CÉLINE Trio Bags

About the Celine Trio Bag
Founded by Céline Vipiana and her husband, Richard, in 1945, Celine has a history rooted in subtle, luxurious, timeless fashion and leather goods. Vipiana herself remained the lead designer until 1988 when Peggy Huynh Kinh took over. Michael Kors followed, though eventually, Phoebe Philo became creative director. In her decade-long tenure, she was beloved in the fashion community, recognized for her sleek and unfettered minimalist approach. She left a stamp on the brand that re-defined luxury and produced collection hit after hit.

One of Philo’s most notable creations is the Trio, a convertible, three-compartment bag composed of three separate pouchettes that can be detached and carried individually. You can also attach the two external pouches to one another, creating a slim clutch. The bag’s flexible, practical design and sleek minimalist profile are hallmarks of Philo’s aesthetic that skyrocketed Celine’s popularity.

Unlike many of Celine’s best-known products from the Philo era, the Trio is an undercover statement piece. It's a beautiful, incredibly well-constructed bag whose simple looks and small size don’t immediately draw the eye like some of her larger, more textured and detailed designs.

Following Philo’s departure in 2018, Celine hired a new creative director, Hedi Slimane, best known for his work re-defining Yves Saint-Laurent’s image in 2012, to take the reins. Most of Slimane’s changes to the brand’s style came through his new collections (as well as the much-talked-about removal of the accent mark from the name, changing it from Céline to Celine).

However, he also made updates to existing Celine products, the Trio among them. Slimane-era Trios can be immediately distinguished by the all-metal zippers, more in keeping with Slimane’s more punk sensibilities than the delicate leather pull tabs on the Philo version. Other minor changes include the updated logo and the removal of the text “Céline Paris” that Philo’s bags had embossed on the bag’s interior.

Materials and Craftsmanship of the Celine Trio Bag

Celine makes the Trio from supple lambskin leather with a textile lining (canvas or microfiber, depending on the year of release) and gold-colored hardware throughout. The matching leather shoulder strap is adjustable but not removable, so anyone who wants to carry the Trio as a clutch will need to use the two-pouch configuration to do so.

Additionally, collectors can find pre-loved Trio bags in multiple colorways and sometimes rare exotic leathers, including python. Even a quick online search will reveal this bag in bright reds, soft pinks, classic black, navy and orange, to name a few.

The Celine Trio Bag’s Value and Collectibility

The Trio’s design makes it an ideal piece for collectors. The bag’s modular pouch design allows collectors with multiple bags to swap the pouches, creating unique multi-color variations to coordinate with different outfits or match the season.

The Trio has continued production across the divisive change of head designer, and as a result, vintage Trio bags can be more highly sought-after than new ones. This is partly due to the love that fans and collectors have for all things Phoebe Philo.

Of course, because the original Philo design is now out of production, supply can only go down, which may also add to its value as time goes on.

On the other hand, Slimane-era Trios are more likely to be in excellent condition and may have more retained value. The Slimane-era bags look very similar to the original, so collectors who prioritize the bag’s shape and longevity over its design history should look for the “new” Trio. In early 2021, pre-loved large Celine Trio bags typically fetch, on average, more than $900.