Loewe vs Celine: Which Trendy Fashion House Is Best For You?

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Luxury brands, Loewe and Celine, are best known for beautiful leather bags and striking ready-to-wear collections, but which brand is best for you? This Loewe vs Celine will help you figure it out!

We cannot resist the playful and quirky style of Loewe ready-to-wear collections, designed by creative director Jonathan Anderson, and the luxurious leather goods, crafted by expert Spanish craftsmen. However, at the same time, Celine’s sleek and sophisticated clothing, designed by Hedi Slimane, is just incredible and their chic handbags are just iconic, timeless pieces that everyone needs in their collection.

Chic Tamara Kalinic outfit with black Celine bag
©Launchmetrics Spotlight

If, like us, you are struggling to decide between Loewe and Celine, we’re going to help you out. This Loewe vs Celine article will take a look at the history of each brand, the important differences between them, and some of the best-selling items from each fashion house before we come to a conclusion as to which fashion house is best for you!

Keep reading to find the right luxury label for you and perhaps even a new luxury bag to add to your collection!

Loewe vs Celine

the History of Loewe

The Spanish fashion house, Loewe, was founded by Enrique Loewe y Roessberg in 1846 and is actually the oldest brand owned by the LVMH conglomerate. The brand began when Roessberg brought together a group of leather craftsmen to create pieces under one brand.

The brand gained notoriety in the early 20th century when Spanish noblemen began to buy Loewe luxury goods and Queen Victoria Eugenie became a regular customer. In 1905, Loewe was granted a royal warrant and they officially became the purveyor of the Royal Household of Spain. Loewe steadily became more popular throughout the 20th century, with Ava Gardener, Ernest Hemingway, Sophia Loren, and Rita Hayworth as fans of the brand.


However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that a fashion collection and perfumes were added to the brand, with Gorgio Armani and Laura Biagiotti designing the womenswear collections. It was also in the 1970s that the Loewe anagram was designed by the Spanish painter Vicente Vela and has remained a prominent motif of the brand ever since.

Loewe was acquired by LVMH in 1996 and then in 1997, Narciso Rodriguez was appointed as the creative director. After José Enrique Oña Selfa and Stuart Vevers each took the role of creative director in the 2000s, Jonathon Anderson became the brand’s creative director in 2013 and has remained at the helm ever since to great success. There are now over 150 stores worldwide and the Spanish Queens are still often seen with Loewe handbags.

The History of Celine

The luxury French fashion house, Celine, was founded by Céline Vipiana, alongside her husband Richard, in 1945. The brand started as a made-to-measure children’s shoe business with a boutique located at 52 rue Malte in Paris, before entering the fashion world in 1960 when they repositioned and focused on women’s ready-to-wear clothing.

The contemporary sportswear approach put practicality at the forefront and proved very popular among modern French women, with wool skirt suits, pastel-toned denim, and smart shirts becoming some of their best sellers. By the ‘70s, Celine had become an international brand, with new boutiques opening in Monte Carlo, Beverly Hills, Geneva, Toronto, and Hong Kong.


Then in 1973, the Celine logo was redesigned – the intertwined Cs were a nod to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and has remained the instantly recognizable logo ever since. In 1997 Celine became integrated within the LVMH conglomerate and soon after Vipiana stepped away from the role of creative director, with Michael Kors taking on this role.

Kors continued with creating elegant and practical aesthetics with a sportswear glam edge, proving very popular with customers all over the world. After Kors left to focus on his namesake brand in 2008, Phoebe Philo was appointed creative director of Celine. Philo’s modern designs were incredibly popular with busy working women who wanted stylish and chic easy-to-wear clothing.

In 2018, Hedi Slimane became the creative director, completely changing the aesthetic of the brand, with more of an edgy, rock look, and most notably removing the accent from the e in the Celine brand name.

Differences between Loewe and Celine

We are going to delve a little deeper into the important differences between Loewe and Celine that are going to have an effect on which brand is best for you.

1. Price range

Let’s begin with the price range for each brand. Loewe bags range between $550 and $4,750, with the raffia and palm leaf bags as the most affordable and the nappa lambskin leather bags are the most expensive, although there is a large box calfskin bag available for $11,150 from Loewe.

Celine’s bags are available for between $990 and $6,000, with some of the exotic leather bags retailing for as much as $22,300.

As you can see, Celine bags are a little more pricey, but there isn’t too much difference between these two brands. Loewe and Celine are also well known for their gorgeous ready-to-wear collections, with Loewe clothing ranging between $330 and $26,300 and Celine clothing retailing between $530 and $24,500.

As you can see, Loewe may start as a little more affordable, but the range extends higher than the price tags at Celine. These price ranges and the differences between them may have an effect on which brand you decide to go for.

2. Materials

It’s always important to consider the material of a new handbag before you make the purchase so we are going to take a look at some of the materials used by Loewe and Celine. Most Loewe bags are made from calfskin leather, in a range of different finishes, including soft natural calfskin, shiny nappa calfskin, silk calfskin, satin calfskin, soft grained calfskin, classic calfskin, box calfskin.

There are also shearling, palm leaf, and nappa lambskin bags available too. Calfskin is known for its luxurious feel but still with a durable finish; the classic calfskin and soft grained calfskin are going to be a little more hardwearing than the box, silk, or satin calfskin leather.

At Celine, you will again find that most bags are crafted from calfskin leather with a range of finishes – there are the more delicate shiny, natural, and smooth calfskin leathers and more durable grained or drummed calfskin leathers that will really stand the test of time. Celine also offers bags made from suede, coated canvas, raffia, lambskin, lizard skin, and crocodile skin so there are plenty of choices!

3. Craftsmanship

Craftsmanship may be an aspect of each brand that you want to take into account, so here is a little more detail on where Loewe and Celine bags are made.

As a proud Spanish luxury brand, Loewe makes all of its leather goods, including handbags, in Barcelona or Getafe, Spain. Loewe is well known for incredible leatherwork by their craftsmen and artisans and so they keep the manufacturing of their bags close to home to ensure a high-quality finish.

Celine produces all their bags in Italy, each made highly trained craftsman so that each handbag is made to the same high standard. Celine bags are one of the best sellers for the brand and so it is of great importance for the fashion house that all of their handbags are excellent quality and will stand the test of time.

4. Design Aesthetic

The design aesthetic of each of these fantastic brands differs, therefore there may be one brand that best suits your own aesthetic. Loewe is known for playful and unique designs through their handbags and ready-to-wear clothing. The luxurious materials and minimal decoration really show off the fun and statement silhouette of Loewe bags, especially the bunny rabbit bags!

Celine has a much more sleek and elegant aesthetic, with a sophisticated look that is eternally stylish. If you are looking for a classic piece with a timeless style, Celine is a great brand for you.

Although, there is one similarity between Loewe and Celine – the fact that their bags often do not feature a prominent logo or brand name. Of course, there are some Loewe totes that are decorated with the anagram or Celine shoulder bags that feature the CC logo, but you will find that both brands are pretty subtle with their branding. This minimalist finish is ideal if you do not like the idea of a bold and heavily branded handbag.

Best-selling bags from Loewe And Celine

There are so many gorgeous Loewe and Celine bags to choose from, so we have narrowed it down to make the decision a little easier. We have brought together a range of different bags from each brand so you can pick the right one to add to your wardrobe! This designer handbag comparison will also help you see the different design aesthetics of each brand, so you can choose the one that best suits your personal style.

1. Shoulder Bags
Tan
Get this on Nordstrom
Brown
Browse Celine Triomphe Bags on The RealReal

The Loewe Puzzle Small Shoulder Bag is one of the best-sellers for this Spanish brand, with a striking look and super practical design. Crafted from supple leather, the exterior has been designed to look like a tessellating puzzle piece, accentuated by the black edging.

The top handle and detachable, adjustable shoulder strap ensure multiple styling options, while the exterior pocket, roomy interior, and internal wall pocket will help you stay organized. Pick up the beloved Loewe Puzzle bag for just $3,150, plus, it’s available in green too if you fancy a little pop of color.

This Celine Triomphe Chain Shoulder Bag is a classic bag that will never go out of style and will suit a wide range of different outfits with a neutral color scheme. This elegant bag is made from coated canvas, printed with the Celine double C Triomphe pattern and then decorated with the same double C logo in gold, for a quintessentially Celine look.

The shoulder bag is finished with a gold chain link shoulder strap, a leather lining, and two interior pockets. This Celine bag is perfect to take you from day to night, with a stunning look, but an interior large enough for your must-have items.

2. Tote Bags
Black
Get this on Neiman Marcus
Green, black, and white
Browse Celine Luggage Totes on The RealReal

If you are on the hunt for a roomy, but still super luxurious, tote bag, then the Loewe Flamenco Large Napa Tote Bag is just perfect for you. This effortlessly stylish tote bag has a relaxed silhouette, is crafted from supple nappa leather, and is finished with a wavy top line, reflecting the flouncy skirts of the Spanish flamenco dancers.

The magnetic closure and knotted drawstrings at each side allow easy access to the roomy interior, which is lined with a cotton-linen blend material and fitted with a handy zipper pocket. Available in black, warm desert orange, and clay green, there is an option to suit any style.

The Celine Luggage Tote is an iconic handbag, and this tri-color edition is guaranteed to add an eye-catching element to any outfit. The structures silhouette of the Luggage tote, first added to the collection by Phoebe Philo, is made from luxurious leather in black, white, and Kelly green tones for a bold and striking look.

The bag may be small, but the interior is spacious enough for your everyday essentials, while the three pockets will help you find everything you need. The rolled leather top handles and detachable leather strap ensure a range of styling options.

3. Crossbody Bags
Cream and green
Get this on Nordstrom
Blue
Browse Celine Box Bags on Fashionphile

We love the beautiful, semi-circular silhouette of the Loewe Mini Gate Dual Leather Crossbody Bag! This Loewe handbag takes its name from the hinge-inspired side latch and features a knotted strap, to hold the front flap in place, and a super practical detachable and adjustable crossbody strap.

The interior of this bag is lined with suede, for a luxe finish, and then fitted with two wall pockets to help you stay organized. There are larger sizes and more colors available in this chic and modern design, but this mini edition is available for $1,850.

The Celine Classic Box Flap Bag is a timeless piece and popular style that is beloved by celebrities and fashion editors all over the world due to its versatile and minimalist look. This Celine Box bag is made from buttery soft, vivid blue box calfskin leather and then is finished with a gleaming gold press lock.

The leather strap is adjustable so you can style this bag across the body or on the shoulder, while the partitioned interior, fitted with a handy zipper pocket, means you can always find just what you need.

4. Top Handle Bags
Tan
Get this on Neiman Marcus
Grey
Browse Celine Belt Bags on Fashionphile

This Loewe Paseo Long Leather Top-Handle Bag exemplifies the brand’s playful and quirky style, with the long, curved silhouette, crafted from pleated tan calf leather to create an eye-catching bag. The exterior is printed with the Loewe brand name in gold foil lettering and then finished with rolled leather top handles and drawstring side closures.

This stunning bag also comes with a detachable and adjustable shoulder strap so it can be worn as a top handle bag, shoulder bag, or clutch bag – so versatile! The top zipper opens to a surprisingly spacious interior for all your daily essentials.

The Celine Belt Bag is one of our favorite bags, with a chic, stylish look and super practical design. This Belt Bag is in the micro size and made from grained calfskin leather in a beautiful grey shade.

A knotted belt holds the front flap in place, while the top handle and removable leather shoulder strap ensure there are a whole plethora of ways to wear this gorgeous Celine bag. The front flap opens to a roomy interior, lined with matching grey suede, and fitted with a wall pocket to make your phone and wallet easy to find.

Conclusion

Both of these brands offer gorgeous ready-to-wear collections and beautiful bags making it difficult to decide between Loewe and Celine. Since the materials and craftsmanship are similar, we have to look at the price range and design aesthetic to evaluate these brands.

If you have a slightly tighter budget and like fun, quirky, and unusual designs, then Loewe is the brand for you. Their bags are such high quality and have such an irresistibly playful look.

If you have a little more money to spend and are looking for a classic, chic, and elegant handbag, then Celine is the right brand for you. Celine bags are super sophisticated, and their luxurious material ensures each piece will stand the test of time.

We hope you found this article analyzing Loewe vs Celine helpful! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.

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