10 classic black flap bags to help build your staple wardrobe

It should go without saying that if we are to discuss a list of flap bag options to consider buying, we would start with Chanel’s Classic Double Flap bag. Instantly recognisable by its diamond matelassé quilting and interlocking double-C turnlock closure, this reimagination of Coco Chanel’s original design was introduced by late creative director Karl Lagerfeld to instantaneous popularity among the yuppie set during the 1980s.

As the name implies, the Classic Double Flap is constructed to feature two flaps and features many of the storied label’s house codes, such as a deep burgundy lining that paid tribute to Coco Chanel’s childhood school uniform, to a secret compartment she allegedly incorporated into the bag to stash away love letters.

Designer of Dreams, Christian Dior, maintains one of the most enviable legacies in fashion, having been credited for creating some of the most memorable ensembles from the 20th century. Much of that lauded reputation remains intact in modern day, with the label being helmed by creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri since 2016. Under her stewardship, bag lovers across the fashion landscape have been treated to such delights as the seminal canvas carryall, the Book Tote, and the resurgence of the iconic Saddle Bag.

Where flap bags are concerned, Chiuri took a more traditional approach by introducing the 30 Montaigne, a highly structured rectangular flap bag that boldly sports the now emblematic ‘CD’ closure on its front. Immediately becoming one of the label’s most popular styles upon its debut, the bag’s classic proportions yield a single compartment for your belongings, complemented by a zippered pocket and a slip pocket. Opt for the chain version if you enjoy a more delicate expression of Dior’s house style.

The house that Yves Saint Laurent had built has always been synonymous with French girl cool, with their aesthetics often striking an effortless and in many cases, genderless appeal by way of seminal designs that include the Le Smoking suit. Creative director Anthony Vaccarello understands that implicitly, which easily explains how one of his most enduring pieces for the label, the Niki bag, continues to remain at the forefront of rocker cool joie de vivre. 

Debuting on the Spring/Summer 2018 runway, this slouchy flag bag takes away from the formality of the shape by being offered in a distressed crinkled leather option. Flip the flap open, and the trendsetter on the move can expect generous capacity from one large main section, coupled with a smaller compartment in the front and a zippered pocket in the back. Externally, a back pocket large enough to comfortably fit a full-size iPhone further adds to its appeal.

Another relatively newer purveyor of French rocker glamour is Celine, and that comes as no surprise given their reinvention under the hands of YSL alumni, Hedi Slimane. Contemporary Celine is best expressed through cigarette jeans, sequins, and jewel-toned splendour, accessorised with opulent touches by way of emerging classic handbag designs that have already won over the hearts of fashion’s next-gen consumers.

One of the latest styles to be introduced to their range is the Victorie, which serves to fill a niche as a supple shoulder-carry flap bag. Made out of luxuriously buttery calfskin, which has been a longstanding staple of the French maison, the bag features a lustrous gold chain and the Celine Triomphe emblem on its front. Pry it open, and you’ll enjoy all the benefits of a sensibly laid out main section for your belongings, in addition to a zippered pocket and slip pocket.

Another genre-defining style that came to usher in the resurgence of the shoulder flag bag trend during the turn of the new millennium was the Baguette bag, designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi. Taking inspiration from French women who were in the habit of carrying long lengths of baguette bread pinched by their underarms, the bag had its place forever cemented in fashion history when it was worn by Sarah Jessica Parker, who played the role of New York City columnist Carrie Bradshaw on the hit series, Sex and The City.

Personifying undisputable Y2K chic, the Fendi Baguette has since been introduced in an array of different styles and sizes. Among these include the Chain Baguette, which as its name would imply, comes with a chain strap in place of the leather one found on the original design. In this style, the Baguette sheds its casual inclinations for a decidedly more put-together elegance, while retaining many of its classic design motifs, including the interlocking FF magnet closure.

Italian fashion house Gucci has witnessed many revivals since it was founded in 1921 in Florence by Guccio Gucci, from Tom Ford’s expression of sultry seduction to Frida Giannini’s love for heritage. But it is Alessandro Michele’s affinity for maximalism that has defined much of the brand’s most immediately recognisable codes beyond the 2010s. Part of that success can be directly attributed to his best-selling range of bag designs, of which the Marmont remains the most coveted.

Created to prominently feature an interlocking double-G motif that was revived from the brand’s archives, the Marmont was introduced in 2016 as part of Michele’s debut collection for Gucci and quickly became popular among bag enthusiasts for its elevated style and practicality. A matelassé quilted pattern stitched in the shape of a heart provides a distinctively romantic touch on the bag’s back panel, while its peachy-pink interior yields decent capacity for most daily essentials, all safely tucked in place by the distinctive brassy-gold GG closure.

Sartorial spectators who have been in the game for some years will no doubt remember the exceeding popularity that Italian fashion house Valentino enjoyed during the mid-aughts with its Rockstud line of accessories. Whether it be their signature pumps or aggressively edgy flap bag, they were all hot commodities among the jet-set crowd for achieving an enviable balance of opulent luxury and youthful vibrance.

But contemporary fashion now prefers a more subtle approach, and Valentino has suitably adapted in kind by introducing a new flag bag dubbed the VLogo Soft. Supple calf leather is constructed into an oblong shape that evokes the 1990s adoration for shoulder flap bags, while a discreet but no less present reminder of the Italian house’s origins can be seen in its gold VLogo hardware motif. Sold with a short shoulder strap and an adjustable crossbody one, expect multiple styling options.

A sellout hit from the very moment it was available on store shelves, the Coach Tabby bag is creative director Stuart Vever’s most beloved design. Quick to play into fashion’s current obsession with Y2K nostalgia, the Tabby line has always epitomised the sultry nonchalance that It Girls of the period popularised. Now, you can have your choice of Tabby in almost any size and any colour.

One of the newest standout additions to the Tabby lineup comes by way of the Coach Quilted Tabby, which offers a more upmarket appeal to the design by replacing its leather straps with a metal chain tethered through four grommets. Available in three sizes, this will also be the first Tabby bag to come with a 33cm iteration, making it a great option for those who find themselves carrying everything and the kitchen sink on most days out.

American fashion designer Tory Burch has long been a purveyor of affordable, preppy Bohemian luxury since making her debut back in 2004. Since then, the brand has grown to be a formidable retail empire spanning a global network of stores, all united under the same sartorial banner that has made her designs a commercial hit among women who love her approach to easy dressing that still exudes a composed touch of refinement.

A bag that exemplifies this ethos is the Tory Burch Fleming, which meets the mark on all counts where classic shoulder flap bag standards are concerned. As one can expect, it ticks off all the right boxes, whether it be from the diamond quilt pattern to the obligatory adjustable chain straps. Better still, it doesn’t compromise on practicality with its capacious three sections.

American designer Marc Jacobs has always had a finger on the pulse where youth culture is concerned, as evidenced by his successful tenure at Louis Vuitton which was credited for introducing the brand to a younger demographic through strategic collaborations with artists, as well as fresh approaches to design. The same formula continues to remain at the core of his own label, as evidenced by the popularity of its accessories line.

Where bags are concerned, the J Marc shoulder bag is fast becoming one of the most popular items in the brand’s inventory. A shoulder flap bag by design, it features a detachable chain strap and adjustable guitar strap, while a spacious main compartment keeps all of your bits-and-bobs within easy reach. Close the flap, and everything is seamlessly tucked under the oblong shaped J Marc hardware closure.