I'm a Resale Handbag Expert—These Classic Styles Are Favorites That Hold Value

If you're looking for handbag inspiration or have been thinking about investing in a classic silhouette, you'll be intrigued by the intel we have to share. We tapped Jessica Henderson, a VIP curator at the luxury resale site Fashionphile, to share her insights into forever-trending styles that maintain their value. Specifically, she focused on bags from Karl Lagerfeld: A Tribute to an Icon, Fashionphile's new edit, which honors Lagerfeld and the upcoming Met Gala.

Below you'll uncover Lagerfeld's most influential designs and Henderson's top picks. And yes, all styles fall within the category of timeless and classic. You'll find notes from Henderson on what makes the bags iconic and why they might be worth investing in from a resale point of view. There are also inspired shopping picks sprinkled throughout, courtesy of Fashionphile.

The Classic Flap

"The classic flap was created in 1983 when Lagerfeld took over as creative director of Chanel. He reinterpreted Chanel's 2.55 flap with updated features, including a metal chain interlaced with leather and a double CC clasp. The classic flap is an instantly recognizable status symbol that continues to gain value year after year. If you are looking for a true investment piece to add to your collection, this is hands down one of the best options." — Henderson

The Boy Flap

"First introduced as part of Chanel's F/W 11 collection, the Boy bag is named after Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's first love, Boy Capel. This bag carries a boyish allure, with features like a rectangular shape, a thick gourmette chain, and a graphic CC clasp. This It-girl staple piece was released in six different sizes at various points in time and was produced in numerous colors and textiles, so you can be sure to find something that fits your style." — Henderson

FF Logo Bags

"The FF logo or Inverted Zucca was created by Lagerfeld in 1965. Fun fact: Did you know FF stands for 'fun fur'? Although the heritage brand has updated their logo every decade, this iconic logo continues to be a part of Fendi's DNA. " — Henderson

The Grand Shopping Tote

"Created by Lagerfeld in the '90s, this structured tote has all of the key elements of a classic Chanel bag, including the quilting, chain straps, and large CC logo. This style was discontinued in 2015, but you can find a nice selection of Grand Shopping Totes on our website." — Henderson

Next, check out more chic handbags.