The 4 Best Balmain Bags, Period

Question for you: How do you define luxury? It might be easy to assume that everyone sees the "finer things" in life similarly, but we'd argue that there's no singular definition. The notion of "luxury" is informed by our life experiences—e.g., where we grew up, who we are, what we value, and what we have (or don't have) monetarily. Therefore, we've come to believe that luxury is purely perspective. Sure, more stringent parameters exist for categorizing "luxury" within the fashion industry. However, even that can shift based on the consumer—i.e., what's attainable for one person may be out of financial reach for another. For that reason, we can still assert that luxury isn't solely about labels; it's about how you view everything in your life. You don't have to be wealthy to live in the lap of luxury. You just have to know what the most valuable thing of all is: your time.

Through that lens, you can understand that being able to relish in the beauty of a specific collection or clothing item you bought for longer than the trend cycle allows is opulence. After all, if the things you buy (ahem, like a bag) aren't timeless, are they really worth your time? For brands like Balmain, the answer is "non." Since the French fashion house's founding, it's long been a purveyor of high fashion, but its unique perspective has set it apart from the rest. That's no more apparent than with its handbag offering, which has become, for many people, the material embodiment of luxury itself. But what exactly makes these bags some of the most coveted luxury goods out there? Ahead, we're breaking down some of this house's history, why its leather goods are worth buying, and the four best Balmain bags you can buy. You may have your own stance on luxury, but rest assured these bags will shift your point of view. 

About Balmain 

What transforms a boutique atelier into a luxury powerhouse? Perspective, which the late Pierre Balmain had plenty of during his time. He grew up in a small alpine village in France, so it's hard to imagine that Balmain had the foresight that he'd transform a small family-owned dress shop into one of the most successful household names in fashion. All that Balmain knew from an early age was that he felt called to design despite all the detours he experienced along the way. Boy, were there many: studying architecture at the École des Beaux-Art at the behest of his mother, having his time designing under the tutelage of Molyneux cut short because of the military draft, and even having a falling-out with Christian Dior after they initially agreed to begin their brand together.

In spite of all of this, Balmain went on to found his namesake label in 1945, releasing his debut couture collection that's credited for creating "New French Style." A distinct pivot from the utilitarian fashion that defined the post World War II era, Balmain focused on clean-cut tailoring that emphasized the female form, capturing the collective attention of the fashion crowd and celebrities alike. From then on, the brand continued building the its couture, ready-to-wear, and leather-goods offerings until the founder's death in 1982. Since then, we've seen the house's unique perspective live on through some of the industry's most iconic creative directors, including Hervé Pierre, Oscar de La Renta, and Christophe Decarnin. But possibly the most influential of all is the house's current creative director, Olivier Rousteing. 

Much like the late Balmain, Rousteing's challenging journey has led him to create some of the most captivating clothing of our time. Born as an orphan, Rousteing, from a young age, felt compelled to design. He studied at Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode before landing roles working under Roberto Cavalli and then Christophe Decarnin. His later role, under Decarnin, led the protégé to eventually become the creative successor of Balmain at the age of 24, making him the youngest Black designer to be appointed to a luxury fashion house. In hindsight, his appointment marked the shift for Balmain and the broader fashion industry. Remember that long before there was any collective reckoning about the lack of diversity within the fashion industry, there was Rousteing.

For so long, positions of power in the high echelons of society and high fashion have been associated with whiteness. Therefore, the mere fact that Rousteing has existed within that space for well over a decade is revolutionary in and of itself. But it's not just that he's occupied that space; he's succeeded in it. By bringing back the brand's couture, menswear, and leather goods, he's successfully increased Balmain's bottom line by millions of dollars. In many ways, Rousteing has managed to bridge the gap between haute couture and current culture, which is no easy feat. In part, how he's been able to do that is his ability to notice what's next. 

If you pull the receipts, you can see that Rousteing has always been ahead of the curve; reference the brand's early social media campaigns or even his recent collaboration collection with Beyoncé for her recent album, Renaissance. He's been out here doing the work, okay! The grind that he's put in has subsequently allowed a new generation, or what Rousteing refers to as the "Balmain Army," to see luxury in a new light. No longer is it something out of reach, but it resonates with them; it can also be a part of their lives. That shift is most evident in the popularity of the brand's handbag collections. For so many, Balmain's bags are the entry point into a space they may have never felt they belonged. But what exact Balmain bags are beloved by this generation? Keep reading to find out. 

1. Balmain 1945 Soft Bag

Although this fashion house received critical acclaim for its couture collections, we should set the record straight: Its handbags are equally noteworthy. However, it wasn't until Rousteing revitalized the vertical in 2017 that we saw the brand's leather goods get the love they deserved. One of the first bags to be released by Rousteing was the Balmain 1945 Soft Bag. Featuring a rectangular shoulder-bag silhouette, the 1945 Soft Bag has a fold-over flap adorned with Balmain's signature metal plaque. While the style does feel reminiscent of the classic quilted shoulder bags we've come to associate with high fashion, it's far from cliché.

With so many adaptations to the bag released in various colors and sizes, there's no doubt you can find a version that feels unique. But it's not just variation that keeps this bag relevant; it's the quality. In true Balmain fashion, it's all about the details with this bag, as it comes in some of the most luxurious materials—e.g., velvet, suede, vinyl, jacquard cotton, and even embossed leather. It's the continuity of the style across collections, paired with the variations offered, that has cemented it as a collector's item in the fashion community.

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2. Balmain B-Buzz Bag

What's another style that put Balmain's handbags back in the purview of fashion people? Ahem, the Balmain B-Buzz Bag. Debuted in 2019, the bag is meant to invoke the sharp tailoring found in the house's signature six-button blazer. That inspiration is felt through the bag's distinguished structured shape—typical iterations of this bag come in a boxy top-handle silhouette with a fold-over flap and a detachable shoulder strap. While the shape itself feels as clean-cut as a Balmain blazer, the bag still has those touches of "ritz" that feel so innate to Rousteing's design perspective.

For instance, the bag is adorned with engraved snap hooks, metal feet, and a turn-clasp shaped like a "B," giving it that bougie touch. But it's not just the bold hardware that makes this bag unique. While the initial version of this bag was the "23" top handle, it's since become available in various colors, textiles, and, most notably, sizes and shapes. Now, the B-Buzz offering includes compact "22" and "19" sizes, along with clutch and shoulder-bag versions, guaranteeing that members of the "Balmain Army" have a fighting chance in finding the perfect handbag to add to their collections. 

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3. Balmain Blaze Bag

One of Rousteing's newer releases is the Balmain Blaze Bag. Spotted in the fashion house's F/W 22 and F/W 23 shows, the style is meant to nod to the Baroque period—i.e., the art movement after the Renaissance that was all about embracing things that were "highly decorated." In the context of fashion, this movement was antithetical to the austerity of other eras, as it centered on maximalism over minimalism. It's a stark contrast to current fashion, which is more interested in the latter. But given that Rousteing is always ahead of the curve, we're betting it's only a matter of time before the buzz around quiet luxury extinguishes. From those ashes, we will find this bag blazing the charge in a new direction for accessory trends.

What convinces us that this bag will be the next cult item? The distinctive shape. The typical baguette silhouette is given a cutting-edge update with sharply curved edges, a fold-over flap, and two strap options. However, in a true homage to the era, the drama doesn't stop there, as the bag features oversize buckle hardware, zipper embellishments, and Balmain's interlocking logo as a clasp in multiple colorways. Additionally, the bag ups the ante by taking luxurious textiles and making them even more striking—e.g., leather is embossed in crocodile print, embroidered with beads, or comes in shiny patent versions. The overall result is a bag that represents Rousteing's ability to light the path from the past to the present. 

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4. Balmain B-Buzz Dynasty Bag

Nothing else embodies Rousteing's ability to reimagine Balmain's rich archives quite like the B-Buzz Dynasty Bag. Debuted in the brand's F/W 23 collection, the style draws inspiration from vintage travel vanities—e.g., the trapezoidal shape emphasized with wrap-around finishing studs. Additionally, the bag has initial-shaped turn-lock hardware, a metal nameplate, and a removable leather tag, giving it that "trunk" feel without the travel limitations placed on those types of bags. Basically, the B-Buzz Dynasty Bag allows you to feel like you're about to catch the next flight out but is functional enough for everyday life—thanks, in part, to its detachable strap that allows styling versatility. 

If that weren't enough to sell you on this bag, simply look at how Rousteing has further expanded the B-Buzz Dynasty offering since its runway debut. The bag now comes in over eight colorways and various luxurious materials (e.g., patent leather, monogram canvas, and embossed calfskin). Although the bag currently only comes in one size, it's spacious enough to fit the essentials, boasting an interior and exterior pocket and a built-in card holder, ensuring that it's a bag that will still be stylish long after new trends take off.

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 More Noteworthy Balmain Bags 

If you've made it to this point in the story, hopefully, you've been thoroughly convinced that Balmain's handbags are some of the best designer goods out there, period. Each style lends itself to being a part of your forever wardrobe because of its versatility, quality, and continued popularity. But really, the biggest selling point goes back to the man behind the brand: Olivier Rousteing. His work serves as a reminder that luxury can be a reflection of how we see the world, should we be willing to take the risk to define it on our own terms. 

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