Luxury bags are no small investment, especially now, with prices constantly creeping higher and higher. Doing the research on a particular style is one way to reduce the risk of buyer’s remorse—or gauge a bag’s potential resale value. Or, simply, to dream.
Canadians in particular are not immune to the allure of a designer bag. In 2023, we ranked number five on the list of top countries by Google search volume on the topic, according to Watch Pilot, with 1,099 searches per 100,000 people. We’re right in step with the U.S. but nowhere near Australia, which tops the list at 2,100 searches per 100,000.
Of course, Googling a bag isn’t the same as buying it. For one thing, many luxury brands simply don’t offer online purchases. And looking up a certain handbag can help us talk ourselves out of it, as much as into it. Sometimes, watching 12 unboxing videos of the Loewe Puzzle is enough to quiet the desire.
Still, the data reveals truths about current trends (quiet luxury is real), consumer preferences (we miss Alessandro Michele!) and the enduring power of high-end brands. Without further ado, here are the year’s most searched luxury bags.
The big winner
Coming in at the top of the list, the Celine Triomphe is a boxy, sleek shoulder bag that was first introduced in the ’70s. Half a century later, it’s never been more popular. That the year’s top bag is not stamped with obvious logos is emblematic of the current reign of “quiet luxury.” The Triomphe is an “if you know, you know” accessory, and based on its position in the list, plenty of Canadians “know”—especially compared with our southern neighbours. In the U.S., the Celine Triomphe is merely the eighth most searched bag.
The surprise runner-up
The number-two spot goes to a bag with surprising longevity. The Louis Vuitton Neverfull is a slouchy, monogrammed tote that was first introduced in 2007 and is one of the more practical options as far as designer bags go. While the bag has always been popular, searches for the style on TikTok have amassed over four billion views this year. Despite rumours that the bag would be discontinued, Louis Vuitton continues to offer it. However, the brand has moved some styles of the Neverfull to a “waitlist” model—possibly to drum up desire and overcome the bag’s “basic” reputation. Basic or not, this tote’s got staying power. In the U.S., however, the LV Neverfull seems to have been trumped by the Goyard tote, which took the number one spot overall.
The practical middle-of-the-pack
We hear it a lot: When it comes to fashion, Canadians default to the practical and sensible. So it makes sense that the third, fourth and fifth slots on the most-searched bags list went to mid-tier brands that offer more accessible takes on luxury handbags. DeMellier, a British brand favoured by Kate Middleton, creates sleek top-handle purses and structured totes in neutral tones of black, taupe and brown. By contrast, Polène is a Parisian brand that leans on organic, rounded lines and a warm palette. Polene’s Cyme bag, with its double strap and roomy interior, is made for chic schlepping. And then there’s Kate Spade, the most affordable brand on this list, with styles that feel timeless yet playful—like the Hudson, which can also be worn on the shoulder. Its small size and flat silhouette is reminiscent of the early aughts, which have been enjoying an extended comeback.
The quirky fave
The Gucci Dionysus features a horseshoe-shaped clasp that references the Greek god said to have crossed the river Tigris on a tiger sent to him by Zeus. It was revived from the archive by former creative director Alessandro Michele in 2015, the year he took over the brand, and was synonymous with Gucci’s move toward maximalist embellishment and granny chic styling; some iterations of the Dionysus came with colourful appliqués, embroidery and monogram. And although Gucci has since moved in a sleeker direction under newly appointed creative director Sabato de Sarno, the Dionysus’ spot in the top 10 shows that fashion followers aren’t quite ready to move on from the quirky Gucci look we’ve come to know and love.
The bag you’ve seen everywhere
You can hardly set foot inside a subway or walk down the street without seeing at least one boxy canvas bag emblazoned with the words The Tote Bag. Marc Jacobs’ accessibly priced tote comes with an adjustable, clip-on shoulder strap and plenty of extra pockets. It’s special enough to feel like an upgrade from the canvas totes that litter your front hallway (and it’s more structured, to boot) without coming off too precious. Name another designer bag that can handle an impromptu grocery run. And while it’s number seven in Canada, it sits pretty at number two in the U.S.
The bag that’s gone but not forgotten in resale
The boxy little Gucci Soho bag, with its chain strap and stitched interlocking Gs, was first introduced in 2012 and became an instant hit thanks to its practical shape, handy cross-body style and entry-level price point (well, entry level for Gucci). It has since been discontinued, but lives on thanks to online resale sites—where it can be yours for well under $2,000 (sadly, that’s somewhat of a “steal” in the designer bag world). This year, Gucci debuted a very similar style called the Blondie, which keeps Soho’s boxy shape, long strap and playful tassel, but swaps in a refreshed G logo and diagonal stitching. All for a slightly higher price, of course.
The enduring heavy-hitters
Luxury stalwarts Dior and Chanel round up the top ten. Although the Google search data did not specify which particular styles from each brand were searched, we would guess that the evergreen popularity of the Chanel Classic Flap are propping up the searches.
The renewed popularity of the Dior Saddle bag (above), which counts over 100 million views on TikTok and consistently holds its value in resale, is likely a factor here. Plus, the Dior Lady bag is bound to enjoy renewed interest, seeing as Princess Diana clutched one as she boarded a private jet in the latest season of The Crown.
Source : THEKIT
