The Celine Classic Bag
Although the luxury French fashion house is now synonymous with some of the most desirable handbags in the world, Céline Vipiana and her husband Richard founded Celine as a made-to-measure children’s shoe boutique. The Celine brand expanded into women’s ready-to-wear clothing a decade later and, by the late ‘60s, expanded to handbags and accessories. Vipiana remained the designer of Celine until her death in 1997, when she was succeeded by Michael Kors. But it was Phoebe Philo’s reign as creative director from 2008 to 2018 that catapulted the brand’s reputation into the top echelon of the fashion elite. Philo developed a cult-like following with “It” girls the world over for her women-centered designs that oozed luxury and class.
Her tenure also resulted in three iconic bags: the Trio, Cabas and Classic. Often referred to as the Box Bag, the Celine Classic is Philo’s riff on an original by Vipiana. Philo kept the square shape of the 70’s era design but gave it a minimalist update, stripping away the gold horse-and-carriage logo that adorned the clasp and replacing it with something simple and sleek. The update was an instant success, becoming a mainstay with celebrities, influencers and designer handbag devotees.
Materials and Craftsmanship of the Celine Classic Bag
The Classic bag is in many ways emblematic of Philo’s style: logo-free, practical and elegant. Though it may seem understated, the Classic is instantly recognizable to serious fashion collectors for its polished aesthetic and exquisite construction. It carries with it an undeniable air of sophistication.
In spite of the Box bag’s discreet and compact design, its craftsmanship makes it much more than meets the eye. When clasped, the bag is, appropriately, boxy in shape, with squared-off edges and parallel lines. The bag features a top flap that clasps at the front. Once opened, the Celine Classic reveals an accordion-like interior structure. With subtle folds at the sides, the interior can be expanded to reveal two larger main pockets. Two smaller, open-faced pockets are located at the bag’s interior front, while a discreet zipped pocket is built into the back of the bag, perfect for safely storing passports and other important items.
The Celine Box bag’s detachable shoulder strap can be adjusted to meet the wearer’s preference and is suited perfectly for wearing the bag cross-body. While the Classic Box bag is most commonly constructed with fine leather, it can also be found in lizard, pony hair, cobra and crocodile, and is offered in a variety of solid colors. Although notably compact in size, the Box is a sturdy and hefty bag due to its materials. Not only is the exterior made of leather—the interior is, as well.
While the Celine Classic has been offered in a variety of sizes over the years, the size options have been pared down somewhat since Philo’s departure from the company. The Medium Classic Bag, an ideal day bag, measures at 9 x 7 x 3 inches. The Small Classic Bag—perfect for the minimalist who refuses to be bogged down by anything other than the necessities—measures 6 x 5 x 3 inches. The latest addition to the Celine Box line is the Teen size, coming in at 7 x 6 x 2 inches, offering a happy medium between the existing sizes.
The Celine Classic Bag’s Value and Collectibility
For decades, the Celine Classic has been a symbol of enduring elegance and effortless beauty. Free of any logos or flashy embellishment, the Box bag’s design has never fallen victim to passing trends. As a result, it remains a wardrobe staple that will last for years and never look outdated in your handbag collection.
In 2021, the Medium Box bag in calfskin retailed just under $4,000, with lizard available at $7,500 and crocodile topping $27,000. On the secondary marketplace, collectors will find pre-owned Medium Classic bags can sell from about $1,200 to more than $2,800. Higher-earning pre-loved Classic bags often come with tags, box, dust bag and original cards.