If there’s one thing to know about fashion people, it’s that they all love a baguette. No, not the fluted French boulangerie item – though we are partial to those, too! We’re talking about the emblematic Fendi Baguette, which, since its release, has ascended to the pantheon of fashion accessories – it is, without doubt, one of the most iconic handbags of all time.
Designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi – the Roman Maison’s current artistic director of menswear and accessories – in 1997, the Fendi Baguette came to be at a time when the handbag landscape looked very different to how it does now. Born of a time when roomy totes that allowed their carriers to lug their entire lives around with them were par for the course, the Fendi Baguette was tailored to the size of an evening’s essentials – it was an accessory that, rather than a purely practical item, was destined to be the star of any look.
While many erroneously assume that its name is a diminutive pun on ‘bag’ – so much so that you’ll often hear the term used as a catch-all for any small purse – it was, in fact, a tribute to the French bread sticks it shares its names with – in particular, to the insouciant manner in which they’re often carried beneath the arm. Complete with a short strap, it lay down a foundation for the many compact, rectangular shoulder bags that pepper the market today.
So rapturous was its success upon release that it irrevocably shifted the focus of high-end handbag customers, prompting everyone from Marc Jacobs to John Galliano to draw inspiration from the purse, spurring the mini-bag mania that characterised the early-to-mid 00s. With a bounty of new versions released each season, the Baguette quickly became one of the most collectable accessories out there – to date, there have been more than 1000 versions of it produced! Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past five or so years, you’ll have noticed some of the most striking examples (both vintage and re-issued) make a bold resurgence, appearing in the arms of it-girls like Bella Hadid and Hailey Bieber.
In any case, why are we banging on about the Fendi Baguette, you’re probably wondering. Well, as the more mathematically-inclined among you will have deduced, this year marks the Fendi Baguette’s 25th birthday, and today, in particular, is the day that Kim Jones – the house’s artistic director of womenswear and couture – and Silvia will be throwing a ritzy show in its honour in New York. While the contents of the show itself remain a firmly guarded secret, what we do know is that it will be a testament to the iconic bag’s history, with highlights including collaborative iterations created with Marc Jacobs and Tiffany & Co.
Below, ahead of the show, we raise a toast to some of the most memorable manifestations of the Fendi Baguette.
The Zucca jacquard Baguette
Does it get any more iconic? We don’t think so! Crafted in Fendi’s emblematic Zucca jacquard – the tawny fabric that bears the Maison’s instantly recognisable monogram, designed by Karl Lagerfeld back in 1965 – there are few bags that embody the spirit of a house quite as aptly. Slung insouciantly over the shoulder, it’s a must-have for the Y2K-obsessive, logomaniac it-girl that lives within us all.
Embroidered Baguettes
Though this is more of a Baguette sub-category than an individual bag, Fendi’s embroidered Baguettes have been some of the most memorable a testament to the maison’s impeccable standards of craftsmanship. Some of our favourites over the years have to be the Zucca jacquard illuminated with delicate floral beading and paisley embroidery, bringing an earthy, artisanal touch to the edgy 00s icon.
Paris Hilton’s Baguette
In a perfect union of two early-00s icons, Paris Hilton made the Baguette her go-to during the early heights of her fame, and was regularly papped clutching one of the many she had on rotation — including versions in all-over silver sequins and baby pink lizard leather. Though the general demand for exotic leathers may have cooled since then, the latter sported by the legendary socialite continues to attract so much attention that the Maison decided to reissue it earlier this year. That’s hot!
DIY Baguettes
“I consider the Baguette a manifesto of individualism because it is always the same but always different,” Silvia once told Spanish newspaper El País. It’s “like a blank canvas where you could rewrite history every time.” While most would assume that to be a figurative statement, the release of a series of DIY Baguettes proved that she damn well meant what she said. In one example, customers received a perforated cotton bag, along with an needlepoint embroidery kit for those looking to add a personal touch to their purchase. In another, a white linen bag came with a set of rainbow-hued Fendi markers and stencils – perfect for embracing your inner child!
Rainbow Baguettes
If there’s one thing that Fendi does better than most houses of its standing, it’s approaching things with a sense of camp and fun. For proof of that, look no further than the proliferation of takes on the silhouette that embrace the full colour spectrum. Among the most sought-after Baguettes is the multicolour canvas version, which features the all-over monogram in pastel rainbow hues. Elsewhere, though, you’ll find bags artfully assembled in vibrant inlayed mink and an exquisite beaded version featuring the dreamy illustrations of Antonio Lopez, to whom Kim Jones dedicated his SS22 collection for the house.
Carrie Bradshaw’s Baguette
Arguably the Baguette to rule them all, this purple-sequined number became a fixture of pop-cultural history when, in a season three Sex and the City episode, Carrie delivered a now-immortal riposte to a gunpoint-robber demanding her to hand over her bag: “It’s a Baguette!” Since then, the glitzy purple clutch has rarely left her side, even making a return in last year’s reboot. Solid proof, right there, that the Fendi Baguette is a shrewd investment piece that’ll last you through the years.
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