Where to Buy Luxury Handbags in Paris

Where to Buy Luxury Handbags in Paris

Updated by Vanessa M in September 2023.

Luxury and Paris go hand in hand, so shopping whilst in the French capital means you’ll easily get your hands on some of the most reputable brands on that face of the Earth. 

Here are the top spots for luxury handbag shopping in and around the city center. Of course, it all depends on exactly what you’re looking for, but if you’re open to browsing then this is where you want to go: 

Longchamp in Paris

Longchamp is a French luxury leather goods company that was founded in Paris in 1948, and famed for the Le Pliage Bag as the brand’s signature purse. 

The bag was designed and launched in 1993 as a collaboration between Philippe Cassegrain and Isabelle Guyon. Made with real leather and the highest quality nylon, the bag has been seen donned by the likes of the royals themselves. Duchess Kate Middleton is an avid lover of le Pilage!

Longchamp – by Enightchtour – Wikimedia Commons

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In the fashion world, this is considered a major success. It took the team three years to perfect the bag in the design stages, and it was eventually decided that the bag would be released in 12 standard colors. There’s nowhere better to invest in these handbags than right from their birth town, Paris!

Galeries Lafayette Champs Elysees  in Paris

The Galeries Lafayette is a family run retail empire that spans most of the globe. They have an establishment on the famous Champs Elysees, which is a reclaimed Art Deco landmark that was formerly the Virgin Megastore. 

Galeries Lafayette – by Benh LIEU SONG – Wikimedia Commons

The fashion store spans an astounding 70,000 square feet over four floors. Male and female clothing is mixed in the space, which encourages shoppers to take in every inch of the building as opposed to simply flocking to two or three designated zones.

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Rest assured, if there is a handbag to be found, you’re going to find it here. More than this, if something you are looking for is not in stock then they will source it for you. 

Triangle d’Or in Paris

This is a retail triangle, one that is comprised of Avenue Montaigne, Avenue George V and Rue Francois 1er, all in the 8th arrondissement. One can get here via a short walk by crossing the Seine from the Eiffel Tower. 

Luxury fashion finds its home here at the Triangle d’Or. It’s Paris’ Haute Couture brands all within walking distance from one another. Chanel, Dior, Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Valentino, Gucci, Prada… shall I keep going?

Triangle d’Or – by Panoramio upload bot – Wikimedia Commons

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Another spot where handbags are found in abundance. Bear in mind that the Triangle d’Or is not a formal shopping mall, so each store within the cluster will operate at their own designated store hours. Most of the Triangle d’Or is closed on Sundays.

Louis Vuitton in Paris

It doesn’t get more household than this big name in Parisian fashion. Louis Vuitton was founded way back in 1854, when a young man by the same name began making durable, high-end luggage and trunks for esteemed clients. 

by Alvaro A Novo – Wikimedia Commons

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Louis Vuitton as a brand has since become somewhat of the holy-grail of luxury fashion in Europe, and the globe. It is worn by almost every celebrity in some capacity or another, and designers bend over backwards to collab with the house. If you’re partial to the LV logo print bag, then this is to place to go to make your first investment (or is it?). 

Le Bon Marché in Paris

A must visit for fashion lovers who want that old timer, blast from the past experience while in the city of love. Le Bon Marche dates back to the 1850s, and is the oldest department store in all of Paree. 

Le Bon Marché – by Daderot – Wikimedia Commons

It’s an iconic space; worth visiting even if you’re not in the market for some trendy new garments. Again, you’ll find the world’s best designers housed in this space, and the shopping experience to be a little more intimate that that of Galeries Lafayette. 

There’s something for everyone at le Bon Marche, including top luxury branded handbags. 

Chanel in Paris

Coco Chanel was brought up in an orphanage in Paris, where she was taught to sew. By 1910 she had opened up her first store in the city, where she made hats and other garments intended to compliment the female figure.

Known for her figure-flattering, timeless garments and collectible handbags, Chanel remains one of Paris’ most important fashion houses long after the death of both Coco Chanel and her successor, Karl Lagerveld.

by Stylehouseofbonadeaseo – Wikimedia Commons

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The price of standard Chanel bags did recently go up by a few hundred dollars, making the pieces an even more valuable investment in the long run. 

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1. Chanel Classic Flap Bag

The Chanel Classic Flap Bag has been one of the most ageless, iconic, and identifiable bags since its launch in 1983. Karl Lagerfeld updated Chanel’s iconic 2.55 Flap bag with distinguishing characteristics such as a leather braided chain and the famed double C turn-lock fastening. This purse can be worn with either a double or single strap. It’s well-known for its quilting (available in classic or chevron on certain designs), and it comes in a range of colors, sizes, and hardware.

Stylehouseofbonadeaseo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you decide to purchase this bag, your most important decision will be whether to go with lambskin or caviar leather. It’s a matter of taste, but caviar leather is supposed to be significantly more resistant to wear and tear and scrapes. Out of all the Chanel bags available and all the new collections released each season, the Classic Flap bag is the most desired and best-seller.

2. Louis Vuitton Speedy

Photo by Anne R from Pexels

The Louis Vuitton Speedy is one of the brand’s most iconic and recognized bags, first debuting in the 1930s. It has a structured shape, rolled handles, and tote zip closure, and it comes in several different sizes Speedy 25, 30, 35, and 40. The numbers refer to the approximate width of the bag in centimeters. Aside from different sizes, you can get the bag in a variety of materials and finishes.

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3. Hermès Birkin

The Birkin is available in a limited edition heritage leather with its own personality. A natural cowhide that has been entirely vegetable-tanned has an extraordinarily translucent gloss that develops a patina and becomes even more lovely over time. This natural-colored leather, smooth or grainy, enhances the Birkin’s elegant lines and will appeal to connoisseurs.

Wen-Cheng Liu, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Birkin recounts an epic story with style: a design by Octave Marsal and Théo de Gueltzl, embroidered in Lunéville stitch, transports the iconic Faubourg Saint-Honoré store into the middle of a luxuriant jungle. The design continues over the leather of the flap and the base of the bag in an ultimate display of prowess.

4. Lady Dior

The Lady Dior is one of Dior’s most iconic and elegant bags. The bag first appeared in 1995 and quickly attracted worldwide attention after being seen on the arm of Princess Diana (the name of the bag was changed to Lady Dior in her honor). With its quilted pattern and geometric stitching, the bag has a timeless appeal and elegance.

Photo by Nhung Tran from Pexels

It’s constructed of lambskin or calfskin leather with iconic Dior charms hanging from the handles. This is one bag you can’t go wrong with if you’re in Paris. You’ll be carrying her for years to come and may effortlessly dress up or down with this classic purse.

5. Céline Luggage Tote

Photo by nappy from Pexels

The Luggage Tote debuted in the spring of 2010 as part of Phoebe Philo’s debut collection at Celine. While it was initially widely available, it quickly became the iconic must-have. The bag has been launched in a variety of sizes and variations over the years, some of which are no longer available. The bag has been manufactured in every hue under the sun, from plain colors to multicolored leather, suede, and unusual skin combinations.

6. Longchamp Le Pliage

A Longchamp Le Pliage is one of the favorite bags to buy in Paris. This classic bag first appeared in 1993 and has since become the brand’s best-selling bag globally. Named after the French phrase for “fold,” and inspired by Japanese origami art. The Le Pliage is a canvas tote with a leather trim that is lightweight, foldable, and water-resistant.

Langlang2013, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This is one of my favorite bags to go in and around Paris with. It is simple to pack because it folds quickly. The Le Pliage is available in a variety of styles, forms, and colors. This is one of the most reasonably priced bags available in Paris.

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7. A.P.C. Grace Bag

Photo by George Milton from Pexels

A.P.C. is a French fashion house recognized for its relaxed style and traditional Parisian designs. The Grace Bag is no different. This bag is well-known for its elegant construction, soft leather, logo, and gold buckle on the front. For each season the Grace is available in a variety of sizes and colors. It’s a traditional and stylish shoulder bag that can be worn simply or dressed up. This is a classic bag that will last for years.

8. Goyard Tote

Goyard is in reality an icon of French elegance and history. Since the 1930s, the Saint Louis Tote has been the brand’s most popular bag. The Goyard Saint Louis is available in three sizes PM, GM, and XXL. One of the reasons the bag has stayed popular is because of the material used and the fact that it is resistant to stains and water damage.

Photo by Skylar Kang from Pexels

What distinguishes this brand from others is that a Goyard bag can only be purchased in a retail location. The bags cannot be purchased directly from Goyard online; however, they can be purchased secondhand from a variety of websites.

9. Sézane Milo Classic

Photo by Skylar Kang from Pexels

Sézane is the perfect Parisian label, offering traditional Parisian goods at reasonable costs. Because of the quality, design, and pricing, this is one of my personal favorite brands to wear. The Milo Classic is a timeless and stylish crossbody purse that can also be worn as a shoulder bag. The bag is available in four different color combinations and resembles a more expensive designer box bag. Prices for Sézane are substantially lower in France than they are in the United States.

10. Hermès Kelly Bag

Wen-Cheng Liu, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Of course, Hermès is one of the most well-known French handbag brands thanks to the renowned high-quality Birkin with expensive leather, but the Kelly bag is more my style. The Kelly bag with straps was invented in the 1930s by Robert Dumas, the son-in-law of Émile Hermès, whom he replaced as CEO of Hermès. He created a trapezoid shape with two triangular gussets, a cutout flap, a handle, and two side straps, ushering the house into the bold and modern period.

After shopping, you may be interested in exploring the fascinating history of Paris with our guided Paris walking tours, which offer an immersive experience of the city and its rich history and culture.

Read also; Top 10 Best Parisian Fashion Houses