Fendi bags: The complete buyer’s guide
From the original ‘It’ bag to recent creations, Fendi’s best-loved bags are icons for a reason
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What do the words Baguette, Peekaboo and Origami have in common? Maybe not the easiest of questions, but the simplest of answers: Fendi. Making its mark since the 1920s, Fendi earned its spot as one of the world’s most prestigious fashion houses on a reputation for its unparalleled fur and leather goods. The Baguette, Peekaboo and Origami are just three of its cult bags – but when and how did it all start? And what are today’s most coveted designs? We’re here to bring you the complete guide to Fendi bags.
First things first, some context. Let’s go back to Rome, 1925, where power couple Adele and Edoardo Fendi established the House of Fendi. Their first boutique soon followed, showcasing high-quality handbags made from proper Italian leather and fur, and spotlighting their skilled craftsmanship and innovative designs. The shop quickly became a go-to for the city’s style set and the brand put itself on the map with its elegant blend of Italian heritage and contemporary style.
Fendi SS25
Fendi SS25
Some 20 years later, in 1946, the couple’s five daughters – Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla and Alda – joined the business, with each sister taking on different responsibilities, from design and licensing to managing client relations. The family-run business transformed from a local boutique to a global empire, and when Karl Lagerfeld was hired as creative director in 1965, the business only went from strength to strength.
Lagerfeld created the legendary FF ‘Zucca’ logo just one year on, in 1966, as well as presenting the brand’s first high fashion collection (expanding interest globally to the US and Japan), and launching cosmetics and men’s accessories. In 1977, Lagerfeld created Fendi’s first ready-to-wear clothing collection, transforming it into a bonafide fashion house. Silvia Venturini Fendi, Anna’s daughter, joined Lagerfeld in the creative division in 1992, working alongside him until his passing in 2019 – taking Fendi from an Italian luxury brand to a world-renowned powerhouse.
Today, Silvia Venturini is the last remaining Fendi family member still working for the business, which was bought by luxury conglomerate LVMH in 1999. Replacing Lagerfeld, British designer Kim Jones occupied the artistic director position from 2020 until 2024, and Fendi has continued to expand its offering across bags, clothing, shoes, perfumes, and even home furnishings.
Why are Fendi bags so popular?
We have a collection of imaginative brains, creative eyes and skilled craftspeople to thank for Fendi’s famous bags. And, of course, Carrie Bradshaw – who sent the Fendi Baguette to instant ‘It’ bag status by wearing one in an early episode of Sex and the City. Fendi’s bags epitomise refined style and elegance, synonymous with the fashion house’s Italian heritage and creative spirit.
Made from fine materials, including Fendi’s signature leathers and furs, and crafted into instantly recognisable designs with fabulous detailing and stylisation, each is finessed down to the smallest detail and finished with the ‘FF’ logo created by Lagerfeld. Standing for ‘fun fur’, it represents the combination of playfulness and luxury that make a Fendi bag more than just an accessory. They are hugely desirable and collectible items for fashion die-hards, creating an investment piece, a status symbol and a fashion statement all in one.
How to care for your Fendi handbag
Highest quality design, painstakingly intricate craftsmanship and delicate fabrications are sealed into every Fendi bag – so they deserve to be treated with love and respect to preserve their natural beauty. Whether crafted from leather, canvas or other fine fabrics, each Fendi bag will come with its own care instructions to keep it in pristine condition. As a general rule of thumb, though, Fendi recommends the following:
- When not in use, store your bag in its protective case somewhere dry and away from direct sunlight. This will prevent dust buildup and limit exposure to humidity, heat and light which can cause damage. To maintain its shape, stuff your bag with tissue paper (steer clear from newspaper as the ink could seep).
- Avoid prolonged exposure to extreme weather conditions and rain.
- Avoid contact with oils, creams, greases, solvents, and alcohols (such as perfume).
- Do not overload your bag.
- Protect your bag from scuffs and scratches.
- Clean with a soft, dry cloth.
The most famous Fendi bags
Fendi Baguette
It all began with the Baguette. Born in 1997, the Baguette was the first Fendi bag to gain worldwide recognition, branded the original ‘It’ bag. Created by Silvia Venturini Fendi, the design was inspired by the way Parisian women carried freshly baked baguettes under their arms. The silhouette is longer than it is higher, resting comfortably on the shoulder and tucking into the crook of the arm. Initially taking time to gain traction, it immediately took off when it appeared in Sex and the City, with Carrie Bradshaw informing us all, “It’s not a bag, it’s a Baguette”.
A fashion icon in the truest sense of the word, the Baguette is available in endless materials, patterns and colourways, so there is something to suit every taste, whether it’s the original Fendi Zucca FF canvas, or a more textured finish (to date there have been more than 1,000 variations). One of the few fashion brands still using exotic leathers and real fur, choose from crocodile, ostrich, calfskin, lambskin and fur, rendered in sequins or vibrant shades, or in mini, clutch or crossbody style, all finished with the ‘FF’ clasp.
The Baguette exploded at the end of the 1990s, and today remains a timeless but on-trend piece, but it did take a quick hiatus, with production discontinued in the 2000s. In 2019, however, it made a mighty comeback and in 2022 Fendi opened New York Fashion Week in celebration of the Baguette’s 25th anniversary.
New for 2025, Fendi’s Mama Baguette is a revamped version of the classic, made from a soft nappa leather and featuring a drawstring closure for a more deconstructed, relaxed look. It is available in three different sizes, various colours and, of course, still features the FF logo buckle.
Fendi Peekaboo
The Peekaboo made its debut on Fendi’s spring/summer runway in 2009. Another design by Silvia Venturini Fendi, the bag is named after the childhood game ‘peek-a-boo’, playing on the idea that its beauty is evident in both the exterior and interior. When the bag is worn open, the inner compartments are shown off, hence ‘peekaboo’. Entering the fashion world at a time when logomania was at its peak, Venturini Fendi’s aim was to create something less flashy and obvious but still brimming with Fendi character.
A versatile style that is trapezium-shaped with lots of internal pockets and compartments, it can be worn on the shoulder or carried by hand thanks to the adjustable handle. The Peekaboo’s original cut has a slight slouch to it and is complete with a twist lock on both sides. Today, it comes in petite, small, medium and large sizes, crafted from either raw cotton toile, glossy leather or suede, in both pastel and bold colours. This season welcomes the Peekaboo Soft Small – a more laidback look that enhances what appears as a ‘smile’ on the front panel (we’ve already spotted Taylor Swift and Raye sporting one).
Fendi By The Way
Launched in 2014, Fendi’s By The Way bag was an immediate hit among fashion enthusiasts. Today, it continues to shine thanks to a recent revamp to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The Selleria style was introduced for AW24, reimagining the signature design in a relaxed, lightweight look. It features a soft silhouette with a spacious interior, including compartments zips to combine practicality and style. The bag ranges in size, from mini to full-size, and can be worn in various ways to suit any and every occasion.
Fendi Fendigraphy
Designed by Kim Jones and introduced in 2022, the Fendigraphy bag is definitely one for the logo-lovers and not for the faint-hearted. Taking the classic hobo silhouette (an elegant crescent moon shape) and adding a modern edge, the Fendigraphy is embellished with big Fendi lettering on its curved base. Striking in gold metal, which is visible in a slightly understated manner, wear with a minimalist outfit for big impact.
Inside this dramatically structured design, the bag has plenty of space to carry all your day-to-day necessities (keys, phone, lipstick etc) and can be worn in multiple ways thanks to its removable shoulder strap. Carry under the arm or as a crossbody as your choice of small, medium or nano size dictates. Offered in a range of colourways, this is the best Fendi bag for showing off a contemporary, powerful style.
Fendi Origami
Origami – the Japanese art of paper folding – inspired this Fendi bag. Boasting the fashion house’s intricate and thoughtful craftsmanship, its design can fold into different shapes, much like its namesake. Morph it into a cubic bucket bag, flat into a trapezoidal shopper or bring it together at the centre for a flower-like figure. This design is impressively multi-functional.
Launched at the end of 2023 by Silvia Venturini Fendi, the Origami is an original and forward-thinking design that remains in-keeping with the brand’s quality and multipurpose sensibility. Demonstrating a less obvious, more sophisticated sense of style, this is one that will earn you kudos with your most fashionable friends.
Read more: Hermès bags: The complete buyer’s guide
