this is where all the it-girls get their vintage chanel bags!
I think there are only a few women that don’t like beautiful vintage designer bags. My first Chanel bag is vintage and I searched for it on the internet for weeks to find the best luxury vintage bags. Buying a designer bag online is less fun for me though. You want to experience the joy of real shopping and when it comes to Chanel you want to feel the soft leather. That’s why I share my favourite addresses in Amsterdam today where you can buy real vintage designer bags. With three locations L’Étoile de Saint Honoré is my go-to-place for designer vintage in Amsterdam.
L’Étoile de Saint Honoré in Amsterdam
I can still remember the opening of the first store of L’Étoile de Saint Honoré in 2013 at the Oude Spiegelstraat 1. A very, very small boutique full of vintage designer bags, wallets and other small leather items. After only two years the other locations were opened in The Nine Streets and at the Heiligeweg (a side street of the Kalverstraat). The concept of L’étoile is unique and I don’t know any other vintage store with more precious designer bags than this store in my own Amsterdam. When I’m close to one of the stores I always walk in L’Étoile de Saint Honoré to browse around and get inspired for my next designer buy. And I must admit… I have quite a collection by now! If you love bags from brands like Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Céline, but you don’t have the budget for a new bag getting your hands on a luxury vintage one is might an idea.
every luxury vintage bag is unique!
Are you looking for a specific designer bag and does L’étoile have that model in more stores I can highly recommend you to go to all of them to have a look. De bags are second hand en therefore all the usage marks they have are unique. Some designer bags might be used every single day while other bags only left the house for a cocktail party. If you’re lucky you get your hands on a vintage designer bag that has been in the closet for most of its time and that one might come with the original box, dust bag and authenticity card. At the store in the Reestraat 24 you find more fashion items than just the bags from brands like Chanel, Balenciaga and Gucci. They also sell a selection of Burberry trenchcoats, jewelry from Hermès and shoes from brands like Yves Saint Laurent there. And did I mention the scarves from Hermès yet? At the Heiligeweg and in the Oude Spiegelstraat they don’t sell the fashion accessories but only bags. In all the stores they also have some models that are suited for men, like the vintage Louis Vuitton bags.
Is the Chanel 2.55 classic bag the most beloved vintage bag?
What I really like about shopping for designer vintage in Amsterdam is that it’s a surprise what you will find every single shopping-spree. Of course you can have a specific style in mind that you’re searching for but I can highly recommend to try some other bags as well. On my personal wish-list is a Chanel classic bag. The newer 2.55 with the CC lock instead of the square one. This vintage Chanel classic bag comes in different sizes and the length of the strap as well as the interior may differ depending on the year it’s made. Good news for everyone who has a crush on the Chanel 2.55, at L’Étoile de Saint Honoré in Amsterdam they have this classic 2.55 Chanel bag in all the stores. Beside this famous bag they sell many other Chanel bags and during my last visit I fell in love with a Chanel bucket-bag. The stock in the stores changes often and owner Henriëtte travels all over the world to buy the bags. A few years ago I bought a Montsouris from Louis Vuitton there, that’s a medium sized backpack with the classic print. Because it’s a style you don’t see that often I get so many compliments when I use it. I like to bring it on my travels to look stylish while I can still bring my iPad in it to do some work.
sell your designer bags at l’etoile
Are you thinking of selling your designer bags? Then L’Étoile de Saint Honoré can also be your place. Just call them to check if they are interested to sell the bag with a revenue share. Most vintage designer bags don’t decrease much in value over the years so it can be interesting to sell some bags you don’t use in order to collect money to buy a new bag that’s on your wish-list.
So for luxury vintage you don’t have to spend hours on the internet anymore. It’s so much more fun to just go to one of the stores from L’Étoile de Saint Honoré in Amsterdam. I will list the exact addresses below for you!
locations of L’Étoile de Saint Honoré in Amsterdam
- Reestraat 24: beside the collection of designer hand bags they also sell fashion accessories like scarves, shoes, jackets and jewelry.
- Oude Spiegelstraat 1: the smallest store of the three, but for sure one with character and has a lot of bags and small leather goods.
- Heiligeweg 9: just around the corner of the Kalverstraat en therefore perfect to stop by when you’re shopping in the city center.
Curious about the stores? On the website of L’Étoile you can already day dream and search for your dream bag! On Instagram and Facebook they share most bags that are new in stock so follow them for the updates!
HAPPY SHOPPING :-)
PS: I’m really curious what your dream bag is. Perhaps the same is mine? Or rather a Céline bag than Chanel? Feel free to tell me in a comment!
Amsterdam Bucketlist
THINGS TO DO:
⋙ Canal Cruise by day or in the evening
⋙ A bike tour through Amsterdam OR Rent a bike by yourself
⋙ The best view over Amsterdam from the A’DAM Lookout
⋙ Visit Artis Royal Zoo
FAVOURITE MUSEUMS:
⋙ Rijksmuseum with the Dutch masters
⋙ Van Gogh Museum, a staple in Amsterdam
⋙ Stedelijk Museum for modern art lovers
⋙ MOCO Museum for street art
⋙ Photography museum FOAM
SEASONAL:
⋙ Amsterdam Light Festival (during winter months)
⋙ Cruise like a local with your own boat (great with good weather!)
ONE OF A KIND:
⋙ Discover the Instagrammable experience WONDR
⋙ Red Light District tour
⋙ Get out of town and into the Dutch country side of Giethoorn
| TIP: Buy an I amsterdam City Card. Save money on entrance fees to museums and attractions, public transport and profit from discounts on everything from restaurants to concerts. You can also skip some lines to make the most of your time in Amsterdam! You can buy a card for 24 hours up to 120 hours. Check the prices here >>
Our favourite hotels:
AFFORDABLE // €
☾ Generator Hostel: the best poshtel of the city located in a park.
☾ The Student Hotel: budget proof in trendy East.
☾ Het Volkshotel: affordable and with a cool rooftop bar.
☾ CitizenM: all you need is that XL bed (location near Amstel is great).
☾ Motel One: budget design hotel with locations at
VERY VERY NICE // €€
☾ Hotel V: with two locations and a great restaurant, in the city center and East.
☾ Sir Adam: with the coolest view over Amsterdam.
☾ Sweets: a unique stay in former bridge houses.
☾ Park Plaza Vondelpark: located next to Vondelpark and beautifully renovated.
☾ Hotel Dwars: small scale around the corner of the trendy Utrechtsestraat.
☾ Pillows Anna van den Vondel: great hotel close to Vondelpark.
☾ Hotel Mercier: new hotel in the cosy and historic Jordaan district.
☾ INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city.
☾ The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel right on the canals.
☾ Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel in Amsterdam West.
☾ Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building at the industrial Westergas area.
☾ QO Amsterdam: eco design hotel with a great skybar.
TOP LUXURY // €€€
☾ Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: if you have something to celebrate this is the one.
☾ Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canals at the border of the Nine Streets and the Jordaan.
☾ L’Europe: this hotel has the best spa with a view in Amsterdam.
☾ Conservatorium Hotel: located in one of the most beautiful buildings in town.
☾ W Amsterdam: with great restaurants and a rooftop bar with swimming pool.
Let’s get social
I really hope you enjoy your time in Amsterdam! On my Instagram account @yourlbb you can find more recommendations and new hotspots in town.
Follow @yourlbb on Instagram
| PS: Traveling to Amsterdam with kids? My other website Travelkids.co & @travelkids.co is dedicated to family friendly travel. Check it out here >>
