Chloe Top Handle Bags

Vintage Chloé bags and purses are cult favorites — the French house made waves during the late ‘60s and ‘70s with designs by a young Karl Lagerfeld, and it is among today's most celebrated and prominent fashion labels. 

Chloé came to life in Paris in 1952 and is widely known for its stylish, sensual and feminine aesthetic. The brand expanded its accessory lines — including handbags, shoulder bags, totes and clutches — in 2002.

Born in Alexandria, Egypt, Gaby Aghion established her fashion label in 1952 with her business partner Jacques Lenoir to develop her own source of income, separate from her husband’s. Aghion was inspired to empower independent working women to break from the conservative dress of the 1950s and don more free-spirited, feminine designs that were appropriate for both work and social life. She was one of the first designers to embrace the concept of luxury prêt-à-porter as a middle ground between haute couture and off-the-rack for the masses.

Many talented early-career designers were tapped to lead Chloé over the years — its impressive roster has included Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and others. Under Phoebe Philo’s leadership, Chloé expanded from women’s clothing to an accessories line and debuted the legendary Paddington bag in 2004. 

The padlocked satchel, notorious for weighing a hefty three pounds while empty, became an instant success and one of the “It bags” of the decade (the brand’s double-handled Marcie holds its own in that regard). The entire 8,000-bag initial production run of the Chloé Paddington sold out via preorders.

Today, Chloé’s many leather bags are made in Italy and are known for their elegant appeal, and the accessories’ branding is also quite subtle compared to that of other designer labels. The Faye, the Drew, the Nile and the Marcie bags are some of the most popular styles. 

The double-handled Marcie, which comes with a removable cross-body strap, is probably Chloé’s most popular and instantly recognizable satchel. Inspired by the equestrian world and imbued with ’70s nostalgia, it was designed in 2010 by the brand’s creative director at the time, Hannah MacGibbon.

Find a collection of vintage Chloé bags and accessories on 1stDibs.