8 Vintage Bags Destined for Icon Status

2026 was the year of the vintage bag. No longer a niche for the fashion-obsessed, these collectible accessories are in major demand by the masses, loved for their intricate details, unique look, and rarity. The obsession started to reach its peak in 2024, when Balenciaga brought back its iconic City bag, inspired by the original 2001 design by Nicolas Ghesquière. At the tail end of 2025, Chloé’s newly reissued Paddington (first seen in 2005) and Celine’s new Phantom redux hit stores and runways. The same year, Jane Birkin’s vintage 1985 Hermès Birkin bag prototype sold for a record-breaking $10.1 million (€8.6 million) at Sotheby’s.

In 2026 alone, Saint Laurent rereleased its 2002 Mombasa, Louis Vuitton reinterpreted its Y2K Speedy, Keepall, Noé, Alma, and Neverfull, and Loewe and Bottega Veneta also alluded to archival bag styles on the runway, while Dior creative director Jonathan Anderson brought back the Cadillac bag from John Galliano’s spring/summer 2001 “Trailer Trash” collection for his first cruise collection.

With Bella Hadid opting for ’90s Prada shoulder bags at Cannes, the trend is also celeb-loved. True vintage bags are here to stay, and they are so clearly impacting trends and demand that the brands can’t help but notice it, too; the reissues keep coming. So, we asked a few vintage experts for their predictions on the next class of It bags.

Gucci Indy, 2006

“I believe this bag is already beginning to have a breakthrough,” says Kris Jiang, founder of Rebelonging. “With the unique arch-shaped hardware that feels like the YSL Mombasa, mixed with the tassel detail that is very on trend right now, it is truly a piece that can find its way in any closet due to the range of collectible prints and materials with my personal favorite being the python ones. From 2025 to now, it has seen a 64.3% increase in resale value already for our business due to rising cost to acquire this style.”

Chanel Cambon, 2004

“The new creative director Matthieu Blazy has made Chanel topical again, and I believe people are now ready to look for more hidden gems and lesser-known brands from the Chanel history,” says Liisa Jokinen, founder of the vintage search engine Gem. “The discontinued Chanel Cambon suits the current Y2K fashion seamlessly; it is a perfect combination of sporty and chic. The oversized logos may make the bag feel a bit tacky at first, but I think that just makes the bag even more intriguing.”

Prada Fairy, 2008

“The original Fairy-core was born with this collection,” says Malena Martinez, founder of Malena’s Vintage Boutique. “Melting flower high heels, optic bog-color prints, and spiraling natural pleats throughout in leather and silk: this bag represents all of those components and is rarely seen in the wild but always identifiable as an it bag.”

Chanel Python Flap, 2007

“This one is our highest requested bag this year,” says Jiang, of the Chanel Python SoHo Tassel. “In 2027, this bag will officially be vintage, so it is the perfect addition to this list. With the new Matthieu Blazy collections drawing headlines, vintage Chanel is in extremely high demand for us. Due to the discontinuation of Chanel selling exotics and the introduction of the croc-embossed executive cerf tote, we are seeing a rise in demand specifically for all things vintage exotics. This brought a huge interest specifically in the SoHo tassel flap which combines the exotic python leather with the classic flap and an added tassel detail.”

Mulberry Alexa, 2010

“Big, slouchy shoulder and satchel bags from the indie sleaze era will become more popular as they are approaching their 20-year anniversary mark,” adds Jokinen. “And Alexa Chung, after whom the bag was named, was one of the biggest style icons of the time. Mulberry has been under the radar lately, but it is a subtle and classic heritage brand, quiet luxury, if you will. And like with Balenciaga City bags, Mulberry Alexas are okay if they look worn, beat-up, and lived-in. The history of the bag is part of its charm, and it should show.”

Louis Vuitton Murakami Speedy, 2003

“Layering luxury with novelty art could have gone wrong, but it went very right with these bags,” adds Martinez. “The re-release has jumpstarted people to scour for those first editions.”

Ralph Lauren Hobo Fringe, early 2000s

“Vintage Ralph Lauren has taken over the feed of any fashion lover,” adds Martinez. “The iconic brand’s roots are cemented in Americana, and the top-tier bags are the next thing to hunt. Soft suede, a relaxed silhouette, and fringe that sways as if it’s part of you are going to be a staple for Fall and beyond.”

Chanel XXL Flap, 1990s–2010s

“There are a few variations that come to mind since it is another highly requested bag at Rebelonging,” adds Jiang. “From the flap bags with chunky jumbo 24k gold-plated hardware made in the ’90s to the 2016 airline flap (even though that one isn’t vintage just yet)—the craving for the oversized bags is coming in strong, and every it-girl will be adding them to their closets next year.”