What’s old is new and what’s new suddenly becomes old again. Fashion is a revolutionary process, with designers gaining ideas and inspiration from the past and bringing it into the present. Whether it’s the return of bell bottom jeans, platform Mary Jane pumps, fringe hobo bags or the redesign of a wildly popular designer item, there’s always a renewed interest and level of curiosity surrounding styles and pieces of yesteryear.

The Fashion Cycle (not to be confused with current trends such as upcycling) occurs when a trend is introduced, becomes incredibly popular, declines, and then is replaced by a new trend. Here are the five stages.

Introduction: This is when a new style enters the market. Whether it’s introduced during fashion week, worn by a celebrity, or it gains traction over social media, the item is usually limited in supply and higher in price.

Acceptance: This is when the style gets noticed in the fashion industry and labeled as a trend. Fashion industry execs, celebrities, and trendsetters are spotted wearing the trend which then causes the increase in consumer demand, and more retailers carry it.

Peak: When the trend peaks, it’s essentially taken over the market and everyday consumers are spotted wearing the trend. By this time, most retailers have identified and copied the trend and it’s now widely available at all different price points.

Decline: During the decline, the trend has become oversaturated in the market and consumers begin to look for more fashion-forward and unique pieces rather than following everyone else.

The end: This is when the trend has reached the end of the cycle and has been deemed out-of-fashion. Once it reaches obsolescence, this rejected trend may reenter the cycle at a later date when the fashion industry decides to bring back old fashions.

Designer Bags Making a Comeback

With the hype surrounding sustainability and designer resale, fashion houses have noticed the increased demand for some of their most sought-after designer handbags of the past and brought them into the present. Whether it’s the Dior Saddle Bag, the Fendi Baguette, or the Gucci Jackie bag, the OG bags have become incredibly popular (and increasingly rare) in the resale market, and with renewed interest in certain styles and designs, top luxury brands have released updated versions.

And while the latest drops are just as fabulous as the originals, the truth is there’s nothing quite like the design that started the entire fashion frenzy. Let’s take a look at some of our favorite ‘IT’ bags that have been relaunched in the past few years. **Side note:**We’ve got lots more access to the originals, than the most recent updates.

Balenciaga City Bag: Back in 2001 when Nicholas Ghesquière, Creative Director of Balenciaga, introduced the Motorcycle City Bag he was discouraged from making too many of them because they were too light, unstructured and soft, so he only sent 25 samples down the runway. After the show, he handed them out to celebrities and IT girls of the moment (like Kate Moss) which sparked a frenzy.

Since then, Balenciaga has come out with many iterations of the original design, featuring different types of hardware, various sizes, new colors, and a variety of styles, and designs. With multiple inner pockets, and an outside zip pocket, a mirror tied to a tassel, and a detachable shoulder strap, this instantly recognizable bag from the aughts is still a highly sought-after ‘IT’ bag on the resale market.

Balenciaga recently relaunched the City Bag again but this time it’s called the Balenciaga Neo Classic Top Handle Bag and with its structured, trapezoidal shape, it looks more like the City Bag meets the Hourglass Bag than the original City Bag. Launched in 2020, this design features most of the original City Bag details, like the braided top handle, zippered closure, and Balenciaga’s iconic moto studs, and fringe.

Gucci Jackie Hobo Bag: Not only is the Gucci Jackie Bag iconic and very in demand, but the relaunch of this timeless classic is also resale gold. The Fifties Constance bag, known for its half-moon hobo design and piston-shaped closure, was first introduced in the 1950s and is thought to be the original hobo bag. This instant classic became the epitome of timeless style after Jackie Kennedy Onassis was regularly spotted toting it around New York City. It was then renamed The Jackie Bag as a nod to her jet-setting style and influence over the fashion industry.

The Jackie O Bag was previously relaunched in 1999 and 2009. In 2020, Gucci’s Creative Director, Alessandro Michele, revived the iconic bag and renamed it The Jackie 1961. He also launched a medium and large Jackie 1961 Tote Bag.

Dior Saddle Bag: Introduced by John Galliano in Dior’s Spring/Summer 2000 collection, Dior’s Saddle Bag quickly reached cult-like status due to its unique, kidney-shaped design. The bag went from runway to mainstream with ‘IT’ girls like Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and of course, Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City, giving it airtime and lots of media attention.

As one of the world’s most sought-after bags, it was relaunched in 2018 and then in 2019 when Dior introduced a belt bag style. Crafted in many different leathers and materials—calfskin, denim canvas, satin, velvet, matte leather, oblique embroidered canvas, and more—a rainbow of colors, and a few different types of hardware and finishes, this saddle-shaped tote is a timeless classic.

Fendi Baguette: One of fashion’s original IT bags, the Fendi Baguette debuted in 1997 and became iconic due to its numerous appearances carried by Carrie Bradshaw on Sex and the City. Designed to be carried under the arm like a French baguette, this minimalist silhouette was initially launched in a single strap design with a flap closure. One of the biggest draws for this bag has always been its versatility and uniqueness.

Relaunched in 2019, and reimagined many times since then, the modern remake of the Fendi Baguette—in the same silhouette—features a detachable shoulder strap, top handle, and has been reproduced in 1000s of different variations such as fringe, embroidery, studs, Zucca-embossed leather, sequins, and more.

Prada Re-Edition & Re-Nylon Bags: IT bags that were wildly popular in the 90s and early 2000s, the vintage Prada Re-Edition and Re-Nylon bags are highly sought-after on the resale market today.

Since their initial introduction, Prada has relaunched and revived their nylon bags again and again with the Re-Nylon Re-Edition 2000, 2005 and 2006 shoulder bags, baguettes, and top handles. Sustainably made of innovative Re-Nylon which is produced from recycled, purified plastic trash collected in the ocean, fishing nets, and textile waste fibers, these bags are an eco-friendly option and a must-have for shoppers concerned with fashion’s impact on the environment.

Both of these designs have been updated in the past couple years, with the newest versions of the Re-Edition bags available in a wide variety of colors, sizes, and additional materials such as ostrich and Saffiano leather.

Louis Vuitton Croissant Bag: Initially launched in the beginning of 2000 and discontinued in 2006, the original Croissant bag—designed in classic Monogram canvas with gold-plated hardware, leather trim and an adjustable Vachetta looping handle—is quite rare, making it a hot commodity on the resale market. But today, Croissant bags are all the rage and the Louis Vuitton Croissant bag has been fashionably reimagined to fit perfectly under the arm—and into today’s trends.

Reimagined by Nicolas Ghesquière for Cruise 2022, the Loop handbag is a half-moon baguette, inspired by the Croissant bag from the House archives. It features a body-hugging, compact shape with a shoulder chain, cross-body leather strap, and a front-zip pocket with a LV Circle zip pull.