The Best Designer Bags in 2024
From Balenciaga’s Le Cagole to Bottega Veneta’s Jodie, an overview of the year’s greatest designer bags.
Be it a shoulder bag, clutch, crossbody or satchel, everyone has a favorite handbag that reflects a special moment in their life. Below, an abridged summary of the handbag.
From its humble beginnings in the 1800s as a functional utility item, the handbag has evolved to become fashion’s ultimate pinnacle of taste and personal expression. In the 20th century, brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel introduced iconic styles such as the Speedy and 2.55, respectively, unaware of the lasting impact these designs would carry into the future. From Hermès’ Kelly (Grace Kelly) and Birkin (Jane Bikrin) to Gucci’s Jackie (Jacqueline Kennedy), a handful of prominent female figures have been bestowed the honor of having luxury bags named after them.
Yet it wasn’t until the 1990s that the “It” designer handbag phenomenon truly took flight as celebrity culture and luxury lifestyle converged: See how Dior’s Chouchou bag was renamed the Lady Dior due to Princess Diana regularly carrying it, or Fendi’s baguette catapulted to the forefront of the conversation after Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) adopted it as a signature on Sex and the City.
As the 2000s rolled around, Balenciaga creative director Nicolas Ghesquière rearticulated the handbag’s beauty standards with his grungy, unstructured Le City bag (later rebranded as the Motorcycle bag and succeeded by Le Cagole). Around the same time, Prada’s silhouette-shifting Bowling bag was beginning to trickle into consciousness, as was Dior creative director John Galliano’s Saddle bag. Meanwhile, Marc Jacobs set a new course at Louis Vuitton by having artist Stephen Sprouse create a vibrant Monogram graffiti print on some of the brand's most iconic bags, marking the beginning of the house’s journey into streetwear.
Fast forward to the present day and handbags have transcended being just women’s accessories. Spearheaded by artists such as Tyler, The Creator, Jacob Elordi and Harry Styles, men have begun incorporating shoulder styles as part of daily and formal outfits. From Jacquemus’ Le Chiquito to Coperni’s Swipe and Diesel’s 1DR, handbag designs continue to evolve with unexpected materials and shapes.
Top Designer Bags in 2024
From Gucci to Balenciaga, below is a roundup of some of the most prominent names in bags in 2024, alongside some of each brand’s most recognizable styles.
Gucci
From the Bamboo to the Jackie, Gucci's handbag excellence can be traced back to the 1940s. The house's painstaking craftsmanship and attention to detail manifests on signature elements like the horsebit buckle and interlocking GG insignia. In modern times, Gucci has supplemented its handbag arsenal with a handful of new silhouettes, with former creative director and accessories master Alessandro Michele introducing the Ophidia, Marmont, Dionysus and Horsebit 1955.
Coperni
Few modern labels have captured the collective online imagination quite like Coperni, not least due to viral sensations like the Meteorite bag (made from a real meteorite) and a Doja Cat-approved, glass iteration of the Swipe bag. Beyond the shock headlines, Coperni continues to prove that everyday functional bags don’t need to be strait-laced in their design execution: See the Heart tote bag that is lightweight and spacious for all kinds of scenarios.
Saint Laurent
Under the watch of Yves Saint Laurent, designers Madame Leroux and Madame Perrin helped establish the French house in the handbag realm with innovative designs and premium materials such as Moroccan leather. Today, YSL’s handbag program is grounded in eclecticism, from traditional statement styles like the Loulou and Envelope to versatile totes from the Rive Gauche line.
Bottega Veneta
British designer Daniel Lee helped re-establish Bottega Veneta at the pinnacle of handbag luxury by revitalizing the house’s signature intrecciato weave in different sizes—see the squishy Cassette and voluminous, hobo-shaped Jodie—while leaning heavily on a specially developed, lizard green shade known as "Bottega Green.” Lee was succeeded by French-Belgian designer Matthieu Blazy, who, assisted by cultural figures like A$AP Rocky and Jacob Elordi, has propelled the house’s craft-centric bag legacy further with styles like the Andiamo and Hop.
Marni
Marni creative director Francesco Risso’s signature exuberance manifests on colorful tote bags and woven shoppers well-suited to carrying everyday items. The Italian label's casual offerings, such as the Tropicalia, are balanced by more sophisticated designs like the Prisma.
Miu Miu
Miu Miu is Miuccia Prada’s creative sandbox, where she explores themes and ideas considered too playful for the artistic seriousness of Prada. Launched in 1993, Miu Miu has come into sharp cultural focus in recent years due partially to a renewed embrace of its signature matelassé leather quilting technique, exemplified on bags like the Wander and Arcadie. Styles like the functional Pocket shoulder bag and half-moon Leather shoulder hobo bag round out an increasingly influential handbag program.
Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen’s dark aesthetics are exemplified by the house’s signature knuckle-inspired handle, featured on designs like the Four-Ring clutch bag. The British label continues to play with shapes and proportions today, from tailored shoulder designs to slouchy hobo bags, totes and satchels.
Balenciaga
With the Le City (or Motorcycle) bag, Nicolas Ghesquière blazed a trail at Balenciaga in the early 2000s, a path Demna Gvasalia continued with the bag’s successor, Le Cagole. The Georgian designer has revolutionized the house since assuming creative control in 2015, bringing a street sensibility to the house echoed in styles like the Neo Classic and Hourglass.
Designer Bag Trends
Handbag designs have fallen in lockstep with the “quiet luxury” trend, focused on clean lines and premium materials over loud logos. Spring/Summer 2024 debuted a number of new bag styles, from oversized and embellished to the widespread use of chain handles.
Designer Bags FAQ
How much are designer bags?
You can find competitive pricing information for designer bags on alias, the official selling app of GOAT and Flight Club.
Where to sell designer bags?
You can resell designer bags on GOAT or on alias, the official selling app of GOAT and Flight Club.