Under the direction of Demna Gvasalia, Balenciaga has embraced a more avant-garde design philosophy, blending elements of streetwear and luxury, and arguably bringing 90s-esque grunge to the spotlight. Outside of the house’s clothing collections, however, Balenciaga handbags pay homage to both new and old silhouettes, creating a catalog of timeless luxury bags that will be a great addition to your wardrobe.
If you’re in the market for a new Balenciaga handbag, we’ve narrowed down a selection to make your search easier. In no particular order, here are the best Balenciaga bags available now on StockX.
Balenciaga Triangle Handbags
Like the name suggests, the Balenciaga Triangle handbag is designed after a right triangle, featuring leather handles and a cross body strap. In 2017, Balenciaga introduced the Triangle bag, drawing inspiration from ski boot bags that have a triangular shape and rounded-off corners. Contrary to how the design may look, the Balenciaga Triangle bag features a spacious interior, perfect for carrying all your daily necessities.
If your fashion paradigm emphasizes silhouettes and shapes over colors, the Balenciaga Triangle handbag would make a great addition to your collection.
Balenciaga Ville Handbags
If you’re looking for a clean design profile with loud branding, the Balenciaga Ville handbag is your best bet. The bag features an all-leather design with handles, and “BALENCIAGA” written on the front of the handbag. The color of the lettering always contrasts the leather of the bag, a perfect statement handbag for a night out.
Made from real calfskin leather, this bag has a unique silhouette with a flat bottom, a rounded top and a looped handle that allows you to wear it close to your shoulder. A lock-shaped zipper pull makes this bag easy to open and close and adds an artistic touch. The Balenciaga Ville Top Handle Bag XXS Black in Grained Calfskin Leather and Balenciaga Ville Top Handle XXS White/Pink in Calfskin are two of our most popular bags.
Balenciaga Creative Director Demna Gvasalia has embraced a streetwear-focused design philosophy during his successful tenure at the luxury house. He’s arguably the most successful designer that has blended elements of streetwear and luxury, as Balenciaga has remained popular in street culture thanks to its embrace of loud sneakers, futuristic and baggy designs, and of coues, popular handbags like the Balenciaga Ville.
Balenciaga City Handbags
In 2001, previous Balenciaga Head Designer Nicholas Ghesquière designed a few prototypes for a bag called the “Motorcycle City,” which would later become one of the most popular handbags of the 2000s. Today, Balenciaga City Handbags are still a staple in the luxury house’s catalog, blending elements of luxury and street culture in its design profile. Unlike other luxury handbags, the Balenciaga City doesn’t put an emphasis on distinctiveness and cleanliness. Instead, the bags feature a “battered” look to signify constant wear. The bag features high-quality black leather, buckles and straps, but the silhouette of the bag typically lacks structure, giving it a vintage feel — made for wear and tear.
Liana Satenstein wrote for Vogue that the Balenciaga City handbag was formulated for the real deal; made to schlep with. It’s the perfect weekend bag to lug around during your adventures.
“I want to haul six water bottles, a copy of War and Peace, and a massive Oribe round brush that looks like a porcupine,” she said. “It was for the practical woman in a thankless city with a lot of stuff to carry. In other words, it was made for me. Now, try to outbid me on a black version.”
Balenciaga Hourglass
Denma Gvasalia’s designs have never been short of intriguing to the eye, embracing loud and exuberant designs. But even the house under the Georgian fashion designer has embraced tradition. The Balenciaga Hourglass handbag pays homage to luxury bags of the mid 20th-century, featuring loud Balenciaga branding that adds a modern twist to the design.
The hourglass handbags are typically small — the most popular size of the bag only comes in at dimensions of 5.6″ H x 8″ W x 4″ D, making it a great accessory to carry your smaller necessities. The only branding on the Balenciaga Hourglass is the metal Balenciaga “B” logo accented on the front of the bag.
Of all the handbag silhouettes featured on this list, the Hourglass is arguably the most timeless — evoking a sense of nostalgia while still being trendy, striking a perfect balance. While trends always come and go, certain designs will always remain timeless. Even as Balenciaga continues to embrace avant-garde designs, the brand is still paying respects to the heritage of the house.
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