It was a fashion girl’s fever dream. Picture 2005: skinny jeans are clinging on for dear life, the Alexander McQueen skull scarf is already two years deep into iconic status, and the Chloé Paddington bag? It’s everywhere. Tucked into the crooks of arms belonging to Hollywood It girls - Hilary Duff, Halle Berry, Kate Moss, Katy Perry. Age four, I had no idea what that clunky, padlocked bag meant, but I was about to find out.
Designed by Phoebe Philo in 2004, the boho Paddington didn’t need to beg for attention. Unlike the Balenciaga City bag, which took a minute to catch fire, this one exploded instantly. The first 8,000 units sold out before they even hit the shelves. It was peak ‘if you know, you know’, before that was even a thing.
But like most era-defining accessories, the Paddington faded into fashion’s archive. Until now. In March 2025, during Paris Fashion Week, Chloé’s new creative director Chemena Kamali resurrected the Paddington for her Fall/Winter ‘25 runway. It’s back in four updated colourways with a modernised silhouette and a new price point of €2,300 (£1,950) in Europe and \$2,750 (£2,130) in the US. For comparison? The original retailed for around \$1,400 (£1,085) in 2005. So yes, it’s doubled in price but should that stop you?
Not likely. The hype is real. According to Reddit, the new version is less heavy (a major complaint with the OG), and Depop has reported a 1,137% spike in searches for vintage Paddingtons since June. Because if there’s one thing this generation loves, it’s bringing something back-from low-rise jeans to point-and-shoot cameras, and of course, It-bags.
The reissued Chloé Paddington will be available from September, but until then, you can join the waitlist or hit the secondhand market. You can find one on Depop, eBay, or Vestiaire - just be prepared to fight for it.
Shop: Chloé Paddington Bag
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Renee Washington, Grazia's digital fashion and beauty writer, lives online. With a penchant for wispy lashes and streetwear, she writes about the worlds of fashion and beauty from the viewpoint of the modern fashion girlie..
Main image credit: @chloé