Nov 18, 2022

It’s the festive holiday season, the perfect time of year to express our appreciation for those we love with thoughtful gifts that perfectly suit them! Especially for the luxury fashion enthusiast (or those that love them), the task of picking the perfect gift can be a daunting one. Luckily, we have put together this year’s holiday gift guide of the best luxury handbags — from the accessible to the aspirational.

Gifts for the money conscious shopper

In this tier of luxury gifts, these handbags are sure to stretch your dollar to the maximum, including being great investments as well as fabulous designer accessories.

Chanel Small Flap bag

A Small Chanel Flap Bag with Top Handle in the color Red
Courtesy of Chanel

At the high end, we have the Chanel Small Flap bag, done in a classic tartan material with a holiday-appropriate twist! The Chanel Flap bag silhouette is incredibly versatile, and almost anyone can wear it as a crossbody or as an evening bag. Its versatility in combination with the potential return on investment makes this handbag an extremely attractive choice for gifting.

At a respectable price of $4,400 on the Chanel website, you’ll want to snatch this up before the reported price increases kick in early next year!

Bottega Veneta Jodie bag

A Bottega Veneta Mini Jodie bag in the color Parakeet
Courtesy of Bottega Veneta

The Jodie bag is one of 2022’s hottest luxury handbags, being worn to fashion weeks the world over and on many a celebrity’s arm. And with Daniel Lee having left relatively recently (late 2021), the Jodie bag is likely to become rarer and more coveted as the years go on. With an average value retention of 73% according to some resale reports, the Jodie bag is going to be a bag that’s worth the hype, and the investment.

This luxury bag is also a favorite of Millenials and Gen Z, making it a perfect fit for the younger generation of giftees on your list.

In a slew of fabulously vibrant colors, you can certainly find one that works for your special someone. Now available for $2,650 at Bottega Veneta.

Prada Cleo bag

A Prada Cleo shoulder bag in the color White
Courtesy of Prada

Another big winner in the 2022 designer handbag popularity contest is the Prada Cleo bag. Regardless of the size (available in Mini and Medium), the Prada Cleo bag is one of Prada’s most popular styles, especially with their newfound younger customer.

Drawing a great deal of inspiration from their 1990’s fashion archive, this designer bag fits right into the current trend of 90’s and early-aughts nostalgia. Particularly if you’re shopping for someone who is more on the cutting edge, or has a sleek, no-nonsense sense of style, this luxury handbag has everything for them in one sharp package.

This designer bag is available at Prada for $2,950 in their classic brushed leather colors and in two dazzling crystal embellished satin versions.

Gifts for the aspirational recipient

Now, what do you get for the person who has it all? What do you get someone who could get anything they wanted, when they want it? For the discerning giftee or the picky person on your shopping list, look no further than this category of exceptional and unique luxury handbags.

Himalayan Birkin bag

An Hermès 30cm Matte Niloticus crocodile leather Birkin bag in the color White Himalaya
Courtesy of Sotheby’s

The holy grail of all luxury designer handbags, the Himalayan Birkin is the most highly prized and coveted version of Hermès’s iconic Birkin bag.

The Himalayan Birkin gets its snowy moniker from the infamously colossal mountain range south of the Tibetan plateau. The bleaching and dying process to achieve this stunning and smokey ombré colorway is incredibly labor intensive and requires great care on the craftsman’s behalf, utilizing the finest methods of chrome tanning to achieve the crispest whites while preserving the crocodile leathers’ gorgeous scaled texture.

The example pictured above is being sold privately to discerning shoppers for $192,000 USD at Sotheby’s.

Himalayan Kelly bag with Diamond

An Hermès 32cm Matte Niloticus crocodile leather Kelly bag in the color White Himalaya with 18K white gold and diamond hardware
Courtesy of Christie’s

Not impressed by the last designer handbag? This Himalayan Kelly bag with diamond encrusted hardware might do the trick.

This Kelly bag is fashioned with the same quality craftsmanship and using the same exceptional crocodile leathers as the Birkin bag before, only this ultra-rare Kelly bag is remarkably topped off with brilliant VVS, F color diamonds set on equally stunning 18K white gold plated hardware.

The example pictured above is estimated to sell between $200,000 and $300,000 at Christie’s Handbags Online: The New York Edit holiday auction running November 22nd to December 9th during Luxury Week.

So Black Alligator Birkin bag

An Hermès 35cm Matte Alligator leather Birkin bag in the color So Black with Black PVD hardware
Courtesy of Heritage Auctions

The sleekest handbag collection that Hermès has created is the So Black collection. The rarest and most luxurious of these luxury bags: The So Black Alligator Birkin bag, of course!

Perfect for the person who embodies “All Black Everything”, this Birkin bag is guaranteed to turn heads and drop jaws sitting under one lucky bidder’s tree. Created for the Fall/Winter 2010 collection, this is a collectible piece of fashion history in addition to being a fabulous vintage handbag and accessory.

The example pictured above is estimated to sell between $60,000 and $80,000 at Heritage’s Luxury Accessories Signature Auction #5535 on December 8th.

Smaller gifts for the luxury obsessed

If you’re looking for some stocking-stuffers or smaller gifts to add some extra cheer to your holiday, perhaps try a few of these! Even more budget friendly, (and even more cute!) these bags are sure to make for the perfect holiday present.

Telfar Shopping Tote bag

A Telfar Medium Shopping bag in the color Red
Courtesy of Telfar

Our most budget-friendly option, Telfar’s Shopping bag is a newcomer but has quickly become one of the most coveted handbags out there. They’re made in a ton of different colors, ranging from classics and neutrals to brights and pastels.

Buyer beware, however: these shopping bags sell out quickly, so be attentive to their website and drop dates to make sure you can grab one in time for the holidays.

For just $202 at Telfar, this is an excellent option if you can get your hands on one!

Gucci Ophidia Mini Crescent bag

A Gucci Mini Ophidia Crescent bag in GG Supreme coated canvas
Courtesy of Gucci

With logomania remaining on trend, this option is for the logo-obsessed and sustainability-focused. GG Supreme coated canvas is a recycled material, adding an extra perk to this adorable mini bag package. In this diminutive size, this luxury bag is the perfect choice for someone who likes the mini bag and micro bag trends.

The Ophidia collection is also a mainstay and widespread favorite in the closets of Gucci’s customers, making the Mini Crescent bag a well-rounded gift.

This bag is available for $1,050 at Gucci.

Prada Mini Re-Nylon Re-Edition 2000 bag

A Prada Mini Re-Nylon Re-Edition 2000 bag in the color Red
Courtesy of Prada

This designer handbag has been a frontrunner for several years in a row, and in 2022 it remains just as popular as it was when re-released. As with a few of the other options on this holiday gift guide, this bag taps into the 1990’s and 2000’s aesthetic trend. Prada often releases new versions of this style, ensuring it stays fresh.

There’s even a sustainability angle to this gift option, with Prada’s “Re-Nylon” having been recycled by the house to create this latest run of Re-Edition 2000 bags.

For the attainable price of $1,250 at Prada, the Mini Re-Nylon Re-Edition 2000 bag is a formidable choice for gift buyers.

The gift of luxury resale: us!

If you’re looking for a gift from the luxury resale market instead, OpenLuxury can help you!

Use our Find service to let us search for the perfect bag to gift this holiday season. Let us know what you’re looking for, and at what price and condition, and we can handle the rest. Easy!

You can also get any bag you buy authenticated through our Authenticate service. With 43 designer brands on our list, we have the breadth of authentication experience to help ensure your purchasing the real deal. We even offer official documentation and certificates of authenticity, so you can have the paperwork to back it all up.

We’ll also be having promotions going on throughout the holidays, so be sure to create an account and follow-us on social media to stay updated!

Happy Holiday’s, and safe shopping!