The Iconic Fendi Baguette Bag's Timeline

From its debut in the late ’90s to its modern-day reissues, the Fendi Baguette bag has remained one of fashion’s most enduring symbols of status and self-expression. Below is a timeline tracing its evolution, through creative milestones, cultural moments, and collector-worthy editions.

1997 — The Birth of the Baguette

Silvia Venturini Fendi designs the Baguette for Fendi’s Fall/Winter 1997–1998 collection. Compact, rectangular, and designed to be carried under the arm “like a French baguette,” the bag represents a daring break from the oversized totes of the time. Its debut marks the beginning of the "It Bag" era.

1998 — A New Language of Luxury

Within its first year, over 600 variations of the Baguette hit stores—each unique in material, embroidery, and embellishment. Fendi redefines luxury accessories not as status symbols alone, but as collectible expressions of personality.

2000 — Sex and the City Makes It a Star

Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) cements the Baguette’s legendary status in Sex and the City Season 3, when she’s mugged and corrects the thief: “It’s not a bag, it’s a Baguette.” Overnight, demand soars. Waitlists form globally, and Fendi produces more than 100,000 units that year. Parker is seen wearing countless Baguette bags over the years both in her role as Bradshaw, as well as IRL.

2001 — The Era of Endless Variations

The early 2000s see the Baguette evolve into an art object: velvet, denim, crocodile, and hand-beaded editions proliferate. Fendi also introduces smaller “Mini Baguettes” and the larger “Mamma Baguette,” catering to new lifestyles and silhouettes.

2005–2010 — Quiet Legacy Years

As fashion pivots to oversized hobo and tote styles, the Baguette takes a quieter seat—but never disappears. It remains a key collector’s item, traded in the resale market and archived by serious fashion devotees.

2012 — The Fendi Baguette Book

Fendi releases a coffee-table book chronicling the bag’s history and cultural resonance. Limited-edition artist collaborations are reintroduced, including versions by Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons, celebrating the Baguette’s role as wearable art.

2015 — Rebirth in the Digital Age

Fendi revives the Baguette in new colorways and materials, tapping into the growing nostalgia for ’90s fashion. Instagram becomes a new runway for vintage collectors showing off their early-sequined finds.

2019 — The #BaguetteFriendsForever Relaunch

Fendi officially relaunches the icon with the global #BaguetteFriendsForever campaign and a New York event celebrating both old and new iterations. The refreshed design keeps the classic silhouette but introduces crossbody straps and magnetic closures. It reclaims its place as a Gen Z and millennial favorite.

2021 — And Just Like That… Reintroduces the Sequin Star

Carrie Bradshaw and the Sex and the City cast return—this time with the same purple sequin Baguette that started it all. Fendi rereleases the exact bag, along with SJP-designed capsule editions. Nostalgia and modernity meet, driving renewed buzz on both social media and the resale market.

2021 — The Fendace Collaboration with Versace

In September 2021, Fendi and Versace staged one of the most talked-about collaborations in modern luxury: Fendace. Held during Milan Fashion Week, the dual show saw Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi design for Versace, while Donatella Versace reimagined Fendi. It was a celebration of Italian fashion heritage, and the first time two powerhouse maisons combined creative control.

The Fendi Baguette appeared prominently in the Fendace collection—decked out in Versace’s signature baroque prints, Medusa motifs, and bright gold detailing—signaling Fendi’s renewed focus on iconography and play. This moment bridged the gap between nostalgic 2000s glam and a new, collaborative era for the house.

2022 — The 25th Anniversary “Return of the Baguette” Fendi Fashion Show

To celebrate 25 years, Fendi stages a major New York runway show featuring collaborations with Marc Jacobs, Tiffany & Co., Sarah Jessica Parker, and Porter-Yoshida & Co. The event underscores how one silhouette transcended eras, styles, and creative partnerships.

2023 — The Tiffany x Fendi Capsule

One of the 25th-anniversary highlights becomes a full capsule: the Tiffany Baguette in the house’s iconic blue hue and sterling silver hardware. It epitomizes luxury’s collaborative future while reaffirming the bag’s collector appeal.

2024 — The Baguette’s Everlasting Relevance

As vintage fashion continues to thrive, original late-’90s Baguettes command strong resale values, especially sequined, beaded, and embroidered versions. Fendi keeps producing new variations season after season—proving that true icons never fade, they just evolve.