Timeless and elegant, Celine’s iconic Triomphe handbag is a love letter to Paris, and the brand’s legacy.
When it comes to handbag origin stories, few are as iconic as Celine’s Triomphe. When her car broke down in front of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, founder and then-creative director, Céline Vipiana, had an epiphany—no, it wasn’t a solution for her stalled vehicle. As she waited for mechanical assistance, she couldn’t help but notice the intriguing design of the chains protecting the iconic monument; two C’s back to back, perfectly linked.
Immediately, Vipiana sought permission from the city of Paris to adapt this little piece of her homeland as the house emblem, which was soon emblazoned on jewellery and prints throughout the 1970s, and beyond.
After nearly five decades, the iconic symbol has made a celebrated comeback, reinstating its position as the go-to piece for French-girl style. First, at the maison’s Spring 2019 show titled ‘Paris La Nuit’, where newly appointed Creative Director Heidi Slimane utilised his runway debut to reintroduce the Triomphe as the emblematic centrepiece it once was. Slimane’s Triomphe bag featured a shiny metallic double C clasp in a golden finish, reinforcing an extra luxurious feel to the bag, with a chain or leather strap.
A new classic, the house motif has since been adopted and reimagined in various styles and naturally, has garnered It-bag status among the sartorial crowd and celebrities with fans including Kaia Gerber, BLACKPINK’s Lisa, Selena Gomez, Emily Ratajkowski, Margaret Qualley, Angelina Jolie, as well has the sartorially conscious around the world.
For the maison’s recent Spring Summer 2023 season, the oh so versatile Triomphe was spotted on the runway of the shores of Saint-Tropez – making an appearance in beachy raffia and sweet gelato-hues reminiscent of the influence of the noughties.
To shop visit celine.com
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