15 of the Best Purse Brands of All-Time

If you’re in the market for a new (or your first) designer or investment handbag, you’ve got to, at the very least, recognize the best designer purse brands and their legacy pieces. With iconic pieces dating back to over a century ago, a cult following, and luxury materials – most of the best brands have stood the test of time.

What to Look for in a Designer Purse Brand

Despite what you may think, designer bags aren’t always just about a recognizable label or signature prints. They’re high-quality, luxury pieces made to last a lifetime. Here’s how to tell if you’ve picked up a winning designer.

Timeless designs: Yes, some legacy designers produce trendy seasonal bags with neon PVC and giant splashes of color. But the best designers also carry several classic pieces that will take you into the next few decades. You can usually find a designer’s iconic bags by searching for neutral colors, ageless shapes, and the brand’s distinct craftsmanship. 

Stitching: Luxury handbag designers pay attention to every detail,  including stitching. Stitches should be close together and clean without any frays. Panels and fabric should blend seamlessly without interrupting any patterns. Remember, quality is often hidden in the details. There’s nothing sadder than a designer bag that’s literally falling apart. 

Hardware: These should give your bag some serious weight. All zippers, closures, keyrings and chain handles should be heavy, scratch-free, and stay in place when you open or close them. 

Fabric: Once you touch a buttery lambskin Chanel Boy bag, you’ll know what we’re talking about. Generally speaking, luxury designers stick to natural fibers and high-quality leathers, like lambskin and calfskin. Although some designers may use leather alternatives in their designs, too. 

Try to keep these in mind while picking out your next bag. More often than not, you’ll find a beautiful bag to add to your collection. But if you’re having trouble making a decision, check out our picks for the biggest designer purse brands on StockX.

1. Louis Vuitton

There’s no doubt that Louis Vuitton is the most recognizable name on this list. The brand, which got its start in France in the late 1800s, is best known for its Speedy bag and Neverfull tote in checkered Damier prints and LV Monogram made of leather and coated canvas. 

While the fashion house is well over 100 years old, the designs really don’t feel like it. Louis Vuitton continues to keep the bags fresh well into the 2000s, hiring creative directors like Marc Jacobs and Virgil Abloh and collaborating with the likes of Supreme and Takashi Murakami.

Every iteration surfaced bright, playful and contemporary designs like Murakami’s famous edition of the LV Speedy Monogramouflage in Green.

2. Chanel

 

Like we said above, there’s no better feeling than walking around with one of Chanel’s soft signature bags in one of the brand’s many types of leather. The Parisian brand’s signature metal CC turn-lock, quilted leather designs, and heavy-weight silver and gold chains crop up in almost all of Chanel’s cult-favorites – like Chanel’s Boy bag, sparkly CC earrings, and wallets on chain (WOC) handbags.

Like almost every other designer listed here, Chanel continues to stay relevant with superfans like Kylie Jenner and a first-time collab with the musician Pharrell. But instead of going too over the top, the fashion house stays faithful to its more demure, simple roots and iconic designs.

3. Gucci

Even those with the most basic handbag knowledge can recite the four signature Gucci bags: the Dionysus, Boston, Marmot, and Soho Disco. 

Each bag is complete with its own iconic features. The Dionysus has palladium hardware and tiger head closure and the Boston has a structured body and sturdy handles. The Marmot is known for its zigzag quilted leather exterior and gold GG hardware and the Soho Disco for its embroidered GG logo, boxy shape, and whimsical tassel. 

Outside of the classic bags, Gucci offers tons of collector’s items and collab pieces that you don’t want to sleep on.

4. Hermes

You’ve heard of the Birkin bag by Hermes. And you may not know much more than that it’s one of the most expensive handbags in the world. But, like most bags of this caliber, It’s expensive and coveted for a reason. 

Hermes’s signature bag comes complete with polished gold or silver hardware, a swivel clasp, saddle stitching along its seams, and, usually, a Hermes logo stamped above the bag’s closure. While Hermes continues to reformulate this bag over the years, these elements remain constant.

The Birkin isn’t the only Hermes bag worth lusting over. You’ve got to check out the Constance with a sideways “H” logo, the Evelyne crossbody, and the Kelly (like a Birkin but with a crossbody strap.)

5. Goyard

Goyard card cases and totes continue to prevail as some of the most sought-after accessories around the globe. And, of course, the brand’s rich history and attention to detail definitely play a part in its rise to fame. The luxury fashion house was founded in Paris in 1853. Like Louis Vuitton, Goyard’s founder starting out by making leather trunks but later expanded to totes and other traveling accessories. 

Today, the fashion house is known for its Goyardine canvas. Goyard’s textile makers combine hemp, linen, and cotton to create a unique water-resistant material. The fabric’s signature print is just as important – a chevron print that comes in an array of bold colors. 

Handbag enthusiasts covet Goyard’s Goyardine card cases and Goyardine totes the most.

6. Saint Laurent

Saint Laurent, also known as YSL, entered the Parisian fashion scene in the 1960s. Supercharged with experimental ideas (hello, Le Smoking suit!), founder Yves Saint Laurent is often thought to have created a brand for the modern woman. 

Saint Laurent’s Niki, Kate, Envelope and Lou bags set themselves apart with a large “YSL” silver or gold logo in front and center, plush quilted leather, heavy chain silver or gold-tone hardware, and structured appearance. While YSL’s Sac Du Jour satchel features smooth calfskin panels and durable handles.

7. Prada

Prada’s got its hands in everything – from building a fashion empire to hosting sailing races in New Zealand to acquiring some of the world’s biggest brands, like Helmut Lang and Jil Sander. Even as Prada continues to expand into other verticals outside of clothing and accessories, its handbags continue to remain a massive part of the designer’s identity. 

Like many of its peers, Prada started off selling trunks and handbags in the early 1900s. But, it evolved into the Prada we know today in the 1970s and 1980s when its designers introduced its iconic nylon backpacks and totes. 

Prada’s handbags are famous for its subdued silver-plated triangle and simple designs, as seen in the Galleria tote. Or, even better, its hardware-heavy Cahier bags.

8. Dior

You might’ve noticed Dior’s adorable bee motif in from its collaboration with KAWS in their Spring/Summer 2019 collection. But, like most luxury handbag designers, Dior didn’t always take pop-art cues. Instead, Dior’s is deeply rooted in French fashion  – evident with its iconic bag shapes, patterns, and hardware.

The Lady Dior and  Diorama bags show off Dior’s penchant for quilted, geometric leather and heavy buckles, straps, and keychains breathe luxury. The canvas “Dior” logo print and calfskin Saddlebags show off the line’s sporty side with a large collection of cardholders, belt bags, and handbags.

9. Givenchy

Givenchy, headquartered in Paris and founded in 1952, started out as a collection of casual skirts and blouses. But in a short time, and with the help of celebrity fans like Audrey Hepburn, Jacquie O, and Elizabeth Taylor and a collaboration with Cristobal Balenciaga, catapulted into fame by the 1970s. 

Decades later, Givenchy’s bags fly off the shelves in both luxury boutiques and department stores. Givenchy’s bags, like the Pandora, Nightingale, and the Antigona, come complete with hefty handles, slouchy shapes, and the signature Givenchy logos.

10. Balenciaga

Balenciaga’s definitely best known for its legendary Lariat and City Bags – both “it” bags of the early 2000s carried by the Olsen twins, Paris Hilton, and reality TV stars. The Lariat and City Bags are edgy takes on a classic leather satchel that feature heavy metal zippers and grommets, multiple pockets, and a relaxed box shape. 

This Spanish fashion house is known for more than that, though. Today, Balenciaga’s bold, structured Ville, Triangle, and Camera bags, often with “BALENCIAGA” written across the side panels, and take center stage among handbag buffs and influencers.

11. Chloe

This French designer’s feminine shapes, delicate chains, statement closures, and dreamy pastel colors make Chloe’s iconic bags stand out in an infinite sea of dark leather handbags. And Chloe fans know this is true – a Drew Crossbody or a Pixie Waist Bag stand in sharp contrast to the designs of Balenciaga, Givenchy, Fendi, Chanel, and Saint Laurent.

Even though Gaby Aghion launched Chloe in the 1950s with ready-to-wear and haute couture collections, it took until the early 2000s for the brand to produce a line of leather goods. Like most ubiquitous bags in that decade, Chloe’s designs quickly became ‘it’ bags and stars like Sienna Miller were seen sporting them around town.

12. Celine

Celine’s handbags are the exact shade of understated luxury, with a pinch of sporty minimalism, that was needed to propel this 70-year-old brand into the arms of today’s A-list celebrities and bag enthusiasts. Creative Director Phoebe Philo, who left Celine in 2018, can take full responsibility for their lasting success. 

The brand is known for its iconic boxy shape, large branded gold metal locks, and luxe fabrics, like an Amazon-colored lizard, silver calfskin, and a soft, supple lambskin. You’ll find Celine’s iconic Box Bag and drummed calfskin Luggage bags in several vibrant colors and sizes.

13. Fendi

Fendi’s been around for almost 100 years, getting its start in Rome as a luxury leather and fur shop. Like many older brands, it’s experienced big changes over the years, like Karl Lagerfield joining as a creative director and eventually becoming apart of the LVMH group in 2001, joining companies like Moet and Chandon, Christian Dior, and Bvlgari, among others.

Because of this, the brand developed a diverse audience while staying true to its roots. So if you’re into sharp silhouettes, sporty logos, and pops of unapologetic color, but want a classic Fendi shape you can check out the Fendi Baguette Bugs Micro Purple. Or if you’re looking for an eccentric style, you may want the Fendi Fur Monster Baguette. Into something more subdued? You’ll love an Amor Baguette in Nappa Fringe Red.

14. Valentino

Valentino’s designs were never, ever shy. The Italian fashion designer’s famous for its iconic red dresses, animal print runway looks, and rockstud handbags, pumps, and flats that all ooze Hollywood glamour. Although the founder put on his last haute couture show in 2008, the legacy of opulence and adventure lives on through the newest creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli.

Today’s handbag collectors love the Rockstud bags that come in several classic shapes, like the Rockstud Shoulder Bag and the Rockstud Rolling Guitar Tote.

15. Stella McCartney

The youngest design label on this list, Stella McCartney proved that you could create runway-worthy bags without animal products. Her vegan-friendly styles are found in the popular Falabella styles, like the Totes, the Clutch, the Box, and Shoulder bags, that have a unique bell shape with a crisp edge.

Before releasing her own collection in the early 2000s, she worked for Christian LaCroix and Chloe.

The biggest purse brands have been around for a while – and for a reason. If you’re looking for the 100% authentic vintage, rare, and brand new handbags, stop by the StockX Marketplace and place an Ask or Bid.  Want to place an Ask or Bid, but not sure how it works? Check out our guide on How to Buy & Sell Handbags on StockX.