Aaah! Women and bags. They go together like caramel, and well, nuts – really! Ever seen the lines at the cash tills during a 75% sale on Black Friday at Macy’s? A woman’s bag is usually her most prized possession, also because it contains the mysteries of her life (and some suspect also the kitchen sink!) Bags are not just fashion accessories. They are elevated to statements of style, taste and personality as well as status and wealth. Let’s take a look at some of the most expensive clutches, totes and other bags of all shapes and sizes – and the ridiculous price tags at which they come.
21. Fendi: B Bag – $27,700
Fendi is one of those designers who knows – really knows bags. In fact, owning an original Fendi bag is the dream of fashionistas the world over. The Fendi B Bag remains a very popular model, despite the staggering price tag of $27,700. As you will see from the other (pricier) entries of this list, it turns out that the Fendi B Bag is actually quite a bargain, in terms of high end designer bags! The bag is available in various designs, including white lambskin and black crocodile.
20. Devi Kroell: Alligator Hobo – $28,990
Totalling a cool $29,000, Kroell’s Alligator Hobo bag is rather practical and spacious – it fits the average laptop too! It features internal pockets for storing anything from pens to hundred dollar bills. Its semi-structured, soft triangular shape gives it a more unique feel, while its creamy golden colour gives it that stunning touch of glamour. The textured scales and their uniformity in size are attributed to be the priciest elements of the bag.
19. Gucci: Crocodile Tote – $32,000
Chiming in at $32,000 is another crocodile tote. This one hails from the design house of Gucci – arguably the best-selling Italian brand, in the world. With Gucci’s signature sophisticated and sleek design, this bag is more of a classic masterpiece than your average accessory. The elegance of the design and the shiny crocodile skin make for a sure-fire sell out, even at this whopping price tag!
18. Hermes: Colour block horse shoe bag – $35,000
Hermes bags are coveted the world over, from A-list celebrities to blue-blooded royalty.This bag is exactly why colour-blocking became such a fashionable trend. Combining bright colours and a classic signature design bag is no mean feat, but Hermes accomplishes this with ease, through its Colour Block Horse Shoe Bag. It is rumoured that when this bag was put to auction in Dallas, Texas, the starting bid was $7000. By the time the hammer went down on the winning bid, the price had escalated steeply to $35,000.
17. YSL: Sac De Jour Alligator Leather Bag – $36,600
Another alligator bag rings it at number 17 on our list, this time hailing from the mammoth French designer house, which speaks of timeless elegance, class, taste and style, namely Yves Saint Laurent. The all-time favourite black is the colour chosen for this structured and classic bag. The exotic element here is the alligator skin which shines through and elevates the bag in terms of style and value – going for an impressive $36,600.
16. Marc Jacobs: Carolyn Crocodile Bag – $38,000
Moving slightly (but only very slightly) away from the material of previous entries in this list, is Marc Jacob’s Carolyn Bag – which is made out of crocodile skin. Jacob-design fans don’t really mind the staggering price tag of this bag, as it turns out that despite costing $38,000 the bag is a big seller for the designer brand!
15. Fendi: Selleria Bag – $38,000
Raking in a whopping €38,000 per piece, another Italian fashion-house – Fendi – has designed the Selleria Bag. The bag features both sable and chinchilla skins, which are two of the rarest and most pricey skins available on the market. Its structured design is casual and not too stiff and can be adapted flexibly for both work and play – which is fortunate, in view of the price tag!
14. Hilde Palladino: Gadino Bag – $38,470
Norwegian designer, Hilde Palladino has come up with this luxury bag made from crocodile leather. But this is not just another leather bag with a designer label splashed on it, to justify the price. Upon closer inspection, the bag reveals a total of 39 white diamonds in clasps, which are also made of white gold. This sounds like good value for the $38,470 price tag that comes with this bejewelled tote!
13. Louis Vuitton: Patchwork Bag – $42,000
Despite not being Louis Vuitton’s most elegant bag the Patchwork bag goes for a staggering $42,000 – and surprisingly, it’s a big seller for the French designer-brand! In fact several bloggers and fashionistas have labelled this bag as the ugliest ever made, and frankly, we cannot argue with that! The Patchwork bag consists of an intricate collage of 14 different Louis Vuitton bags. The fact that this handcrafted bag is a limited edition (with only 24 pieces made and sold out around the world) also contributes to the price tag. Beyonce is one of the global VIPs who are reputed to be proud owners of this one-of-a-kind design.
12. Chanel: Croc Biarritz – $43,150
Sold as Chanel’s city bag and part of one of the world’s most popular designer chain’s 2007 collection, the Croc Biarritz is now sold out. Adding to its evanescent allure is also the fact that the bag was made in limited edition! We wonder whether the fashion Empress, Coco Chanel herself, would have ever imagined that the fashion house which bears her name would ever soar to such heights.
11. Louis Vuitton: New Age Traveller backpack – $54,500
Another unusual Louis Vuitton designer bag, soars to the eleventh place on our list. The Louis Vuitton New Age Traveller Backpack is a far cry from the elegant, stream-lined and monogrammed signature totes of this sought-after brand. This ultra edgy bag (by traditional LV standards) sports various jacquard woven Monogram fabrics and exotic skins, such as crocodile and snakeskin. The bag features plenty of jingling suede leather tassels. Some consider this bag to be less than tasteful and we feel compelled to agree. In fact, one might be tempted to pay the pricey fee of $54,500 just to have this bag kept away!
10. The Row: Multicolored Prescription Pills – $55,000
Some consider this bag to be fashionable art, others consider it to be nothing short of an eyesore. We are of the latter persuasion… The Row’s Multicolored Prescription Pills bag was (thankfully) produced in a limited edition of 12. The bag was designed by acting twins stars (of Full House fame) and twins, Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen, together with Damien Hirst.The black leather backpack was made of black crocodile skin and decorated with multi-hued prescription pills.
9. Judith Leiber: Leiber Precious Rose Bag – $92,000
Ringing in at number 9 on our list is this pretty rose-shaped handbag, designed by Judith Leiber. Made with a staggering 800 tourmalines, over one thousand sapphires and another thousand diamonds, this bag spells out jewellery! This is a unique piece – a-one-of-a-kind! In view of its uniqueness and the amount of precious stones it features, this bag is precious enough to warrant the exorbitant price tag of $92,000.
8. Hermes: Matte Crocodile Birkin Bag – $120,000
The Hermes was made as a tribute to French actress Jane Birkin, who is also credited as being the inspiration of this lovely, elegant bag. The Birkin Bag is structured and very ladylike, featuring a clasp which boasts an impressive 10 carats of white diamonds. The bag is made of crocodile skin and is frequently sported on the arms of A-list actresses, the world over. The bag is rather exclusive and despite its price tag of $120,000 it remains very much in demand.
7. Hermes Birkin: in Croc Porosus Lisse – $148,000
Another Hermes bag in the top 10 of our list and there’s nothing boring about this one. This 35cm structured bag was again inspired by singer/songwriter Jane Birkin. However, this particular model is available only upon order. Making the bag even more precious are that 10 carats of glistening diamonds, encrusted in its white gold clasp. This luxurious must-have bag is owned by celebrities of the calibre of Victoria Beckham, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and (of course) various Kardashians ladies.
6. Louis Vuitton: Urban Satchel – $150,000
Looking more like a bag salvaged from a train wreck (albeit a colourful one) is the sixth entry in our list with another Louis Vuitton bag. This model is far removed from the elegant counterparts produced by this world-renowned fashion label, making it somewhat of an unexpected surprise. The LV Urban Satchel bag has been hand-crafted with (supposedly) carefully (if not tastefully) chosen urban charms, the likes of a water bottle, cigarette packs, tea bags and candy wrappers, no less! Some people consider this art, but its price tag of $150,000 goes to show that there’s a fine line between modern art and good taste.
5. Lana Marks: Cleopatra Bag – $250,000
A tribute to the most famous Egyptian queen of all time, the Cleopatra bag’s clasp features some 1,500 black and white diamonds, all set in 18-carat white gold. The main body of the bag is made of metallic silver alligator skin. Adding to the bag’s already-considerable allure, is the fact that Lana Marks only makes one ‘Cleopatra’ bag per year. The exclusive shimmering bag is owned by the likes of Charlize Theron, Jennifer Aniston, Lucy Liu and Oprah Winfrey. It was famously seen on the arm of Helen Mirren when she attended the 2007 Academy Awards, where she won the Oscar for Best Actress.
4. Chanel: Diamond Forever Classic Bag – $261,000
Chanel knows taste, style and elegances like few other designer houses. With a staggering 334 diamonds (totalling 3.56 carats) set in 18-carat white gold, the Chanel Diamond Forever Classic Bag happily marries two of women’s favourite style allies: diamonds and bags. The bag, which boasts shoulder straps also made from white gold, was designed by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel in 2007. With a limited edition of only 13 bags made in this alluring design, the price tag is definitely steep for this bag, which makes the top three of our list.
3. Hermes: Himalayan Crocodile Birkin bag – $432,000
Another Birkin bag makes it to the second-runner up of our list. Put together one-part Nile croc skin, one-part white gold, and one-part diamonds and magnificently emerges the Himalayan Crocodile Birkin Bag. Its glistening colour evokes the mountains of the Himalayas and takes hours to complete. However, it’s all worth it apparently, as the particular hue perfectly matches the bag’s 18-karat white gold hardware, which is studded with white diamonds. Hermes admit to having gone somewhat over-the-top with the design of this miniature bag. Designer Pierre Hardy is said to have spent 2 years on design and creation of this exclusive bag. That’s a long time for a limited production of 3 units.
2. Hermes: Birkin Bag by Ginza Tanaka – $1.9 million
The first runner-up on our list is (somewhat unsurprisingly) the Hermes Birkin Bag, designed by the uber-talented Japanese designer Ginza Tanaka. At a staggering price tag of almost $2 million, the bag is set in titanium and features over 2,000 diamonds. The bedazzling bejewelled straps can be removed and worn as a bracelet or a necklace. The bags also incorporates a centre piece 8 carat pear-shaped diamond, which can be worn separately.
1. Mouawad: 10001 Night Diamond Purse – $3.8 million
This is THE most expensive bag in the world. And we’re not the only ones saying it – the Guinness Book of World Records has certified Mouawad’s 1001 Night Diamond purse as the most expensive handbag in the world. This unique masterpiece is the work of 10 professional artisans who together took some 8,800 hours to complete. Hammered from 18-carat gold, this heart-shaped purse features no less than 56 pink diamonds, 105 yellow diamonds and a staggering 4,356 colorless diamonds. In all, this totals 381.92 carats. All this jewellery goes some way towards explaining the eye-watering price tag. The jewellery itself is also explained by the fact that Mouawad is a multinational timepiece and jewelry and with this piece has gone down in the history of bags.
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