Christie’s is set to spotlight one of fashion’s most enduring accessories with its upcoming online sale, Handbags Online: The New York Edit, running from May 28 to June 11. Among nearly 300 handbags included in the auction, the standout category is Fendi’s Baguette, the compact shoulder bag that has remained a collectible favorite long after its original early-2000s peak. The sale reflects the growing appetite for vintage designer bags, especially pieces tied to celebrity provenance, archival fashion, and highly recognizable luxury brands.
A major highlight of the auction is a pair of Fendi Baguettes once owned by Elizabeth Taylor. The first, a Red, White, & Black Embellished Canvas Floral Print Baguette with a silver chain strap, is estimated at $3,000 to $5,000 and is described as a flashier, summery piece dating from the early 2000s. The second, a more understated Brown Cuoio Romano Leather Selleria Baguette, is also expected to bring $3,000 to $5,000. That bag carries an especially notable history, having appeared in Christie’s 2011 auction The Collection of Elizabeth Taylor, and still retaining tags from that sale.
Beyond Taylor’s two bags, Christie’s is offering 20 additional Fendi Baguettes, including examples sourced in part from the Into Archive. The range suggests broad collector appeal, with styles spanning lamb fur, color-blocked sequins, and mother-of-pearl embroidery. The selection underscores the Baguette’s versatility as both a fashion statement and an investment object, with designs that vary from playful and ornate to subtle and wearable.
The Baguette is only one part of a much larger handbag lineup. Christie’s says the sale will feature almost 300 bags in total, including a number of Hermès pieces. The highest-valued item in the auction is a Matte White Himalaya Noliticus Crocodile Birkin 30, carrying an estimate of up to $120,000. That top lot places the sale firmly in the upper tier of the luxury resale market, where rare materials, pristine condition, and celebrity connections can dramatically increase value.
The auction also speaks to the continued influence of celebrity collecting and modern fashion mythology. Elizabeth Taylor remains one of Hollywood’s most enduring style icons, and her personal possessions continue to attract attention decades after her death. At the same time, the cultural cachet of the Fendi Baguette endures through its association with the early 2000s, television fashion, and a wider revival of archival accessories.
The story has also invited comparisons to Kim Kardashian, who is known for collecting high-profile auction pieces and has shown particular interest in Taylor’s legacy. Her public tributes to Taylor’s style have reinforced the ongoing fascination with celebrity-owned objects. In this auction, that dynamic may add even more competition to already sought-after vintage handbags, especially for bidders chasing items with both fashion history and star provenance.
