According to Girl Math coinsure Data But Make It Fashion, the Balenciaga City Bag has seen a whopping 55 per cent increase in searches this year. Mirroring her findings, luxury second hand E-commerce platform Vestiaire Collective has cited the slouched leather purse in their top 10 most wanted bags.
Launching in 2001, under the creative direction of Nicolas Ghesquière, the Spanish brand’s it bag was in steep competition from the onset, amidst the reign of the Dior Saddle and Hermès Kelly, the fashion scene had already established its holy grails of the season. So much so, that the production quantity of the Balenciaga City Bag was initially limited to only 25 pieces. However, despite the initial cautious launch, the bag flew off the shelves, becoming an instant favourite in fashion’s early adopters and went on to become one of the most iconic bags of the noughties.
Contrasting the feminine silhouettes and detailing’s of the popular purses of the time, the Balenciaga City Bag has an unapologetic masculine face. Constructed with outwards facing buckles, rigid studs, and metal hardware, the accents all feature a hardened edge. While the malleable leather material and rectangular shape on the other hand, give it some soft wearability as well.
With the range of hues, sizes and even stylistic avenues the it-bag has taken, the current fashion scene can interact with the iconic silhouette with multitude. For the androgynous youth and the timeless classy folks, the Balenciaga City Bag holds a versatile persona.
A street style staple: the Balenciaga City Bag
On post-workout coffee runs or quick strolls, all the celeb paparazzi pics of the early 2000s it girls featured the defiantly cool Balenciaga purse on their arms. From Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen to Kate Moss and Paris Hilton, the noughties leading fashion woman awarded their approval to the city bag rather quickly.
And while the finesse of celebrity endorsement on the cultural zeitgeist has slowed since, the beginning of the century saw enormous waves through it-girl approval. Trickling across the scene, the Balenciaga City Bag made it imprint across communities. From nightclub goers to grunge fan clubs, it possessed a sense of raw unconventionality and roughness that became a sought after attitude.
Its 2024 Return
The aforementioned data points aren’t the only things that point to its much awaited return. Trickling in across the past few months/years has been the unapologetically cool scent of the versatile purse. Initially through the unfathomable rise of its shoulder-bag cousin, the Le Cagole. Holding the buckles and studs of the original piece, the mega-trendy smaller purse has been seen on the arms of Bella Hadid, Alexa Demie, Kim Kardashian and more.
With a slight face lift, the coveted luxury brand has announced the commercial return of its irresistible purse, in April 2024. Titled “Beyond Nostalgia” the illustrious bags live under the “Le City” tag now. From timeless beige and black colourways to timely metallics and bolder hues, the current line reflects today’s stylistic mindset.
In its signature Arena lambskin material, you can now add a slightly more rigid version of the Balenciaga City bag to your arsenal. From an arm-length handbag size to a spacious everyday staple, new line is a fashion statement for many occasions.
Revolutionising the fashion scene with its boundary-pushing personality, this it-bag has withstood the test of time and marks it entrances to timeless luxury with its loud relaunch.
