The Italian fashion house that created the hugely popular “Baguette” handbag in the late 1990s was Fendi.
Designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi and introduced in 1997, the Baguette was deliberately compact and made to be carried under the arm, like a French baguette. Its short strap and distinctive rectangular shape set it apart from the larger tote bags popular at the time. The design quickly became a signature of Fendi’s accessories line.
The bag’s fame grew dramatically after it appeared on Sex and the City, where Carrie Bradshaw carried it in several episodes. That exposure helped make the Baguette one of fashion’s earliest “It bags”—an accessory famous for its cultural visibility as much as its design. Fendi produced the style in hundreds of materials, colors, patterns, and limited editions, including versions with embroidery, sequins, and exotic leathers.
A common mix-up is confusing the Baguette with a French fashion label because of its name. “Baguette” refers to the way the bag is tucked under the arm, while the design itself is Italian and belongs to Fendi.