A good wardrobe is built upon a bedrock of reliable staples, whether in the guise of a precisely tailored coat, or a little black dress that transitions easily from day to night. Where handbags are concerned, this usually refers to classic black flap bags, often paired with chic gold hardware.
Few bag styles are nearly as enduring as the black flap bag, and that’s for good reason. Affording the user equal measures of demure elegance while keeping their hands free to go about with all of life’s many intrigues and pursuits, it’s no wonder why they are often considered a foundational addition in any reliable daily closet rotation.
While it isn’t to say that French high fashion maison Chanel can be credited for originating the design of the shoulder flag bag, her quilted take still remains to be one of the most iconic bags by far. The brainchild of Coco Chanel, the iconic Classic Double Flap bag has become the quintessential handbag for women across the world, cementing its status as an iconic investment piece that should be in every wardrobe.
Introduced in February of 1955, the quilted, oblong bag was tethered by a chain fed through four grommets on the bag’s top, which can be worn tucked under the arm when doubled-up or down to the waist when extended to its full length. At the time, this now commonplace design proved revolutionary for the simple reason that it allowed women – who were previously accustomed to top-handle shapes and clutches – the benefit of added mobility by freeing up their hands.
The rest of the industry was quick to catch on to the Classic Double Flap bag’s popularity. Nearly 70 years on from its debut, almost every major fashion label has come to introduce a black flap bag of its own, often pairing them with gold hardware for maximum sophistication and style versatility.
Whether you’re dressing up for brunch or headed to a board meeting, the best classic black flap bags with timeless gold hardware can elevate your outfit seamlessly. From high-end brands like Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Dior, to more affordable labels like Tory Burch and Coach here are some of our favourites to invest in.
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11 best classic black flap bags with gold hardware in 2024 all women should invest in:
It should go without saying that if we are to discuss a list of flap bag options to consider buying, we would start with Chanel’s Classic Double Flap bag. Instantly recognisable by its diamond matelassé quilting and interlocking gold double-C turnlock hardware, this reimagination of Coco Chanel’s original black flap bag was introduced by late creative director Karl Lagerfeld to instantaneous popularity among the yuppie set during the 1980s.
As the name implies, the Classic Double Flap is constructed to feature two flaps and features many of the label’s house codes – from a deep burgundy lining that paid tribute to Coco Chanel’s childhood school uniform, to a secret compartment she allegedly incorporated into the bag to stash away love letters.
Under Maria Grazia Chiuri’s stewardship, bag lovers across the fashion landscape have been treated to delights as the seminal canvas carryall, the Book Tote, and the resurgence of the iconic Saddle Bag. Where black leather flap bags are concerned, Chiuri took a more traditional approach by introducing the 30 Montaigne and later, the 30 Montaigne East-West Bag, a highly structured rectangular flap bag that boldly sports an antique gold-finish ‘CD’ clasp on its front, inspired by the seal of a Christian Dior perfume bottle.
Immediately becoming one of the label’s most popular styles upon its debut, the bag’s classic proportions yield a single compartment for your belongings, complemented by a zippered pocket and a slip pocket. Opt for the chain version if you enjoy a more delicate expression of Dior’s house style.
The house that Yves Saint Laurent had built has always been synonymous with French girl cool. Creative director Anthony Vaccarello understands that implicitly, which easily explains how one of his most enduring pieces for the label, the Jamie bag, continues to remain at the forefront of rocker cool joie de vivre.
This black flag bag with quilted ‘Carre Rive Gauche’ topstitching comes paired with a sliding chain that allows it to be carried two ways, with sleek gold hardware throughout for day-to-night versatility. Flip the flap open, and the trendsetter on the move can expect generous capacity from the main section, coupled with an interior zipped pocket and slot pocket, as well as three card slots.
Another relatively newer purveyor of French rocker glamour is Celine, and that comes as no surprise given their reinvention under the hands of Hedi Slimane. New Celine is best expressed through cigarette jeans, sequins, and jewel-toned splendour, accessorised with classic handbag designs like the Victorie, a supple shoulder-carry flap bag that’s just as effortlessly chic as it is functional.
Made out of luxuriously buttery calfskin – which has been a longstanding staple of the French maison – the bag features a lustrous gold chain and the Celine Triomphe emblem on its front. Within, you’ll enjoy all the benefits of a sensibly laid out main section for your belongings, in addition to a zippered pocket and slip pocket.
Another genre-defining style that helped usher in the resurgence of the black shoulder flap bag was Fendi’s Baguette bag, designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi. Taking inspiration from French women who were in the habit of carrying long lengths of baguette bread pinched by their underarms, the bag became a true icon when Carrie Bradshaw took it for a spin on the hit series, Sex and The City.
Personifying undisputable Y2K chic, the Fendi Baguette has since been introduced in an array of different styles and sizes. This iconic flap bag comes crafted in black kappa leather with a three-dimensional textured FF motif and gold hardware like the FF clasp. The bag can be carried by hand, or worn either on the shoulder or cross-body thanks to the handle and shoulder strap, both of which are detachable.
Featuring an interlocking double-G motif that was revived from the brand’s archives, the Marmont was introduced in 2016 as part of Alessandro Michele’s debut collection for Gucci and quickly became popular among bag enthusiasts for its elevated style and practicality. A matelassé quilted pattern stitched in the shape of a heart provides a distinctively romantic touch on the bag’s back panel, while its peachy-pink interior yields decent capacity for most daily essentials, all safely tucked in place by the distinctive brassy-gold GG closure.
Italian fashion house Valentino might’ve been synonymous with its Rockstud line of accessories, but contemporary fashion now prefers a more subtle approach, and Valentino has suitably adapted in kind by introducing a new flag bag dubbed the Loco. Supple calf leather is constructed into an oblong shape that evokes the 1990s adoration for shoulder flap bags, while a discreet but no less present reminder of the Italian house’s origins can be seen in its gold VLogo hardware motif. Sold with a short shoulder strap and an adjustable crossbody one, expect multiple styling options with this one.
The Twist bag was introduced at the 2015 Cruise show to plenty of fanfare, and we can see why. Crafted from the Maison’s sumptuous but durable Epi leather, Louis Vuitton’s Twist MM chain bag stands out thanks to the sculptural LV Twist lock in gleaming golden metal, which ingeniously rotates to create the House’s logo when locked. The bag boasts plenty of room thanks to its cleverly designed “wave” base, and comes with a sliding chain strap that can be doubled to be slung across the shoulder, or lengthened for cross-body wear.
A sellout hit from the moment it landed in stores, the Coach Tabby bag is creative director Stuart Vever’s most beloved design. Quick to play into fashion’s current obsession with Y2K nostalgia, the Tabby line has always epitomised the sultry nonchalance that It Girls of that era popularised.
One of the newest standout additions to the Tabby lineup comes by way of the Coach Quilted Tabby, which offers a more upmarket appeal by replacing its leather straps with a metal chain tethered through four grommets. Available in three sizes, this will also be the first Tabby bag to come with a 33cm iteration, making it a great option for those who like carting around loads of daily essentials.
American fashion designer Tory Burch has long been a purveyor of affordable, preppy Bohemian luxury since making her debut back in 2004. A bag that exemplifies this design code is the Eleanor bag. Crafted from croc-embossed leather, the classic black shoulder flap bag ticks off all the right boxes, from the twisted rope chain that’s inspired by jewellery gold flip-lock closure hardware. Better still, the structured handbag doesn’t compromise on practicality with its decently-sized interior, which fits up to an iPhone 13 Pro Max and Samsung Galaxy Note 20.
American designer Marc Jacobs has always had a finger on the pulse where youth culture is concerned, and his own label is evidence of that. Where bags are concerned, the J Marc shoulder bag is fast becoming one of the most popular items in the brand’s inventory. A shoulder flap bag by design, it features a detachable chain strap and adjustable guitar strap, while a spacious main compartment keeps all of your bits-and-bobs within easy reach. Close the flap, and everything is seamlessly tucked under the oblong shaped J Marc hardware closure.
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