By Alexus Mosley

Some handbags simply accessorize, and then there are handbags that define an era. In the early 2000s, while Paris Hilton clutched her Louis Vuitton monogram and Lindsay Lohan rotated between quilted Chanel flaps, there was one bag that reigned supreme among the cool girls of the moment, but is oftentimes forgotten in conversation today, and that is the Balenciaga Le City Bag.

When Nicolas Ghesquière took the reins at Balenciaga, he had no idea that one of his earliest designs would become a cultural phenomenon. First introduced in 2001, the Balenciaga Motorcycle Bag (later nicknamed the Le City) broke every rule of luxury fashion at the time. It wasn’t structured, it wasn’t logo-heavy, and it didn’t scream for attention. Instead, it was soft, slouchy, and subtly rebellious. And though at the time the brand’s executives reportedly dismissed the prototype, it would become everything the early-2000s “model-off-duty” style embodied.

Thanks to Kate Moss, who saw the prototype backstage one day saw the prototype backstage and immediately requested one, the bag became a staple. Soon, the signature tassels, aged brass hardware, and motorcycle-inspired silhouette became a staple on the arms of women who embodied boho and rock ‘n’ roll glamour, like Sienna Miller, Mary-Kate Olsen, and Nicole Richie. Much of what made the Le City special was its contradiction. The buttery lambskin leather was soft and collapsible, making it symbolic of effortless chic. While the mirror charm was vanity, and the studs rebellious. Its zippered front pocket gave just enough asymmetry to make it feel nonchalant, and its removable shoulder strap added practicality.

Lately, there has been a bit of a revival of the Le City Bag, with the newer generation of “It Girls” like Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid sporting it alongside vintage editions with cargos, crop tops, and oversized blazers. Proof that cool never really goes out of style.

Bella Hadid carrying the Balenciaga Le City Medium Bag

And as fashion continues to rediscover the allure of the 2000s, the Le City Bag stands as a reminder of a simpler time when effortless was the ultimate luxury.

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A Look into the It Bag of the Noughties: The Balenciaga Le City Bag