5 Iconic Vintage Bag Styles | Accessories Booming Back in Modern Fashion Trends
Vintage bag styles are the love child of sophistication and practicality, serving as a reminder that fashion can be a practical accessory and a status symbol. And at Nostalgia Nook Antiques, we love nothing more than diving into the history of everyday items and showcasing their craftsmanship. And these vintage bag styles are certainly worth uncovering.
In this blog post, we summarise decades of handbag history in a bite-sized readable article to help you find an iconic vintage bag for your wardrobe to use, love, and admire. These five bag styles have stood the test of time and are still contenders for high-fashion accessories in the modern era while holding onto a piece of history with their unique designs.
5 Iconic Vintage Bag Styles | Accessories Booming Back in Modern Fashion Trends
5 Iconic Vintage Handbags That Seem to Never Go Out of Style
The Classic Top Handle Bag
Examples of Top Handle Bags
The top handle bag’s most famous representative is none other than the iconic Hermès Kelly Bag, which was birthed in the 1930s and has been popular since Princess Grace Kelly used the bag during her pregnancy. This bag is a stunning trapezoid shape that takes 18 to 24 hours of craftsmanship, making it a practical accessory and a piece of handmade art.
Another timeless leather top handle bag is the boxy and quilted Lady Dior bag from 1994. This architectural masterpiece was gifted to Princess Diana by the first lady of France and is still a symbol of couture today.
The Victorian Frame Bag and its Modern Revival
Although we could discuss the top handle bag all day long, the frame bag rightfully holds its place on this list of luxury bags for its rich history dating back to the Victorian era.
1800s Victorian England is seldom referred to as ‘cool’ and ‘feminine’. However, this bag is a product of a time when women’s fashion was dramatically less casual than our modern dress code. Thus, the frame bag was created for the age of structured garments when ladies dressed up for every occasion.
These bags feel sturdy and hold their shape regardless of the contents. Therefore, a kiss-lock closure design adds to the bag’s sleek and sophisticated appeal. It’s no surprise this design of the vintage bag was favored by celebrities in the 20th century to ooze luxury and regality.
Examples of Frame Bags
The Frame bag is set to become increasingly popular in the coming years after being benched in favor of more ‘trendy’ bags, such as the barrel bag and bowler bag. Therefore, we expect to see more frame styles emerge in the latter half of the 2020s.
The Saint Laurent Le Anne-Marie shoulder bag is a larger frame bag, while Prada’s Medium Brushed Leather bag is a wonderful option for anyone looking for something a little more angular.
The Equestrian-Inspired Saddle Bag
A Google search may confuse the Saddlebag as a small pack to sit under a bicycle seat; for this article about classic bag styles, we are looking at the Equestrian-style fashion saddle bag. And arguably this stylish bag is just as practical.
Traditionally, this curvy bag is shaped in a half-moon or semi-circle shape. It was designed for maximum practicality when strapped to a horse’s saddle. Moreover, the fashion-forward alternative of this bag debuted in 1999 from Dior and has since been a staple handbag in stylish wardrobes.
This hands-free bag is a crossbody bag made of a durable material, like leather or strong canvas. These bags are curved at the bottom with a flap over the top to conceal your belongings inside.
Examples of Staple Saddle Bags
Any search for Saddle bags will likely render the DIOR Saddle Bag as the top result and for good reason. This bag by John Galliano came about in the 90s as a tribute to the elegance of the equestrian sport.
It’s worth looking out for the Coach vintage bags as one of the original designs of this style from the 1970s and 80s.
Unsurprisingly, Ralph Lauren has also had a hand in securing the demand for this style of vintage bag across the 20th century and into the 21st.
This Is Our Video Discussing the Resurgence of Classic Handbag Styles
Mid-Century Compact Box Bag
As noted in our post about 1900s makeup trends, the 1950s and 60s were largely embodiments of minimal sophistication. The mid-century box bag was tiny, solid, and elegant without becoming fussy.
The compact box bag is, and still is to this day, a suitable choice for evening wear and elevated everyday fashion due to its minimalistic design and structured shape.
Examples of Mid-Century Box Bags
The Mark Cross Grace Box Bag, also named after Grace Kelly like the Kelly Hermes Bag, is a favorite among modern collectors.
There are also bags in this popular choice made by Wilardy, Celine, Marc Jacobs, and Charles S. Kahn that are well worth searching up for their spectacular finishes.
Statement Beaded Evening Bag
Every refined lady needs a classy beaded evening bag in her collection. These Art Deco staples are known for their intricate, mesmerizing beadwork and sequins, making them excellent statement pieces for events. However, in recent years, fashion has allowed individuals to become more experimental. So it wouldn’t be too untoward to wear one with a fashion-forward daytime look.
Examples of Beaded Evening Bags
As this style of bag has been around since the 1920s and benefited from modern brands in the luxury space reviving them, they aren’t too hard to come by. However, we suggest pursuing a vintage bag from the 20s to 50s, as these pieces are typically crafted by highly skilled artisans and have the ability to endure over time.
FAQ: Pondering About Period Bags
How Can I Store a Vintage Bag in an Antique Collection?
Storing antique bags is, strangely, like storing cookies. Although this sounds like crazy advice, essentially you want to keep them out of direct sunlight, in a cool, dry place, and preferably in an airtight container.
How Can I Ensure My Vintage Bag is Authentic?
Key things to look out for when buying vintage bags on the reseller market include:
- Stitching quality
- Hardware durability and consistent metal finishes
- Identical matches for logos and spellings
- Material feel and quality
- Labels and codes in the interior lining
If you are unsure about the authenticity of a bag, a local high-end goods seller may help. Or you can use the CheckCheck app and have your bag examined by 2 industry professionals and receive a certificate for a small fee (approximately $15-20 per item).
Are Vintage Bags a Good Investment?
Absolutely! Albeit unsurprisingly, the return on investment varies wildly between bags, brands, and trends and can change depending on the condition of the bag.
Are Vintage Bag Charms and Brooches Back?
At Nostalgia Nook Antiques, we like to buy, collect, and treasure items that bring us joy to hold. Rather than picking up items quickly in an endless pursuit for the ‘next new thing’. Antique collecting is a charming hobby for cultivating a collection to last a lifetime. Therefore, we try not to focus too much on what’s trending from season to season.
However, we also enjoy researching long-term trends that inspire us and through recent research, we found that bag charms and brooches are back in fashion.
Final Thoughts on Vintage Bag Styles: Timeless Elegance in Every Stitch
A simple definition of vintage bags could be older handheld accessories. But at Nostalgia Nook Antiques, we identify these varied pieces as tokens of history with a high degree of expert craftsmanship that can be used to elevate any ordinary outfit or admired in a curated vintage bag collection.
So we hope you enjoyed learning about these five iconic vintage bag styles, from the structured sophistication of the top-handle bag to the charming frame bag and more, whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply keen to start with a small keystone vintage bag to build up your collection.
Bonus Content:
Our goal in writing this essay was to provide you with useful information and ideas. See more material that we think you’ll like down below.
