Skip to main content

Hermes Rare Bag

to
37
222
569
3
7
10
23
44
81
559
225
7
781
1
1
499
226
700
673
6
6
5
Sort By
RARE Hermes Cherry Clemence Leather Evelyn PM Shoulder Bag
RARE Hermes Cherry Clemence Leather Evelyn PM Shoulder Bag

RARE Hermes Cherry Clemence Leather Evelyn PM Shoulder Bag

By Hermès

Located in Philadelphia, PA

RARE Hermes Cherry Clemence Leather Evelyn PM Shoulder Bag in excellent condition. Rare cherry red

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags

Hermes Terry Cloth Towel Beach Bag With Pillow-rare
Hermes Terry Cloth Towel Beach Bag With Pillow-rare

Hermes Terry Cloth Towel Beach Bag With Pillow-rare

By Hermès

Located in Philadelphia, PA

RARE HERMES beach bag with pillow in excellent condition. Light beige/cream terry cloth exterior

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags

Hermes Vintage 1972 Rare Brown Leather 2002 Shoulder Bag
Hermes Vintage 1972 Rare Brown Leather 2002 Shoulder Bag

Hermes Vintage 1972 Rare Brown Leather 2002 Shoulder Bag

By Hermès

Located in Rome, Rome

piece of fashion history, this Vintage Hermès 2002 Shoulder Bag perfectly captures the sleek

Category

1970s French Bucket Bags and Drawstring Bags

Hermes Birkin 35 Blue Electric Togo Bag RARE NEW
Hermes Birkin 35 Blue Electric Togo Bag RARE NEW

Hermes Birkin 35 Blue Electric Togo Bag RARE NEW

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Birkin 35cm Blue Electric Togo Bag ULTRA RARE NEW Ultra rare, long discontinued superb Blue

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

HERMES BIRKIN 30 bag rare Camel Doblis gold hardware
HERMES BIRKIN 30 bag rare Camel Doblis gold hardware

HERMES BIRKIN 30 bag rare Camel Doblis gold hardware

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

Guaranteed authentic Hermes rare doblis (suede) Birkin. Year round neutral in Camel with lush gold

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Vintage Black Lizard Leather Constance Shoulder Bag-rare
Hermes Vintage Black Lizard Leather Constance Shoulder Bag-rare

Hermes Vintage Black Lizard Leather Constance Shoulder Bag-rare

By Hermès

Located in Philadelphia, PA

AUTHENTIC HERMES black lizard constance bag in excellent vintage condition. Black lizard leather

Category

1980s French Structured Shoulder Bags

Hermes Toile and Leather Cross Body Bag Canvas RARE
Hermes Toile and Leather Cross Body Bag Canvas RARE

Hermes Toile and Leather Cross Body Bag Canvas RARE

By Hermès

Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique

Very beautiful and practical authentic Hermes bag Made of Toile (canvas) and Cuir (Leather

Category

1980s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags

Hermes Birkin 35 Bag Rare Flamingo Pink Gold Hardware
Hermes Birkin 35 Bag Rare Flamingo Pink Gold Hardware

Hermes Birkin 35 Bag Rare Flamingo Pink Gold Hardware

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

textured to be scratch resistant and keeps the shape of the bag beautifully, and is known to enhance these

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermès Evelyne 16 TPM Gold Bag Gold Hardware RARE
Hermès Evelyne 16 TPM Gold Bag Gold Hardware RARE

Hermès Evelyne 16 TPM Gold Bag Gold Hardware RARE

By Hermès

Located in West Chester, PA

Hermes Evelyne Tpm 16 This is the mini, the smallest size they make Contrast top stitching Gold

Category

2010s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags

HERMES rare Atlas chic roomy day bag clemence palladium

HERMES rare Atlas chic roomy day bag clemence palladium

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

Rare and chic, the ATLAS is carried by hand or over the shoulder. Side and top buckles can be worn

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

RARE Hermes Grey Chevre 50cm XXL Travel Kelly Bag
RARE Hermes Grey Chevre 50cm XXL Travel Kelly Bag

RARE Hermes Grey Chevre 50cm XXL Travel Kelly Bag

By Hermès

Located in Philadelphia, PA

STUNNING Hermes grey travel kelly tote in excellent condition. Smooth gray chevre leather body

Category

2010s Top Handle Bags

Hermes Birkin 40cm HAC Gold Tan Togo Palladium Bag RARE
Hermes Birkin 40cm HAC Gold Tan Togo Palladium Bag RARE

Hermes Birkin 40cm HAC Gold Tan Togo Palladium Bag RARE

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Birkin 40cm HAC Gold Tan Togo Palladium Bag RARE Ultra rare Gold Birkin 40 HAC! Brand New in

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Rare Custom Order Hermes 30cm Birkin Bag in 3 colours
Rare Custom Order Hermes 30cm Birkin Bag in 3 colours

Rare Custom Order Hermes 30cm Birkin Bag in 3 colours

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

A rare and never used 3 color special order Hermes Birkin bag. Hermes no longer accepts custom or

Category

2010s French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Classic Orange Jige Elan Clutch Bag 29cm NEW RARE
Hermes Classic Orange Jige Elan Clutch Bag 29cm NEW RARE

Hermes Classic Orange Jige Elan Clutch Bag 29cm NEW RARE

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Classic Orange Jige Elan Clutch Bag 29cm NEW RARE Perfect Gift! New or Never Worn. Pristine

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Clutches

HERMES BIRKIN Bag 32 'PONY' TROIKA Hac unique and rare

HERMES BIRKIN Bag 32 'PONY' TROIKA Hac unique and rare

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

modeled like th JPG Shoulder bag! The 32cm HAUTE A COURROIE (HAC) is the original model of the Hermes

Category

Late 20th Century French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Rose Azalee Pink Rodeo Bag Charm Agneau Rare Color
Hermes Rose Azalee Pink Rodeo Bag Charm Agneau Rare Color

Hermes Rose Azalee Pink Rodeo Bag Charm Agneau Rare Color

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Rose Azalee Pink Rodeo Bag Charm Agneau Rare Color Store fresh. Pristine condition

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Tech Accessories and Cases

HERMES BIRKIN Bag 35 Very Rare WHITE Clemence Gold Hardware

HERMES BIRKIN Bag 35 Very Rare WHITE Clemence Gold Hardware

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

HERMES box. final sale BAG MEASURES: LENGTH 35cm / 14" TALL 28cm / 11" DEEP 18cm / 7"

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Rare Hermes H Shopper Tote Collapsible Leather Zippered Bag - sale
Rare Hermes H Shopper Tote Collapsible Leather Zippered Bag - sale

Rare Hermes H Shopper Tote Collapsible Leather Zippered Bag - sale

By Hermès

Located in Austin, TX

Rare Hermes Brownish Grey H Shopper Tote Collapsible Dark Brown leather Zippered Bag also known as

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags

Hermes Birkin 25 Bag Rose Sakura Swift Gold Hardware Rare
Hermes Birkin 25 Bag Rose Sakura Swift Gold Hardware Rare

Hermes Birkin 25 Bag Rose Sakura Swift Gold Hardware Rare

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

Guaranteed authentic Hermes Birkin 25 bag features elusive Rose Sakura. Gorgeous cherry blossom

Category

2010s French Tote Bags

New in Box Hermès Rare Rouge 25cm Vermillon Birkin Bag
New in Box Hermès Rare Rouge 25cm Vermillon Birkin Bag

New in Box Hermès Rare Rouge 25cm Vermillon Birkin Bag

By Hermès

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Hermès never used Birkin bag 25cm. Swift rouge vermillon leather with gold tone hardware. Handle

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Birkin 35cm Lagoon Blue Togo Palladium Hardware Bag RARE
Hermes Birkin 35cm Lagoon Blue Togo Palladium Hardware Bag RARE

Hermes Birkin 35cm Lagoon Blue Togo Palladium Hardware Bag RARE

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Guaranteed Authentic HHermes Birkin 35cm Lagoon Blue Togo Palladium Hardware Bag RARE Very rare

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

HERMES BIRKIN 35 Bag Blue Sapphire Rare Fjord Leather Palladium
HERMES BIRKIN 35 Bag Blue Sapphire Rare Fjord Leather Palladium

HERMES BIRKIN 35 Bag Blue Sapphire Rare Fjord Leather Palladium

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

, clochette, sleeper, signature HERMES box and raincoat. NEW or NEVER WORN final sale BAG MEASURES: LENGTH

Category

Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags

Vintage Hermes Black Crocodile Constance 23 GHW Shoulder Bag RARE
Vintage Hermes Black Crocodile Constance 23 GHW Shoulder Bag RARE

Vintage Hermes Black Crocodile Constance 23 GHW Shoulder Bag RARE

By Hermès

Located in Philadelphia, PA

AUTHENTIC HERMES black crocodile constance bag in excellent vintage condition. Black crocodile

Category

1980s Structured Shoulder Bags

HERMES Rubis MM Rodeo Horse Bag Charm Rare Colour New
HERMES Rubis MM Rodeo Horse Bag Charm Rare Colour New

HERMES Rubis MM Rodeo Horse Bag Charm Rare Colour New

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

Very rare Rubis red MM Rodeo horse charm with Bleu de Malte tail and mane. Saddle and holder are

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Wallets and Small Accessories

Hermès Grigri Bag Charm Horse Hair Crinoline and Silk Rare
Hermès Grigri Bag Charm Horse Hair Crinoline and Silk Rare

Hermès Grigri Bag Charm Horse Hair Crinoline and Silk Rare

By Hermès

Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique

Lovely Authentic Hermès Charm Made of horse mane hair Bound and tied with silk links Small

Category

2010s French Other

Rare 2011 Hermes Black Sikkim Leather Barda 43 Messenger Bag.
Rare 2011 Hermes Black Sikkim Leather Barda 43 Messenger Bag.

Rare 2011 Hermes Black Sikkim Leather Barda 43 Messenger Bag.

By Hermès

Located in Jakarta, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta

Rare Barda 43 messenger bag. Simple yet luxurious messenger bag with full flap and two front

Category

2010s Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags

New in Box Hermes Rare Rose Sakura Picotin 18cm Bag
New in Box Hermes Rare Rose Sakura Picotin 18cm Bag

New in Box Hermes Rare Rose Sakura Picotin 18cm Bag

By Hermès

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Hermes brand new in box collectible rose sakura taurillon clemence leather picotin 18cm. Palladium

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags

New in Box RARE Hermes Etoupe Kelly 25 Togo Bag
New in Box RARE Hermes Etoupe Kelly 25 Togo Bag

New in Box RARE Hermes Etoupe Kelly 25 Togo Bag

By Hermès

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Hermès 25cm Kelly Retourne in etoupe togo leather with palladium hardware. Handle drop, 3.25"L

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags

Hermes Birkin 30 Bag Bleu Aztec Chevre Gold Hardware Very Rare
Hermes Birkin 30 Bag Bleu Aztec Chevre Gold Hardware Very Rare

Hermes Birkin 30 Bag Bleu Aztec Chevre Gold Hardware Very Rare

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

Mightychic offers an Hermes Birkin 30 bag featured in coveted Blue Aztec. This stunning rare colour

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags

Hermes Classic Orange Togo 35cm Birkin Bag Gold Hardware Very Rare
Hermes Classic Orange Togo 35cm Birkin Bag Gold Hardware Very Rare

Hermes Classic Orange Togo 35cm Birkin Bag Gold Hardware Very Rare

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Classic Orange Togo 35cm Birkin Bag Gold Hardware Rare Extremely rare find in NEW or Never

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Birkin 30 Vermillion Lipstick Red Bag U Stamp, 2022 Rare
Hermes Birkin 30 Vermillion Lipstick Red Bag U Stamp, 2022 Rare

Hermes Birkin 30 Vermillion Lipstick Red Bag U Stamp, 2022 Rare

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

BANK WIRE PRICE ONLY! Hermes Birkin 30 Vermillion Lipstick Red Bag U Stamp, 2022 Rare Don't miss

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Birkin 35 Bag Blue Marine Coveted Rare Box Leather Palladium
Hermes Birkin 35 Bag Blue Marine Coveted Rare Box Leather Palladium

Hermes Birkin 35 Bag Blue Marine Coveted Rare Box Leather Palladium

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

, clochette, sleeper, signature HERMES box and raincoat. final sale BAG MEASURES: LENGTH 35cm / 14"

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Exceptional Hermès Sellier Kelly Bag Black Lizard and Golden Hdw RARE
Exceptional Hermès Sellier Kelly Bag Black Lizard and Golden Hdw RARE

Exceptional Hermès Sellier Kelly Bag Black Lizard and Golden Hdw RARE

By Hermès

Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique

Rare opportunity to get an amazing and gorgeous Authentic Hermès Bag "KELLY" Sellier (rigid shape

Category

1990s French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Kelly 28 Blue Electric Sellier Epsom Shoulder Bag Rare NEW
Hermes Kelly 28 Blue Electric Sellier Epsom Shoulder Bag Rare NEW

Hermes Kelly 28 Blue Electric Sellier Epsom Shoulder Bag Rare NEW

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Kelly 28 Blue Electric Sellier Epsom Shoulder Bag Rare NEW New or Never Worn. Pristine

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Leather Train Case Travel Bag Vanity Case Vintage 50s Rare
Hermes Leather Train Case Travel Bag Vanity Case Vintage 50s Rare

Hermes Leather Train Case Travel Bag Vanity Case Vintage 50s Rare

By Hermès

Located in Port Saint Lucie, FL

This extremely rare train case or vanity bag was made by Hermes, most likely in the early 1950s

Category

1950s French Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags

New in Box Hermes Birkin 25 Rare Rouge H Swift Bag
New in Box Hermes Birkin 25 Rare Rouge H Swift Bag

New in Box Hermes Birkin 25 Rare Rouge H Swift Bag

By Hermès

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Hermès never used Birkin bag 25cm. Swift rouge H leather with gold tone hardware. Handle drop 3

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Novelty Bags

Hermes Birkin 30cm Black Noir Gold Hardware Novillo Bag RARE NEW
Hermes Birkin 30cm Black Noir Gold Hardware Novillo Bag RARE NEW

Hermes Birkin 30cm Black Noir Gold Hardware Novillo Bag RARE NEW

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Birkin 30cm Black Noir Gold Hardware Novillo Bag NEW RARE Black Novillo with Gold is a

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

HERMES Mini Bolide Bag Pill Box Pill Container Silver 925 RARE
HERMES Mini Bolide Bag Pill Box Pill Container Silver 925 RARE

HERMES Mini Bolide Bag Pill Box Pill Container Silver 925 RARE

By Hermès

Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique

Super Cute Authentic Hermes Pill Box In shape of "BOLIDE" Hermes Bag Made of Silver 925

Category

20th Century English Boxes

Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare
Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare

Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Olga Charm Silver for Birkin or Kelly Never Worn. Discontinued and none available in Hermes

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Wallets and Small Accessories

Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare
Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare

Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Olga Charm Silver for Birkin or Kelly Never Worn. Discontinued and none available in Hermes

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Wallets and Small Accessories

Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare
Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare

Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Olga Charm Silver for Birkin or Kelly Discontinued and none available in Hermes stores

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Wallets and Small Accessories

Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare
Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare

Hermes Silver Olga Charm Silver for Birkin and Kelly Bag Rare

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Olga Charm Silver for Birkin or Kelly Discontinued and none available in Hermes stores

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Wallets and Small Accessories

HERMES Kelly bag mini Miniature coveted 5P Pink NWT / box rare

HERMES Kelly bag mini Miniature coveted 5P Pink NWT / box rare

By Hermès

Located in Miami, FL

Special Limited Edition mini miniature Hermes Kelly bag. Exquisite coveted 5P Pink jewel with

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Birkin 40cm Black Togo Gold Power Birkin Bag NEW RARE
Hermes Birkin 40cm Black Togo Gold Power Birkin Bag NEW RARE

Hermes Birkin 40cm Black Togo Gold Power Birkin Bag NEW RARE

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Birkin 40cm Black Togo Gold Hardware Power Birkin RARE Brand New in Box. Store fresh

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

New in Box RARE Hermes Birkin 25 Etoupe Swift Gold Bag
New in Box RARE Hermes Birkin 25 Etoupe Swift Gold Bag

New in Box RARE Hermes Birkin 25 Etoupe Swift Gold Bag

By Hermès

Located in West Hollywood, CA

Hermès rare and collectible 25cm Birkin in etoupe swift leather with white contrast stitching and

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Bubblegum Pink Mini Constance 18cm Epsom Bag RARE Z Stamp, 2021
Hermes Bubblegum Pink Mini Constance 18cm Epsom Bag RARE Z Stamp, 2021

Hermes Bubblegum Pink Mini Constance 18cm Epsom Bag RARE Z Stamp, 2021

By Hermès

Located in New York, NY

Hermes Bubblegum Pink Mini Constance 18cm Epsom Bag RARE Z Stamp, 2021 Just purchased from Hermes

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags

  • 1
  • ...
Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "Hermes Rare Bag", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

Hermes Rare Bag For Sale on 1stDibs

You are likely to find exactly the vintage or contemporary hermes rare bag you’re looking for on 1stDibs, as there is a broad range for sale. If you’re looking for an option in Black and you’re unable to find the right fit, there are plenty of variations in Brown, Red and more. Finding the perfect hermes rare bag may mean sifting through those that were made during different time periods — popular versions were made as early as the 20th Century and a newer one, made as recently as the 21st Century, can also be found on the site. When shopping for these accessories, you’ll find that there are less available pieces for men or unisex today than there are for women.

How Much is a Hermes Rare Bag?

The price for a hermes rare bag starts at $675 and tops out at $218,449, and on average, selling for $16,908.

Hermès for sale on 1stDibs

For Hermès, what began as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen would eventually grow into one of the most storied fashion labels in the world. In 1837, German-born French entrepreneur Thierry Hermès opened a saddle and harness purveyor in Paris. Gradually, the house extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and modernist jewelry to pillows and handbags.

The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport riding boots and a harness.

As the world made the switch from horse to automobile, the bag adapted, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel instead of a designated saddlebag. Today, 120 years later, the HAC remains in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for some of the house’s other iconic bags.

In the 1930s, Robert Dumas (son-in-law to Émile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry’s grandson) designed a smaller, trapezoidal take on the flap bag with a handle and two side straps. Later, actress Grace Kelly, then engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, is said to have used one of these bags to conceal her pregnancy during the 1950s. Because she was photographed constantly, the coverage catapulted her handbag to international popularity.

In 1977, Hermès officially renamed the model for her, and the Kelly bag was born. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.

Robert Dumas was also responsible for another one of the brand’s most iconic offerings: the launch of its first silk scarf on the occasion of Hermès’s 100th anniversary in 1937. Based on a woodblock designed by Dumas and printed on Chinese silk, the accessory was an immediate hit.

Today, vintage Hermès scarves, typically adorned in rich colors and elaborate patterns, serve many functions, just as they did back then. Well-heeled women wear it on their heads, around their necks and, in a genius piece of cross-promotion, tied to the straps of their Hermès bags. Kelly even once used one as a sling for her broken arm.

In 1981, Robert Dumas’s son Jean-Louis Dumas, then Hermès chairman, found himself sitting next to French actress and musician Jane Birkin on a plane, where she was complaining about finding a suitable carryall for the necessary accoutrements of motherhood. After the two travelers were properly introduced, Birkin helped design Jean-Louis’s most famous contribution to the Hermès canon: the Birkin bag, a roomy, square catchall with the HAC’s trademark leather flap top and the addition of a lock and key.

Owing to the brand’s legendary commitment to deft, handcrafted construction, the Birkin is an investment that is coveted by collectors everywhere.

While the Kelly and Birkin may be standouts, gracing the arms of everyone from royal heiresses to hip-hop stars in the past few decades, the handbags are but a small part of Hermès’s fashion offerings.

Since the 1920s, the brand has produced some of the most desirable leather goods in the world. There’s the Constance bag, a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy, the recently relaunched 1970s-era Evelyne and, on the vintage market, a slew of designs dating back to the 1920s.

Good design never goes out of style. Find a variety of vintage Hermès handbags, day dresses, shoes and more on 1stDibs.

Finding the Right Handbags And Purses for You

An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.

Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.

“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bagBirkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”

First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.

They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”

From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.

Questions About Hermès
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024
    Hermès is so special for a few reasons. The French luxury house is one of the most storied fashion labels in the world and has a rich heritage that dates back to 1837.

    Hermès began in Paris as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen. The house later extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and jewelry to pillows and handbags.

    Hermès artisans spend years honing their craft as apprentices before they produce Hermès pieces in premium materials. For example, the Kelly bag, which was named in tribute to one of its biggest fans, Grace Kelly, takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches are made by one Hermès artisan. Each Birkin tote is also hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and its exotic leathers, a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile, are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France.

    On 1stDibs, explore a selection of vintage Hermès handbags and accessories.