6 times a luxury bag stole the show in a TV series
In television, a character’s wardrobe is rarely left to chance, especially when it comes to accessories. Among them, the luxury bag stands out as a particularly potent symbol. It’s never just about aesthetics; these bags communicate wealth, taste, ambition or aspiration, depending on who is carrying them and when. Sometimes they signal a character’s arrival in a new social sphere. Other times, a luxury bag can reinforce status through understatement. A well-chosen designer handbag can do more narrative work in a single shot than an entire subplot.
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Carrie Bradshaw’s Fendi Baguette in ‘Sex and the City’
Released in the late 1990s, the Fendi Baguette gained global recognition in part due to Carrie Bradshaw. The moment she corrects a mugger with, “It’s a Baguette”, isn’t played for laughs—it establishes the identity of the luxury bag as something recognisable and worth naming. More than a fashion statement, the Baguette became an extension of Carrie’s character: independent, trend-aware and conscious of the role style plays in social standing.
Bridget’s Burberry Tote in ‘Succession’
When Tom Wambsgans derides Bridget’s enormous Burberry tote as a “ludicrously capacious bag” in Succession Season 4, it becomes one of the show’s most quotable lines—and a cutting example of how fashion choices function as social litmus tests. The checkered Burberry design, once a hallmark of early-2000s aspirational style, is read here as dated and outsized. The bag’s size and branding mark Bridget as someone new to wealth, unfamiliar with the codes of quiet luxury. In a show obsessed with class signals and status missteps, the bag becomes an efficient symbol of exclusion, its scale mocked not for utility but for its lack of subtlety.
Emily Cooper’s Peter & James Atelier Butterfly Bag ‘Emily in Paris’
In Season 3 of Emily in Paris, Emily Cooper is seen carrying a sculptural Butterfly bag by Peter & James Atelier, a Paris-based brand known for its unconventional shapes and architectural designs. The bag, with its exaggerated curves and matte finish, stands out even among her often eccentric outfits. Unlike legacy fashion houses featured throughout the series, this piece reflects Emily’s embrace of bold, visually arresting accessories over heritage classics. The bag serves less as a status symbol than a conversation starter—fitting for a character who thrives on visibility and disruption.
Rory Gilmore’s Hermès Birkin in ‘Gilmore Girls’
In Season 6, Logan gives Rory a Hermès Birkin, a gesture that’s both lavish and telling. At the time, the Birkin was already established as one of the most recognisable luxury bags in popular culture, known for its scarcity, high price tag and long waitlists. Rory’s initial unfamiliarity with the bag highlights the social gap between her and Logan’s world. Her acceptance of it marks a shift—from someone navigating privilege from the outside to someone beginning to benefit from it. The moment underscores the tension between her middle-class background and the elite circles she’s starting to move in.
Blair Waldorf’s Lady Dior in ‘Gossip Girl’
Blair’s wardrobe in Gossip Girl was curated with precision, and her Lady Dior bag was no exception. The quilted cannage stitching and top-handle silhouette suited her preference for polished, traditional luxury. Unlike Serena’s more bohemian, label-mixed looks, Blair’s accessories were anchored in old-guard fashion houses, reinforcing her aspiration to uphold legacy, status and control. The Lady Dior became synonymous with her version of femininity—calculated, elevated and always aligned with the rules of the Upper East Side. Off-screen, its reappearance helped cement the bag’s revival for a new generation of viewers.
Issa Dee’s Telfar Shopping Bag in ‘Insecure’
In Season 4 of Insecure, Issa Dee carries a white Telfar Shopping Bag—a detail that didn’t go unnoticed. At the time, the bag was surging in popularity for its accessibility, genderless design and status as a product of a Black-owned brand challenging traditional luxury norms. For a character navigating career pivots and self-reinvention, the choice felt intentional. Issa's use of the “Bushwick Birkin” reflected her connection to a broader cultural shift: one that prioritised authenticity and community over gatekeeping. The bag’s appearance contributed to its already viral momentum and solidified its relevance beyond fashion circles, including a prime spot on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour.
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