Fashion moves fast, but in 2025, the hottest accessory might not be new. In a landscape saturated with fresh drops, history has become its own form of hype, pushing the pre-loved accessories market from niche obsession to cultural barometer.

To carry a vintage bag is to signal a level of taste, and a certain insider fluency — because finding the right piece isn’t easy. You need to know which archives to trawl, and have a finger on the pulse of exactly which silhouettes are about to surge again. This hunt has become part of the appeal, transforming vintage bags from sentimental throwbacks into status symbols.

So, what are this year's most-wanted carryalls? Luckily, thats where the RUSSH editors come in. From re-issued heroes to the cult favourites finding new life on the arms of a new generation, these are the vintage bags having a second life in 2025.

Balenciaga City

Few bags have boomeranged back into relevance as forcefully as the Balenciaga City. First launched in 2001, the studded Motorcycle silhouette has re-entered the cultural bloodstream thanks to a new-era obsession with Ghesquière-period Balenciaga and the enduring appeal of the soft, unstructured shape. Once a mainstay on the arm of Kate Moss and the Olsen twins, the City Bag has found new relevance thanks to celebrities like Charli XCX, signalling a brand of undone, lived-in glamour.

Balenciaga Leather Motocross Classic City XL

Balenciaga Almond Arena Storico Lambskin Leather Medium Le City Bag

Balenciaga Leather Motorcross City Giant 

Celine Phantom

Not fully “vintage” in the chronological sense, but this early-2010s fave has found new life, in part thanks to the beginning of Michael Rider's tenure at Celine. And so, as a result of the Phantom’s reintroduction in Spring 2026, demand for early iterations has skyrocketed, pushing the tote firmly into 2025’s vintage-inspired conversation.

Celine Leather Luggage Phantom

Celine 2012 Medium Grained Calfskin Phantom Luggage

Celine Green Phantom Mini Green Suede Leather

Fendi Baguette

In 2025, the Baguette has emerged as a true collectors item. Once synonymous with Carrie Bradshaw's inimatble sense of style, there's a definite thrill associated with tracking down an original – particularly those hand-beaded or sequinned versions that were never produced en masse.

Fendi 2000-2010 Mini Zucchino Canvas Baguette shoulder bag

Fendi Baguette white mirror embroidery

Fendi Baguette Brown Suede Shoulder Bag

Chloé Paddington

The Paddington’s return has been one of the year’s most joyful revivals, with an oversized padlock, rounded handles, and east-west silhouette that all feel right at home in the current wave of moto boho dressing. With Chloé’s modern direction embracing archive references, Chemena Kamali reissued the style for its Autumn Winter 2025 collection. But it’s the original early-aughts versions that collectors are seeking out, completing the full-circle moment of the year’s biggest It-bag comeback.

2000s Chloe Paddington by Phoebe Philo Top Handle Shoulder Bag 

YSL Mombasa

A relic of Tom Ford’s era at YSL, the Mombasa has found fresh relevance among 2025’s vintage enthusiasts. Its defining detail — the sculptural handle, reminiscent of bone or horn — is what really stands out. As fashion leans into silhouettes that look purposely crafted, not mass-produced, the Mombasa stands tall as an original. The ultimate find for those with an appreciation for unique, sculptural arm candy.

Yves Saint Lurent Raffia Mombasa

Yves Saint Laurent Leather Mombasa 

YSL Yves Saint Laurent by Tom Ford Lipstick Red XL Mombasa Bag 

Louis Vuitton Speedy

Some bags never truly disappear, and the LV Speedy is testament to that. First created in the 1930s — has surged back to the top of search lists and resale charts this year, driven by renewed fascination with heritage monograms and the proliferation of archival shapes styled with modern minimalism. And of course, a reissue of the silhouette's famed collaboration with Takashi Murakami has only helped the Speedy's popularity. Whether carried in classic monogram or in newer, brightly reimagined editions, this is a bag that holds its own across generations.

Louis Vuitton Multicolore Nano Speedy

Louis Vuitton 2003 Speedy 30 monogram tote bag

Dior Gaucho

As boho resurfaces in a more refined, less literal form, Dior’s mid-2000s Gaucho has re-emerged as one of the year’s sleeper hits. The belt-buckle hardware, curved body, and saddle-adjacent silhouette give it a Western-meets-French vibe that aligns perfectly with 2025’s renewed love for eclectic dressing. Watch this space: we're predicting a full Gaucho resurgence by the year's end.

Dior Gaucho Leather Handbag

Dior Gaucho Leather Handbag