Luxury bags in 2026: between heritage and renewal

From catwalks to online boutiques, the handbag is more than ever a wardrobe staple. Here’s a look at trends, the brands that count and new ways to treat yourself to excellence.

There are some accessories that endure the decades without ever losing their lustre. The handbag is one of them. In 2026, the world of luxury leather goods is living through a singular moment: the great houses are boldly revisiting their archives, silhouettes are becoming more supple, materials more noble, and ways of shopping for the exceptional have never been so fluid. The start of the new year is the perfect opportunity to decipher the fundamental movements that are reshaping the luxury landscape, and to understand why the bag remains, season after season, the object of desire par excellence.

Trends that define spring-summer 2026

After several seasons dominated by mini-bags and ostentatious logos, the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction. The spring-summer 2026 catwalks show a landscape where functionality is back in the limelight. Generous tote bags, supple hobo shapes and half-moon silhouettes are the order of the day for all the major fashion houses. At Chanel, proportions widen; at Bottega Veneta, intrecciato woven leather adorns new oversized structures; Chloé, for its part, resurrects the mythical Paddington with its trademark panache.

Movement is not limited to volume. Textures gain in relief – grained leather, suede, worked raffia – and hues range from chic neutrality (camel, mocha, sand) to bold bursts of color (fuchsia, turquoise, apple green). The idea is clear: the bag must no longer simply accompany an outfit, it must tell its own story.

Louis Vuitton celebrates 130 years of Monogram

This year’s highlights include the 130th anniversary of the Louis Vuitton Monogram. Created in 1896 by Georges Vuitton as a tribute to his father, this interlacing motif of the initials LV and stylized flowers has become one of the luxury industry’s most recognizable visual codes. To mark this anniversary, the company is rolling out a series of exclusive capsules throughout 2026.

The VVN capsule, for example, revisits the iconic Speedy, Keepall, Noé, Alma and Neverfull models in a streamlined version in natural, vegetable-tanned leather, with no visible Monogram. The Time Trunk collection plays on trompe-l’œil by printing archive photographs of historic trunks directly onto canvas. As for color, the Monogram Origine capsule features a soft linen and cotton canvas in pastel shades, a nod to the company’s early travels.

The collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, which gained cult status with its first iteration in the early 2000s, also returns for a colorful reissue. Enough to satisfy collectors and neophytes alike in search of emotionally charged pieces.

The rise of online luxury shopping

If the handbag is reinventing itself on the catwalk, so too is the way in which it is acquired. Luxury e-commerce has reached a maturity that now makes it credible in the face of the in-store experience. Platforms like 24S, born in 2017 within the LVMH group, embody this transformation. Anchored in Paris, the platform offers a cutting-edge selection of over 350 brands from Celine to Dior via Jacquemus, Loewe or The Row with five-star service: express delivery in over 100 countries, personal shopper, signature packaging and free returns.

What really sets 24S apart is its exclusive access to some of the group’s houses. For those who dream of buying a Louis Vuitton bag exclusively on 24S, the platform is the only authorized online retailer for the company’s accessories. Each piece is 100% authentic, delivered in its original packaging. A precious guarantee of confidence in a market where counterfeiting remains a scourge.

Ultimates: the hidden treasure of connoisseurs

In addition to its regular catalog, 24S offers a category of its own, designed for fashion enthusiasts looking for rarity. Dubbed the “Ultimates“, this selection brings together rare pieces from previous collections by houses such as Louis Vuitton and Celine – models no longer found in boutiques and which, over time, acquire almost collector’s status. It’s an ideal hunting ground to unearth an iconic bag in a discontinued color or a limited edition that has slipped through the cracks.

This concept responds to a fundamental trend: the appreciation of timeless pieces rather than the race for novelty. At a time when fashion is questioning its own pace of production, investing in an exceptional bag from a past collection is as much about aesthetic pleasure as it is about a responsible approach.

Celine, Dior, Balenciaga: the other houses to watch

Of course, Louis Vuitton is not the only fashion house to be in the news at the start of 2026. At Dior, the arrival of Jonathan Anderson as Artistic Director has breathed a spectacular breath of fresh air. His Dracula Book Tote, seen for the first time worn by Rihanna, combines the literary universe with leather goods with playful aplomb. Each model pays homage to a literary masterpiece, definitively establishing the Irish designer’s vision at the heart of Dior’s DNA.

At Balenciaga, Pierpaolo Piccioli, appointed in 2025, signs the Bolero, a compact bag with a minimalist design that refers to the Spanish wardrobe of Cristobal Balenciaga himself. Saint Laurent unearths its Mombasa, a half-moon model designed by Tom Ford for Spring/Summer 2002 – the circle is complete. As for Fendi, the Roman house reinvents the interior of its Peekaboo, proving that sometimes the most striking innovation is invisible.

In short, we’re witnessing a global movement in which houses are drawing on their heritage to imagine the future. Nostalgia is no longer synonymous with a lack of audacity; it’s a raw material that each artistic director shapes in his or her own way.

The bag as an investment: myth or reality?

Beyond the aesthetic dimension, one question keeps coming up: is a luxury bag a good investment? The answer is nuanced, but some figures speak for themselves. Iconic models by Chanel, Hermès or Louis Vuitton have seen their value rise steadily on the second-hand market, sometimes exceeding the performance of some traditional financial investments.

The secret? Focus on pieces with a strong identity – a Speedy, a Neverfull, a Classic Flap – and keep them in excellent condition. Limited editions and artistic collaborations (such as those with Murakami) tend to see their value soar over time. With this in mind, platforms like 24S, which guarantee authenticity and offer pieces from past collections via Ultimates, are becoming strategic allies for the most discerning buyers.

2026, the year of the bag?

The signals are converging. Between iconic anniversaries, major artistic direction changes, the return of generous volumes and the rise of a truly high-end luxury e-commerce, the handbag is the undisputed protagonist of this fashion year. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or simply looking for the piece that will turn your wardrobe upside down, 2026 offers a playground like no other.

The advice? Don’t hesitate to explore beyond your usual comfort zone, whether it’s discovering a house you’ve never been to before, daring to use a color you’d never have considered, or simply putting your trust in tried-and-tested distribution channels. Parisian elegance cannot be decreed; it must be cultivated one piece at a time.