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If you think of the rise of quiet luxury, Celine bags come to mind. The luxury designer has several sleek, sophisticated bags in their fashion house. The designs are minimal, which makes them the perfect handbag to capture the old money look.
Established in 1945, Celine was founded by its namesake Celine and Richard Vapiana. In 1966, the fashion brand expanded its line to include bags. The brand reached global fame when Phoebe Philo took over. Let’s be honest, that’s when we all started paying attention.
Phoebe Philo exemplified the clean, timeless rebranding the fashion house needed. Several of the most recognizable Celine bags are from the era when Phoebe Philo was in charge—this time period is referred to as “Old Celine.” She launched some of the most iconic bags: the Celine Box bag, and the Celine Belt bag are a few examples.
In 2018, Hedi Slimane took over as the creative director, and added the trademark logo back onto the bags. He gave Celine a new edge, but retained a sophisticated approach.
The Celine Triomphe bag is arguably one of Hedi Slimane’s best creations. With its double CC motif, the logo was embossed on its lock. It retained its box bag shape from the “Old Celine” era, but embodied a sleeker design.
Scroll below for the best Celine bags from both eras to consider for your next purchase.
The Celine Box bag was launched in 2011 under the leadership of Phoebe Philo.
There are no bells and whistles, no visible logos, just a beautifully constructed bag made from premium leather.
With its impeccable design, it fits perfectly in the landscape of quiet luxury.
This is the perfect everyday bag, whether it be for work or school.
The Celine Belt bag ranges from mini, micro, nano and pico ( largest to smallest). All four are made of durable grained calfskin and have a top handle and strap.
The knotted belt gives the bag its distinguishable feature without the use of large logos.
The iconic triomphe motif was designed in the 1970s.
The story goes: Céline’s car broke down in Paris, right in front of the Arc de Triomphe and she drew inspiration from the the chain surrounding the iconic monument. Hence, the double C logo.
Hedi Slimane rediscovered that story and placed the motif on the Triomphe bags.
The Ava, which was part of Celine’s Winter 2023 collection, became an it-girl staple.
The crescent shaped bag, which fits snugly under the shoulders, comes in various materials and designs.
This bag has become the Summer it-bag.
Crafted from hand-woven palm leaves and trimmed with calfskin – this chic beach bag is perfect for a day at the beach or a Summer city bag.
Another great Summer option!
Spacious enough for a day at the pool or errands, this is a canvas bag with the logo embroidered in a sleek manner.
There are lots of different designs for this Summer bag.