I'm Addicted to Vintage Gucci: Inside My Collection and How to Start Yours
- Anabella Montclair
- Jun 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 22
And no, I don't want help
I've always loved fashion. I was that teenage girl who spent her summer job money on copies of Vogue, spent hours on Pinterest, and, it's safe to say, probably wore at least three different outfits a day. Fast forward a few years, and, as we do in our early twenties, we start to find the style that makes us feel like ourselves. I found Tom Ford’s Gucci.
The obsession started with the bags, specifically black canvas. I'd hunt for hours upon hours on Vinted, eBay, Vestiere and even Japanese auction sites until I found the best bargains and the best bags. One thing led to another, and the collection grew and grew and grew. It branched out into other accessories like sunglasses, pocket mirrors, cigarette pouches, key holders- the list is genuinely endless.
Tom Ford’s time at Gucci was revolutionary to me, spanning nearly a decade from 1995 to 2004. As someone who has committed to only wearing the colour black (don't judge me, I just love being monochromatic, and in my opinion, black is the most expressive colour), the dark, sultry, unapologetically sexy looks he produced just truly ignited something in me. At the same time, the mixing of texture, the skilled tailoring, the silky shirts and velvet trousers, the bamboo and leather, the fur and metal. I could truly go on and on and on.
Each look he produced felt truly authentic; he wasn't looking for shock factor or controversy, just well-styled, inspired, expertly made pieces designed to transcend time.
My love for vintage Gucci taught me that clothes aren't meant to be bought in trend cycles, worn a handful of times and sent to landfill. Your personal wardrobe should be an archive, an archive of quality pieces, basics that can be worn and re-worn, styled and restyled, stand-out pieces that put the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. In a way, it becomes a documentation of the self, an extension of your personality. Clothing and accessories to be adored, but that doesn't mean they're locked away in a cupboard; it means they're also worn.
Anyway, here are a few of my favourite pieces I have collected over the past years, some Tom Ford Gucci, some others from the early 2000’s under Frida Giannini, and don't worry, I've also included tips on how you can find authentic vintage Gucci bags for the best prices and in the best condition.
How to source a bag:
A lot of people re-selling vintage bags do not know the exact model name, a good way to find cheaper but still authentic and good condition bags is to search more generic terms such as “tote bag”, “shoulder bag”, “hobo bag” etc.
Some of the best platforms I’ve found for sourcing bags are: Vinted, eBay, Vestiere Collective and PandaBuy.
Set search alerts if you can, this way if a new bag matching your criteria is listed and its a good price, you can make sure to get it first.
Don't sleep on reverse google image search feature, I use this to identify bag model names, search resale platforms etc.
Authentic Gucci bags will have two serial numbers in them. If you google the bags model you can identify what the authentic code for that model is and ensure yours matches up.
When spotting a fake check for the serial numbers, look at the canvas and leather quality and check the quality and sizing of stitching.
If you set your search function for the oldest listings first, you can often contact the seller and offer under asking, a lot of the time they'll sell you the bag for under asking if it has been sat on the market for months.
Don't be scared of a little DIY restoration project: you'd be surprised how far a little leather conditioner and dye can go.
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