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Six Old-Money Bags Dominating Celebrity Quiet-Luxury Style in 2026

Invest in stealth wealth: six celebrity‑favored bags are doing the quiet‑luxury signaling right now—buy what fits your life, or expect crowds and resale premiums.

Mia Chen6 min read
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Six Old-Money Bags Dominating Celebrity Quiet-Luxury Style in 2026
Source: wwd.com

FashionTimes’ Feb 25 roundup literally named “six handbags driving quiet-luxury signalling in 2026 street and red‑carpet style: Bottega Veneta Andiamo, Louis Vuitton Capucines, Chanel 25, Prada Cleo, The Row Margaux, and Fendi Peekaboo.” That sentence is the headline for how celebrities are dressing their arms this season—subtle logos, impeccable leather, and silhouettes that read rich without shouting.

Bottega Veneta Andiamo Few bags have defined quiet luxury quite like the Andiamo from Bottega Veneta. Open Magazine noted it’s “frequently spotted on Hailey Bieber,” and called out the “structured yet soft leather silhouette” that “fits seamlessly into off duty tailoring and minimalist dresses.” Bottega’s current momentum isn’t accidental—WhoWhatWear’s point that “the brand brings instant recognisability along with the promise of quality and craftspersonship” explains why the Andiamo reads like credentialed restraint. If you want a bag that behaves equally well with a trouser suit or a slip dress, this is the shape celebrities keep reaching for. View this post on Instagram A post shared by MITCHELL (@luxebymitchell)

Louis Vuitton Capucines Louis Vuitton’s Capucines sits in the list as the other face of old‑money optics: heritage, polish, and an instantly readable crest of taste. Vogue’s coverage reminds us how a single LV silhouette can become pervasive—“In the world of celebrities, a bag can become an It bag with one singular paparazzi shot.” Vogue even points to Speedy sightings by Rihanna and Tyla to demonstrate how LV classics remain cultural shorthand; treat the Capucines as part of that same category of house staples that celebrities rotate into high‑visibility moments. It’s not the loudest piece you’ll own, but it signals lineage in a way new‑school logos can’t.

Chanel 25 FashionTimes slots the Chanel 25 among the six leading quiet‑luxury handbags, which is where you expect Chanel to live: perennial, curated, and endlessly remixable. There aren’t extensive specs in the excerpts, but the inclusion alone matters—Chanel’s house codes do the signaling work for you. Combine that with the broader observation across outlets that archival revivals and re‑editions are in play, and the Chanel 25 reads like a safe bet for someone who wants the elegance of heritage without trendy fanfare.

Prada Cleo Prada’s Cleo is one of the six FashionTimes flagged, and its presence reflects a bigger point: Prada has mastered the quiet reboot—smoothing retro silhouettes into contemporary wardrobes. There are no new celeb‑by‑name sightings in the excerpts provided, but Prada’s appearance on the same short list as Bottega and Chanel underlines what WhoWhatWear says about brand recognisability: “First, of course, the brand brings instant recognisability along with the promise of quality and craftspersonship.” The Cleo reads like an understated modern classic—sculptural but serviceable, and exactly what stylist‑approved dressing calls for.

The Row Margaux “Oversized carryalls continue to gain traction, and the Margaux from The Row is at the center of that conversation.” FashionTimes even ties the Margaux to celebrity usage—“Frequently carried by Jennifer Lawrence, the bag reflects an appetite for subtle luxury.” The Margaux’s selling points are literal and practical: “Spacious interiors suited for daily routines,” “Minimal branding that prioritizes material quality,” and “A shape that complements relaxed tailoring [...]” That Q&A hammered home the trend: “Are large bags still in style in 2026? Yes. Spacious totes like The Row Margaux reflect a growing preference for practicality combined with elevated design.” If your life needs a real‑world bag that still reads exclusive, The Row’s oversized approach is the exact counterweight to micro‑mini mania. View this post on Instagram A post shared by More Luxury Club (@moreluxury.club)

AI-generated illustration
AI-generated illustration

Fendi Peekaboo Fendi’s Peekaboo closes the FashionTimes six—an emblematic choice because Fendi has long balanced craft and playful design cues. The excerpts don’t deliver a celebrity cameo for the Peekaboo here, but FashionTimes places it squarely among the labels dominating bag conversation: “Brands such as Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, The Row, and Fendi frequently appear in celebrity style coverage.” That sentence is useful: the Peekaboo isn’t just a bag, it’s part of a set of houses that celebs use to signal taste. Combine Fendi’s design language with Vogue and WhoWhatWear’s points about visibility, and the Peekaboo feels like a wardrobe move for people who want a little character with their quiet luxury.

Why these six matter—fashion mechanics and the bigger picture Across the pieces that fed this list, the same mechanisms repeat: visibility, heritage, and practicality. WhoWhatWear nails the cadence: “Since the beginning of 2025, I’ve spotted a select number of styles, both new and old, being carried by what I consider to be some of the most fashionable celebrities… Unlike other clothing and accessories, handbag trends tend to move much slower and are, therefore, worthy investments that will remain relevant for a long time after their initial purchase.” Vogue’s razor point—“In the world of celebrities, a bag can become an It bag with one singular paparazzi shot”—and FashionTimes’ Q&A—“High visibility street style moments, red carpet events, and social media exposure often accelerate demand, making certain bags more desirable and harder to find”—explain the crush on these six.

A quick field note on scale and side bets: the market isn’t only about large totes or stealth pieces; it runs both ways. Listful’s testing shows the Hermès Birkin 25 still commands cult energy—“Hermès’ Birkin 25 in Rose Purple is the compact prestige piece everyone recognizes… high score of 8/10 for collectors” even at an “eye‑watering $26,533,” while Miu Miu’s Arcadie Matelassé impressed as a polished night bag with a “detachable, adjustable 105 cm strap” and a $3,200 price. WhoWhatWear’s testing of more accessible luxury—Tory Burch’s Romy tote—reminds you that celebrity saturation translates down to roomy, supple daily bags too: “Made from soft and supple leather and roomy enough to fit all your everyday, office and even travel essentials, this is primed to become one of the most coveted designer totes.”

Cultural notes you can’t ignore “In an era where celebrity style is no longer just about what’s worn, but what’s collected, handbags have become the ultimate marker of taste, access, and individuality.” Emirateswoman’s framing is right—celebrities now curate collections, not just outfits, and that behavior rewires desire. Historical anchors matter too: “Long before celebrity handbag collections became a cultural obsession, Princess Diana was quietly defining what it meant to carry a bag with meaning,” the piece reminds us, invoking how a single body of work—think Lady Dior—can shape decades of taste. fbpx

Final point If you want a bag that reads old‑money in photos and in the day‑to‑day, stop chasing hyperlogo and look at shapes, leather quality, and how often a style shows up on real people who matter. These six—Bottega Veneta Andiamo, Louis Vuitton Capucines, Chanel 25, Prada Cleo, The Row Margaux, and Fendi Peekaboo—are the ones celebrities are using to make that quiet statement right now, and the mechanics behind their rise suggest they'll keep doing the signalling for seasons to come.

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