Are these the 3 best designer bags to invest in?

 Designer handbags should be seen as investments that last a lifetime and can be passed down from generation to generation. Styles from storied brands, such as Hermès, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, are the ultimate examples of luxury. They have never gone out of fashion – and never will – and have historically increased in value over time due to the craftsmanship and heritage at their core.

“All of the main luxury designer bag brands are a safe investment to buy really,” affirms Oliver Purnell, the owner of Depop shop @oliversarchive. “The fact that they have been around for so long, and, more importantly, have always been popular and fashionable means they are going to be desirable 100 years from now.”

As well as the timeless classics, limited-edition pieces are worth investigating before you make a big purchase. “Rarity drives up the price,” says Sophie Hersan, co-founder and fashion director of fashion consignment platform Vestiaire Collective. “A special colourway or one-off collection increases demand – for example, Louis Vuitton’s collaboration with Takashi Murakami”, which Rihanna is a fan of. Rewind Vintage Affairs founder and CEO, Claudia Ricco says that the rarest gems on her resale platform are runway pieces, because they are created in small batches. “They are double or triple the price because you literally can’t find them anywhere,” she says. “We are always on the hunt for these one-of-a-kind items or pieces that will stand the test of time.”

Herewith, are the three designer handbags that British Vogue’s network of vintage fashion experts collectively agree are solid investments to confidently buy. As Ricco says, sourcing your dream bag in mint condition is “a combination of experience, alchemy and mystery”, so don’t forget to consult our expert guide to authentication and pricing before you proceed to purchase.

Hermes Kelly

“The ultimate investment is an Hermès bag and we recommend the Kelly,” says Seth Weisser, co-founder and CEO of What Goes Around Comes Around, which has been one of New York’s premiere purveyors of vintage for almost three decades. Hersan believes that, “The history of the company adds to the exclusivity. There is a mystery around the bags which makes them even more sought after.”

If the story is the Kelly’s selling point, it’s a good yarn. Originally conceived in the 1880s, the saddlebag style for horse riders was reinvented by Hermès’s Robert Dumas in the 1930s. The trapezoid shape with sculpted flap and top handle – known as the sac à dépêches – was designed to be “a neat, plain, functional bag intended for independent, energetic women”, according to the brand. Then, Grace Kelly came along. The Hollywood star-turned-princess was first pictured carrying the ladylike handbag on the set of To Catch a Thief in 1955. Two years later, she held a sac à dépêches over her pregnant stomach as she announced her engagement to Prince Rainier of Monaco. The bag was instantly crowned the Kelly.

Chanel 2.55

Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel first introduced the Flap Bag in 1929. “As women were becoming more active, she wanted to provide them with designs that matched their newfound freedom (and allowed them to go hands-free),” explains Weisser. In February 1955 (hence the 2.55 moniker), she launched the shoulder style, which became a house icon overnight. The chain strap was inspired by the tiny chains Chanel would use to weight the hems of her suit jackets, while the burgundy interior was a nod to her childhood uniform at the Aubazine Abbey orphanage, and the diamond-stitched quilting borrowed from the jackets worn by men at the races. No detail was overlooked: the back slip pocket was designed to store money, the central compartment created to house lipsticks, and a hidden zip pocket was reportedly excellent for storing love letters.

Louis Vuitton Keepall

Audrey Hepburn, Catherine Deneuve and Lauren Bacall all bought into the LV monogram, as Louis Vuitton luggage became synonymous with the globe-trotting lifestyles of the 20th century Hollywood elite. While the brand’s trunks went into the hold, the 1930-born Keepall was a stylish and spacious cabin-friendly travel companion. “Light, supple and always ready for immediate departure, the bag lives up to its name: those adept at the art of packing can easily fit a week’s wardrobe into the generously sized Keepall,” according to the brand. The capacious carry-on was such a hit that Hepburn convinced the house to create a mini version – the Speedy – to use day-to-day in the 1960s.

“The combination of brand heritage, craftsmanship and quality means that the Louis Vuitton Keepall has held its value,” affirms Hersan of the “really great investment”. “When Virgil Abloh dropped the shiny, iridescent Keepall it renewed the interest and created huge demand for the updated bag.”

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