(Courtesy of Harper's Bazaar)
Contents
- 1. A Compact Silhouette That Altered Fashion’s Course
- 2. Pop Culture’s Most Stylish Robbery Scene
- 3. Italian Excellence That Knockoffs Can Only Dream Of
- 4. The Baguette’s Endless Game of Dress-Up
- 5. The Ethical Soul Behind Every Fendi Baguette
- 6. High-Profile Collaborations Keep the Baguette Forever Young
- 7. A Chameleon Bag That Matches Every Mood
- 8. Collectibility
- About The Writer
“It’s a Baguette!”
It’s the bag that tops every collector’s wish list, floods social media feeds, and never misses a glitzy red carpet moment. The iconic Fendi Baguette was dreamed up in 1997 by artistic director and third-generation visionary Silvia Venturini Fendi.
Like the French bread it’s named after, the Baguette was imagined to sit comfortably under the arm—light, compact, and pleasantly intimate. Hollywood royalty like Elizabeth Taylor reportedly owned over a dozen, and today’s A-listers like Madison Beer, Rihanna, and Zoë Kravitz keep that devotion alive.
That said, these are 8 reasons why Fendi’s Baguette bag remains the ultimate Italian trophy piece of every collector.
1. A Compact Silhouette That Altered Fashion’s Course
(Courtesy of InStyle)
Though baguette-shaped bags are everywhere now, the original Fendi design was a bold surprise in its era. The late ’90s favored hard, structured silhouettes—think Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s polished boxy totes.
Against that backdrop, the Baguette felt refreshingly intimate: soft, compact, and meant to rest close to the body, carrying only what truly mattered.
Silvia Venturini Fendi described its creation as spontaneous, born from a confidence so natural that “it could be a part of your body.”
2. Pop Culture’s Most Stylish Robbery Scene
The bag’s ascent from runway hit to global phenomenon is inseparable from television. It’s the SATC scene etched into pop culture. Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw, stranded downtown, is confronted by a thief who demands her bag.
Completely unfazed by the absurdity of the moment, she offers her iconic correction: “It’s a Baguette!”
3. Italian Excellence That Knockoffs Can Only Dream Of
(Courtesy of Fendi)
The Fendi Baguette remains an enduring symbol of precision and artistry—shaped by artisans who pour their skill, patience, and pride into every curve and stitch. For the Men’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, the Italian luxury label reimagined this icon in Cuoio Romano leather, honoring its heritage while embracing the values of circular design.
Crafted entirely from offcuts of the same leather that has defined the Maison since 1925, the bag features a patchwork composition that feels both innovative and environmentally conscious. Each piece is handmade at Fendi’s leather goods atelier in Capannuccia, Tuscany, where artisans meticulously cut, perforate, and hand-knot every square of Cuoio Romano leather with matching laces.
Knockoffs, though, can’t capture that Italian mastery. They may look similar at a glance, but the feel, structure, and quality quickly reveal the fake. They trade quality for shortcuts and artistry for imitation, leaving behind something that only looks the part without living up to it.
4. The Baguette’s Endless Game of Dress-Up
(Courtesy of SCMP)
The Baguette’s genius is its scale and simplicity: a short shoulder strap, a flat rectangular body, and a flap anchored by the double-F clasp. That deceptively minimal canvas gave Fendi endless room to play with materials—leathers, embroidery, beadwork, sequins, denim, and technical nylons—without losing the bag’s essential outline.
As Silvia Venturini Fendi herself put it, “I consider the Baguette a manifesto of individualism, because it is always the same but always different, never losing her identity. No matter what we do to her, her personality and the pleasure of wearing a Baguette remain.”
The iconic Baguette has seen a lifetime of reinventions—from a scented leather collaboration with French perfumer Francis Kurkdjian to the cheeky “Monster” design adorned with fur and cartoon eyes, all the way to Rihanna’s unforgettable take, a hyper-realistic Baguette slung over her baby bump.
5. The Ethical Soul Behind Every Fendi Baguette
(Courtesy of The New York Times)
Behind every authentic Fendi Baguette lies a culture of respect—for the craft, for the people, and for the planet. The house’s commitment to ethical sourcing and fair treatment ensures that each creation is as responsible as it is refined.
Counterfeit Baguettes, in contrast, often trace back to exploitative and unsustainable production. For mindful collectors, the most reliable choice is to shop directly from Fendi or through reputable resale platforms like ZenLuxe, where authenticity and responsibility go hand in hand.
6. High-Profile Collaborations Keep the Baguette Forever Young
(Courtesy of Vogue)
To mark the 25th anniversary of its iconic Baguette, Silvia Venturini Fendi and Kim Jones took Fendi’s Resort 2023 show to New York—a fitting tribute to the city that helped make it a legend. The Maison teamed up with Marc Jacobs, Tiffany & Co., and Japanese label Porter, each bringing their own spin to the classic design.
The result was a stunning reminder of the Baguette’s chameleon spirit: beaded, sporty, metallic, and endlessly fresh. These collaborations not only celebrated its past but also proved why the Baguette remains one of fashion’s smartest icons—still baguetting, still relevant.
7. A Chameleon Bag That Matches Every Mood
(Pre-loved Fendi Baguette Zucca Pattern Shoulder Bag available at ZenLuxe)
The Baguette works because it slips into any outfit and any mood without trying too hard. Throw it over a vintage tee and worn-in denim, and it reads effortless. Pair it with sharp tailoring, and it turns into a neat statement piece. Style it with a slip dress and heels, and it turns into that unmistakable Italian finishing touch.
Its short strap sits snugly under the arm, giving that signature Baguette silhouette, while detachable options let it go crossbody when life calls for hands-free ease. Whether in leather or sequins, raffia or satin, the mood shifts, but the elegance stays the same.
8. Collectibility
(Courtesy of The New York Times)
Because the Baguette is a stable shape refreshed season after season, it naturally invites collecting—by color, material, or era. Limited editions and special-run collaborations amplify scarcity, while enduring pop-culture visibility sustains demand.
For those looking to grow their collection without stretching their budget, Japan-based platform ZenLuxe offers a curated selection of authentic Fendi Baguette treasures—each in top-tier condition, often at discounted prices, and available for worldwide delivery.
About The Writer
Meet Mariam — a fashion writer who lives and breathes all things vogue and glamour. For her, the most therapeutic aspect of fashion goes beyond simply shopping for the latest styles that appear in stores; it’s fully experiencing this glamorous world from the little details to the big moments (there's nothing quite like the thrill of flipping through a sleek fashion magazine, is there?).
