Women Today Want Handbags with a High Future Resale Value
L'OFFICIEL's latest women's global shopping survey via Instagram invites our readers to chime in on the hits and misses of the accessories presented in the Fall/Winter 2020 collections. While some style opinions vary by area, one thing is clear: the classic bag is in this season, with 88 percent of our 600,000-plus participants favoring timeless pieces over trend accessories.
More than an ever-stylish accessory, a classic designer handbag is a piece of fashion capital. Enduring staples hold value that translates to strong resale demand–meaning that your return on your investment would be greater than seasonal trend pieces–which is especially significant in the growing resale fashion industry. Amidst the $24 billion resale industry, last year, The Real Real reported that handbags were its fastest growing category, quarter after quarter. While we usually think of brands like Hermès and Chanel when the topic of investment pieces is brought up, Gucci's Jackie 1961 bag—a favorite among the fashion elite in the '60s—has proven its enduring value with its comeback on the runway.
Introduced in 1961 as the G1244, the slouchy hobo bag with a piston clasp was originally a unisex piece. But, after First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis took a liking to the bag—often using it to shield herself from papparazi—it was renamed the Jackie. For years, she was rarely seen without the bag slung over her shoulder and, as an American fashion icon revered by many, her influence made the bag's popularity surge.
Since then, the hobo style was reimagined multiple times by Gucci's successive designers. Notably, the brand released the Jackie Soft bag in a campaign fronted by Kate Moss. In the video, she can be seen subtly posing for paparazzi pictures as she arrives at the airport, a nod to the First Lady.
In Gucci's Fall/Winter 2020 men's collection, the Jackie 1961 was unveiled. Creative Director Alessandro Michele referenced a vintage Jackie, adding only a few tweaks to appeal to the modern customer. The Jackie 1961 comes in sizes ranging from mini to medium, with neutral, pastel, and print models. It also seems that the brand is channeling its original unisex design–Harry Styles was seen sporting a black leather Jackie 1961.
An enduring piece in the fashion cycle, the new Jackie bag reflects shoppers' desire for classic styles that withstand time and trend, and therefore, retain their value for years to come–whether you decide to keep the piece for your own wardrobe or part with it sustainably through consigning or resale.
