Image by Balenciaga
The cyclical nature of fashion trends means that, once every few decades, we are surprised by the return of pieces and styles once deemed obsolete. Bright, clashing colors with skin-tight crop tops and ultra-low jeans mark the second coming of Y2K, twenty years later. The turn of the twenty-first century saw celebs like Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie as its fashion icons and pop culture phenomena like MTV shows and Sex and the City as its inspiration.
Unforgotten and perennially relevant is the bag that has become the face of the Y2K era: the Balenciaga Le City, or more colloquially known as the City. With its unmistakable semi-structured shape and metal hardware, the 2001 release captures the essence of the naughts—rebellious, playful, and full of character. The City’s reintroduction in 2024 rides on the returning Y2K wave, once again establishing its place as the era’s emblem.
2001 vs. 2024: The City, Revisited
Upon its debut, the Balenciaga City bag had a certain edginess about it—the soft, distressed lambskin and reinforced corners, paired with buckles and studs—which means that it fit right into early 2000s subculture. It was quickly adopted into the mainstream through stars like Kate Moss, who were taken by the bag’s casual yet sophisticated look, further punctuated by its glaring lack of logo.
The 2024 revival of the City sees many of these same features. The soft leather and unique silhouette are retained, along with Balenciaga’s 25-panel construction. The bag is made from 25 pieces of leather, utilizing the same dimensions for the interior and exterior, assembled by hand. The result is a durable piece that lasts and maintains both integrity and value.
The new Balenciaga City iterations are a faithful recreation of the noughties hit, available in endless color and size options, though they offer a more streamlined look and variations in hardware. A removable strap only emphasizes the City’s wearability, providing the original shoulder bag wear and an updated crossbody one.
Though the 2024 City bags are no less popular, a new market has burgeoned in search of the older versions, now gaining the moniker of "vintage." Exclusive 00s and 10s releases are enjoying a growing price as the bright colors of Y2K come back into fashion and fierce demand.
Balenciaga City Color and Size Guide
The City comes in a wide range of styles and colorways, such as the elegant and timeless colors of black, beige, and white; more playful options like yellow, blue, green, and light purple; as well as the cool metallics of steel grey and silver. The coveted 2000s releases also feature the City in shades of pink and neon.
Sizes are equally as varied, from the handheld Nano to the carry-all Large. The smallest iteration, the City Nano at 7.3" x 4.7” x 2.7” (18.5 x 12 x 7 cm), is a chic option for holding just your essentials like your phone, cardholder, and keys. On the flip side, the Large is 18.1" x 11.4" x 6.7" (46 x 29 x 17 cm), fitting up to a laptop, an ideal size for travel.
In between, the City in Mini, Small, and Medium are more versatile choices. The Mini, a shade larger than the Nano, fits the largest smartphones with dimensions of 9.45" x 6.3” x 3.5” (24 x 16 x 9 cm). The Small offers an upgrade at 11.8" x 7.5” x 3.8” (30 x 19 x 9.6 cm) with the capacity for a tablet. Finally, the Balenciaga City Medium offers spacious storage in an elegant size of 15.1” x 9.4” x 5.9” (38.5 x 24 x 15 cm), able to hold a book, tablet, and small laptop.
A Look that Endures
From its first surge of popularity following the turn of the millennium to its lasting appeal and rerelease in the 2020s, the Balenciaga City is a bag that has become one of the most sought among luxury bags. Its understated logoless look, paired with the distinctive slouched leather emphasized by structured corners, creates a bold edge that is inimitable. Just like the Y2K era it embodies, the City just keeps coming back into fashion!
SHOP BAG CARE FOR THE CITY |