11 Low-Key Luxury Bags That Are Timeless, Anti-Trend and Still Peak Cool
The Luxury List is a monthly column on all things luxury, exploring cult items from heritage brands, tapping the foremost experts in the fashion space, and doing deep dives into the investment pieces that are worth it.
Conversations about designer handbags typically revolve around one specific phrase: "It bags." That saying has been less prominent recently, though, replaced by "quiet-luxury bags" that combine ease, subtlety, and quality craftsmanship without prominent logos. Such discussions are unfolding everywhere from our editor Slack channels to TikTok to The Wall Street Journal. But this isn't to say that these bags are completely unidentifiable despite a lack of branding. Rather, they have details such as signature clasps and unique silhouettes that only astute fashion observers would recognise.
Though there are a number of cult bags that fall into the camp of quiet luxury, Savette is a noteworthy newcomer. According to Net-a-Porter Market Director Libby Page, sleek silhouettes from Savette are resonating with shoppers, making it one of the only brands to successfully break into the luxury-bag market across the retailer in a long time. This signals a rise in the quiet-luxury category overall, as the label joins the leagues of investment brands such as Hermès, Khaite, Celine, and Prada that are as quiet as they are cool. Here, see the best low-key quiet-luxury bags that are primed to be in your wardrobe for many years ahead.
1. Savette Symmetry Bag
One of the breakout brands from the last several years, Savette—the brainchild of founder and designer Amy Zurek—is known for its logoless bags that are finished with its signature metal hardware.
Shop Savette:
This smooth cream version will work hard in any classic wardrobe.
2. Hermès Kelly Bag
Hermès bags are famous for their long waiting lists and mysterious buying practices as much as they're known for their cult status among fashion's most in-the-know insiders. Kelly bags, in particular, are a style that is practically free of branding and known for their expert craftsmanship.
Shop Hèrmes:
3. Celine Triomphe Bag
The metal clasp on Celine's Triomphe bags takes inspiration from the metal chain surrounding the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Otherwise, the bags retain clean and sleek lines, making them seasonless, functional, and beautiful pieces.
Shop Celine:
Only in-the-know fashionista's will know this motif.
4. The Row Sofia Bag
The Row's signature understated minimalism has been distilled into the brand's latest Sofia bag—an unfussy, simple leather crossbody bag that is already cropping up in the most luxurious (and stylish) closets.
Shop The Row:
5. Toteme T-Lock Bag
Inconspicuous, elegant, and unrecognizable except for the subtle "T" clasp, Toteme's T-Lock bag is one of the most notable bag launches in recent memory.
Shop Totême:
6. Prada Re-Edition 1995 Bag
The Prada Re-Edition 1995 bag was famously carried by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy—a fashion icon known for her quiet-luxury style. It was brought back by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, and the co-designers ushered the timeless bag back into the fashion space, making it one of the key investment buys to own.
Shop Prada:
The sharp structure adds to the elevated feel of this bag.
7. Khaite Olivia Bag
At Khaite, Cate Holstein designs pieces for New York women. Among them is the Olivia bag, a style that masters the balance of simplicity and modern cool.
Shop Khaite:
8. Bottega Veneta Arco Bag
With Matthieu Blazy at the helm of Bottega Veneta, the brand has reached a new level of buzz and has distilled some of its archival design elements (including woven leather) into some truly seasonless bags, including the Arco Tote.
Shop Bottega Veneta:
9. Métier Perriand Bag
With a line of expertly crafted travel-inspired luxury leather goods, London-based brand Métier should be on the top of your radar for timeless pieces to bring on a flight or road trip.
Shop Métier:
The suede version is seriously elevated.
10. Saint Laurent Manhattan Bag
Like the city it's named for, Saint Laurent's Manhattan bag is sophisticated, elegant, and timeless.
Shop Saint Laurent:
The elongated shape of the clutch version will always feel fashion forward.
This one will endure trends and seasons.
11. Tory Burch Lee Radziwill Bag
Named after Lee Radziwill, the eponymous Tory Burch bag mirrors the late fashion icon's style with its structured silhouette, top handle, and timeless design.
Shop Tory Burch:
The design lends itself to be worn open, semi-buttoned or closed.
This story originally appeared on Who What Wear U.S. and has since been updated.
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Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.
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