FENDI: The History, the Baguette & Where to Find It Vintage

Written By Emsy .

"It's not a bag. It's a Baguette."

If you know, you know. Carrie said it to a mugger on a New York street, and a whole generation of women learned that a handbag could be an identity. Small, tucked under the arm like a loaf of French bread, and somehow in more versions than anyone could count. The Baguette wasn't just carried. It was collected, coveted, and quoted. Twenty-something years later, it's back, and so am I.

Vintage FENDI Mamma Baguette Shoulder Trapezoid Flap Bag Handbag Zucca Brown

THE STORY

Fendi began in Rome in 1925 as a fur and leather house run by Adele and Edoardo Fendi, and it was later led by their five daughters. In 1997, their granddaughter, Silvia Venturini Fendi, designed a small shoulder bag meant to be tucked under the arm, just like a French baguette.

It became the first true "It bag." Fendi lent Baguettes to Sex and the City, and in one unforgettable scene, Carrie Bradshaw is mugged. When the robber demands her bag, she corrects him: "It's a Baguette." Sarah Jessica Parker has credited the bag with helping to establish the show and her character.

Fendi didn't make one Baguette. It made hundreds of versions: beaded, sequined, embroidered, denim, fur. By the time of a 2012 exhibition in Paris, there were more than 1,000 original creations. In 2019, Silvia Venturini Fendi relaunched it for a new generation.

SIGNATURE PIECES

  • The Baguette: small, rectangular, with the double-F "FF" clasp and a short shoulder strap.

  • Zucca monogram canvas: the brown FF logo print.

  • Beaded and sequined Baguettes: the collectible evening versions.

  • The Spy bag and the Croissant: two more Fendi Y2K favourites.

FUN FACTS

  • The Baguette was designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi in 1997.

  • It's named for the way it's carried, tucked under the arm like a French loaf.

  • There are more than 1,000 original versions.

  • Carrie's "It's a Baguette" line made it pop culture history.

  • The 2019 relaunch included a men's version.

WHO IT'S FOR

Y2K It Girl · Collector · Maximalist

The Baguette is for the woman who loves a little piece of art on her arm. If you're a minimalist, look for a solid black leather or a quiet tonal Zucca. If you're a maximalist, go straight for beads and sequins.

HOW I'D WEAR IT

For a long lunch and a little shopping, I'd let the original Zucca Baguette be the star. The brown FF canvas with leather trim and the silver clasp is the bag that started it all, so I'd build the outfit to frame it. A pale blue fine-knit polo, a chocolate suede A-line mini that picks up the brown of the bag, and sheer brown tights. Then burgundy penny loafers, a velvet headband and silver jewellery to echo the clasp. Pale blue and brown is a vintage pairing that always looks expensive, and tucked under the arm, the Baguette finishes the sentence.

HOW TO FIND IT VINTAGE

Search terms:

  • "vintage Fendi Baguette"

  • "Fendi Zucca Baguette"

  • "Fendi beaded Baguette vintage"

  • "Fendi sequin Baguette"

  • "Fendi Mamma Baguette" (a slightly larger sister style)

Tips:

  • The Baguette is heavily copied. Buy from sellers who authenticate, or have it authenticated yourself.

  • Check the FF clasp, the interior tag and the stitching closely.

  • For beaded and sequined versions, ask about missing beads and loose threads.

  • Ask for photos of the strap and corners, where wear shows first.

IF YOU LOVE FENDI, ALSO SEE… Dior by John Galliano · Gucci by Tom Ford · Whiting & Davis

XOXO,

Emsy💕

Sources:

Emsy .
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