The Fendi Baguette launched in 1997 and sold 100,000 units in its first year, a number fueled by one purple sequin cameo on Sex and the City. Designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, the little shoulder bag turned a French habit of carrying bread into an It bag that never left.
Who designed the Fendi Baguette?
Silvia Venturini Fendi designed this shoulder bag to sit comfortably under the arm. The inspiration came from seeing the French carry a long, thin baguette under their arms. In 1997, the Fendi Baguette launched and a fashion icon was born. The name says it all: the bag was made to be carried under the arm, just like the bread it is named after, which is why the proportions feel so deliberate.
How did the Baguette become an It bag?
Fame arrived through television as much as design. The Baguette became the It girl bag for socialites, celebrities and fictional characters, and its success is owed to Sex and the City featuring a purple sequin version in season three. It was Sarah Jessica Parker, aka Carrie Bradshaw, who made the Fendi Baguette the iconic It bag, and the purple sequin version became the one everyone remembers. That moment exploded Fendi into a household name and turned the bag into a cult staple, complete with waitlists and no promise of ever getting one.
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What versions of the Baguette exist?
Over the decades the Baguette has come in countless variations: embellished, sequined, embroidered, limited edition, DIY, and collaborations with celebrities and artists. The family now includes a micro-sized version and the double Baguette. Through every reinterpretation, from plain leather to full sparkle, the formula has stayed constant since 1997, which is why the Baguette still reads instantly as itself. Whether the finish is canvas, leather or fully embroidered, the silhouette is the giveaway.
Why the Baguette still matters
New York Fashion Week was coming to an end for the F/W 2022 season when Kim Jones celebrated 25 years of the Baguette, and the anniversary delivered one of the most iconic moments of the week: supermodel Linda Evangelista closing the Fendi x Tiffany collaboration. Talk about an encore: 25 years after launch, the Baguette was still closing one of fashion week's biggest collaborations. With the Sex and the City reboot back on screens and nostalgia running high, the bag became a staple once again. Could the reboot be the reason? Either way, a bag that sold 100,000 units in its first year does not fade quietly.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed the Fendi Baguette and when?
Silvia Venturini Fendi designed it, inspired by the French carrying thin baguettes under their arms. The bag launched in 1997 and sold 100,000 units in its first year on the market.
How did Sex and the City make the Baguette famous?
Carrie Bradshaw carried a purple sequin Fendi Baguette in season three. The cameo pushed Fendi into household-name territory, created cult status and sparked waitlists for the bag.
Does the Baguette come in different sizes?
Yes. Alongside the classic shape, Fendi has released micro-sized and double Baguette versions, plus endless material and embellishment variations, from sequins to artist collaborations.
Shop pre-owned Fendi for Baguettes and more, see how another 2000s icon returned in the story of the Prada Re-Edition, or browse new arrivals for the next piece with a story.
