My Vintage Balenciaga Collection and Why I Won't Be Buying the New 2024 Version Le City

This post has been long overdue. I want to share my vintage Balenciaga collection with you all. I've been collecting since 2005 and have bought and sold so many Balenciaga bags in the last 19 years. It's more of a hobby than anything else. I really enjoy buying them for their colors and leathers. I'll also share some of the bags I no longer own and why I won't be buying the newly released Le City bag.

Some background history- The First, released in 2001 also known as the lariat, le dix, motorcycle bag, it has many different names. These bags were gifted to the models walking on the runway for that season. They were made famous by Kate Moss and Gisele. 

Kate Moss

Gisele

Please check out my video of my collection! 

Plum Flat Brass First 2001 - First season

The leather on my Plum First is the silkiest and most buttery leather out of all my Balenciaga bags that I have ever owned. It's either smooth calfskin or smooth lambskin. The hardware is flat brass and the strap is longer. 

Black Flat Brass First 2002 - 2nd Season

Caramel Flat Brass First 2002 

Moto Tough Leather

Dark Caramel First 2003 Pewter Hardware

(No longer in my collection)

I'm not a fan of the tassels even though the tassels are why they're called motorcycle bags. The tassels are mainly for decoration purposes but I find that they get in the way. Often they just get tangled with other things and the tassels fall in dirty crevices which is a huge pet peeve of mine and I just remove them from almost all of my bags and keep them tucked inside a box along with their mirrors. I did leave the tassels on my Plum 2001 because it's an OG. 

Emerald First 2003 Pewter Hardware 

(Long Strap)

2003 is when they changed the flat brass hardware to pewter. I personally love this version of hardware the most. The pewter hardware really pops against almost all colors. You would think that my Plum First would be the rarest bag in my collection, but that title goes to Miss Piggy City. That's the name I have given to this bag below. It's the only Balenciaga bag I have ever seen made of pigskin. I believe it's from 2003 based on the hardware and 2003 is the very first year the City style was released. That combined with the pewter hardware, it's pretty safe to say this was made in 2003. The inside is lined with suede, which is also something I have never seen in any other city or first. This was very likely a prototype that never made it to the stores.

The leather on this bag is so thick and spongey (only way I can think of to describe it) and it's very soft and slouchy as well. Because the inside is lined with suede, this is one of the heavier Balenciaga bags. Balenciaga bags in the First and City are known for being super lightweight. It has a wide opening with a zipper closure that makes it easy and practical to use as an everyday bag. 

You may be wondering where do I find these bags? Remember I have been collecting for 19 years. Most of them have been from checking Ebay, Fashionphile, TheRealReal, and Vestiaire Collectove obsessively. Most of the time it's pure luck I came across a vintage Balenciaga bag on these websites. These "oldies" are highly sought after on the resale market and get snatched up very quickly. One has to know what to look for. The flat brass hardware is very easy to spot for the earlier bags. Then the pewter hardware is another giveaway with the combination of not having notches on the rivets will cement that it is an older bag.

Rouge 2003 City with Pewter Hardware

I used to own Rouge Theatre 2005 in a First, City, and Day style (but after getting my Rouge 2003 City, Rouge Theatre 2005 just doesn't compare. See below, that is a Rouge Theatre First. The color is very similar, but the leather isn't as smooth or silky. It's a bit more distressed and slightly more berry color. Plus the hardware is brass, which is my least favorite hardware. You'll see that most of my collection is pewter hardware. 

Rouge City 2003 and Rouge Theatre First 2005 (no longer in my collection)

Black City 2003 with Pewter Hardware

Lilac City 2003 with Pewter Hardware

Black First 2003 Pewter Hardware with Long Strap

True Red First 2004 with Pewter Hardware

Seafoam City 2004 with Pewter Hardware

Pumpkin City 2004 Pewter Hardware

(no longer in my collection)

Eggplant City 2004 with Brass Hardware

2004 is when they changed the hardware to brass hardware. The leathers from 2003-2005 are the best in my opinion. All of my Balenciaga bags except for a couple are made of Chevre leather (goat skin). 

Lilac City 2004 with Brass Hardware

Marron City 2004 with Brass Hardware

Rose First 2004 with Brass Hardware

Rose Twiggy 2004 with Brass Hardware

Indigo City 2005 with Brass Hardware

Teal First 2005 with Brass Hardware

Teal City 2005 with Brass Hardware

Turquoise First 2005 with Brass Hardware

I used to own this color in the city but I stupidly sold it. One day I will find another. The one I had was mint. 😩 Enjoy this baby photo of me and Turquoise City. 

Turquoise City 2005 with Brass Hardware

(no longer in my collection)

Magenta City 2005 with Brass Hardware

Black Weekender 2005 with Brass Hardware

(no longer in my collection)

If you noticed I skipped 2006 and went to 2007, there's a reason for that. 2006 is when Balenciaga changed their leather supplier and I was not a fan. 2006 leather was typically veiny and had a lot of marbling. I wish I had one from 2006 to give as an example. Now 2007 had some of the best leather. 

Sienna Work 2007 with Brass Hardware

2007 is also when Balenciaga released Giant Hardware or G21. It came in Gold, and Rose Gold. Giant hardware was eventually discontinued in 2011. They were heavy bags! I loved the look of it on the Work size, but it really made my shoulder sore!

Violet Work 2007 with Silver Giant Hardware G21

(no longer in my collection. Also baby me!)

Balenciaga used Chevre leather until 2008. Then they made the switch to agneau (lambskin). I am really not a fan of anything after 2007 with very few exceptions. I just felt like Balenciaga bags became too popular for their own good. The Olsen twins and Nicole Richie paraded the bags in all colors of the rainbow. It became the "It" bag in the mid aughts. They were selling out like hot cakes and of course production changes had to be made to keep up. Which is when it basically ended my interest in these bags. I was not a fan of agneau leather.

Nicole Richie

Ashely Olsen

Pewter First 2009 with silver hardware

I used to own a 2005 Pewter First (my very first Balenciaga bag) and City. Sold them both a long time ago, but I missed the color so much I eventually found another Pewter First from 2009. Some day I will get another Pewter 2005 City. It's on my list. Do I ever regret selling my bags? The answer is yes. It's happened quite a few times over the years. I do eventually find another, but it does take a long time. The key is to have a lot of patience. 

Gris Tarmac 2012 Papier Crossbody

This is one of my "newer" Balenciaga bags. The hot pink edge coat is such head turner, I was immediately drawn to it. It's been one of my most used bags. It's great for quick errands on the weekends. 

Black Smooth Calfskin City 2017

This is my "newest'' Balenciaga bag in my entire collection. I love the leather on this one. It's thick and soft. Fairly chewy leather and will break in very nicely. Balenciaga eventually discontinued the City style in 2021. 

Now that you've seen my entire collection, I hope you can see why I won't be buying the newly released 2024 Le City. Kim Kardashian is the current ambassador of Balenciaga. The campaign features her Balenciaga collection displayed in her closet. She does have a lot bags, I think she said over 100. But looking at her collection they are mostly new. I do not see any vintage ones. Which is a shame. It would give her more weight if she did.

A couple of years ago when I went to the mall and browsed the new Balenciaga bags on display, I was appalled at the leather they are currently using. It's stiff and textured but it doesn't feel like leather to me. At least not what I would want in a luxury bag. You can tell by looking at the photo below that the leather is nothing like my vintage collection. There's no drape. Granted if slouchy bags are not for you, then yes maybe the new leather they are using is more to your liking.

Plus have you seen the new prices? Back in 2005 the retail price for the City was $1195. The First was only $995! Now they're asking $2850 in 2024. Granted it's almost 20 years later, but I can't see myself ever shelling out that kind of money for a new Balenciaga. 

I will happily buy up all the vintage Balenciaga bags in all their glorious leathers and colors at half the price of a new one. Most of my bags were under $1000 each. Some I have paid as little as $475. I did go through a phase where I wanted to save all the vintage Balenciaga bags that no one wanted and paid to have the bag restored. If I ever won the lottery, that's what I would love to do. That's it for me! If you made it to the end, I'm impressed. Hope you all have a wonderful Monday. 

Shop Balenciaga Bags Via

Fashionphile

TheRealReal

Rebag

Ebay

Vestiaire Collective