renaissance under the new moniker of "belt bag." Wear them with new season denim jeans for a casual-but-high-class look.

Everybody needs a designer tote bag. Everybody. Even people who don't think they do. Whether you're preparing for a day at the beach, a long day at work or you need to carry some clothes from point A to B, a tote is an essential part of everyone's accessories repertoire. While some may not want to carry an oversized shopper around all too often, the usefulness of the tote bag when you doneed it is unparalleled.

Ever-so sleek and stylish, minimalist bags are the ultimate when it comes to design. For example, The Row's compact neutral-tone clutch , appropriately titled the Bourse due to its effortless, minimal silhouette. Made in Italy from grained lambskin with detachable straps hidden, it opens to an ultra-smooth leather lining. Try styling this minimalist bag and others with an equally timeless and edgy look—we love wearing ours with an oversized yet structured blazer.

While jelly sandals , pool towels , and SFP are important for soaking up the sun, a beach bag is necessary to store those essentials. A beach bag doesn't just have to be waterproof and sand-proof—it should be fashionable as well (you never know who you'll meet while sipping waterside rosé). Most of these styles work just as well for grocery shopping or as airplane carry-ons when summer is over.

Thanks to brands such as Saint Laurent, Balmain, and Isabel Marant, the weekender bag has been updated to make traveling stylish and practical. Also known as the overnight bag, this carryall is bigger than a designer tote but smaller than a luxury suitcase . When shopping, it's important to consider style, convenience, roominess, and durability. Whether you're traveling to a nearby city or island hopping for a short trip, this type of bag complements all your needs and comes in many sizes, silhouettes, and colors.