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Search for a pre-owned CELINE bag and the word Triomphe turns up with two different meanings. It is the name of a gold clasp, and it is also the name of an all-over motif repeated across canvas.
This article sets out what the name Triomphe actually refers to, then walks through the models available pre-owned and how their measurements differ.
What is the CELINE Triomphe? The clasp shaped after the chains of the Arc de Triomphe
Triomphe is the name of a clasp modelled on the chains that ring the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Two facing hooks meet at a central bar, and the piece sits on the front of the bag as its fastening. The same name is also given to the all-over motif that repeats that shape in miniature.
So a Triomphe bag can mean two things. A model with the clasp on its front and a model with the motif across its fabric are separate items, and which one you are looking at changes the shortlist entirely. Some models carry both, so filtering on the name alone mixes them together.
Where the CELINE Triomphe came from: a 1970s symbol that returned in 2018
The Triomphe motif first appeared in the 1970s. It drew on the design of the chains strung around the Arc de Triomphe, and from the start it was used for both the clasp and the printed motif.
It then stepped back for a while, until Hedi Slimane became creative director in 2018 and reinterpreted it as the lead signature. That history is why older and newer pieces sit side by side on the pre-owned market.
The Triomphe clasp and the Triomphe motif are different things: see them side by side
In pictures: the clasp and the all-over motif
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The Triomphe clasp Two facing hooks meeting at a central bar. One sits on the bag front as its fastening. |
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The all-over motif The same shape, scaled down and repeated across the fabric. Used where no Triomphe clasp is fitted. |
The clasp covers little surface yet draws the eye, so the bag reads strongly even when the fabric is plain. The all-over motif repeats across the whole piece, which makes the brand legible from a distance while keeping the statement quieter.
Put the bag at the centre of an outfit and the clasp model is the one; let it sit with the clothes and the all-over model fits better.
CELINE Triomphe bag types: Triomphe Bag, Vertical Cabas and Ava
Search on the Triomphe name and three models come up most often: the Triomphe Bag with the clasp, the Vertical Cabas, an upright tote in the all-over motif, and the crescent-shaped Ava.
Comparison: how the three Triomphe models differ
| Spec | Triomphe Bag | Vertical Cabas | Ava |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Squared flap bag | Upright squared tote | Crescent |
| Front | The Triomphe clasp | Motif and printed logo | Motif only |
| Closure | Push lock | Open top | Zip along the curve |
| Carry | Shoulder, cross | Hand, shoulder | Shoulder, arm |
| Fabric | Embroidered canvas | Coated canvas | Coated canvas |
| Best for | Showing the clasp | Carrying upright | Travelling light |
The three differ in how they show the front and how they close, before they differ in size. Clasp or motif, closed or open at the top - that is what changes how each is used, so settle on the model first and pick the size afterwards.
Triomphe and Luggage: choosing by signature or by silhouette
At CELINE, the Luggage name comes up almost as often as Triomphe. The Luggage is a trapezoidal bag that found its audience around 2010, recognised by a front zip pocket and winged side gussets that read like a face. Triomphe is told apart by its signature; the Luggage is told apart by its shape. If you are weighing the two, our article on the Luggage sets the difference out clearly.
Three Triomphe bags, from clasp to all-over motif
Three representative pieces, in this order: the clasp model, the all-over tote, then the crescent.
Teen Triomphe Bag: the clasp on the front
The Triomphe Bag is a rectangular flap bag with the clasp set on its front. A reddish motif is embroidered across natural canvas, and camel calfskin frames every edge. Clasp and motif share a single face here, which makes this the clearest expression of the line.
Adjust the strap and the Teen works on the shoulder or across the body. It pairs best with a pared-back outfit — a plain knit, a shirt. For anyone who wants the bag at the centre, or who rarely wears patterns.
Medium Vertical Cabas: the upright tote
The Vertical Cabas takes Triomphe Canvas into an upright tote. The body is coated canvas in the all-over motif, with calfskin on the handles and the trim. No Triomphe clasp is fitted; the motif and the printed logo on the front carry the design.
The body stands upright, so it suits a commute with papers or a tablet to carry. The all-over pattern stays quiet under a coat or a jacket and does not jar with office clothes. Hand or shoulder, either way, which helps when you are on the move.
Ava Bag: the crescent that follows the shoulder
The Ava is a crescent: the top edge dips gently and the base sweeps into a deep curve. The body is coated canvas in the all-over motif, with camel piping running the whole outline. A zip follows the curve of the opening, its pull hanging at the left end.
The shape follows the body, so it sits well even over a light jacket. With a dress or a pair of smart trousers, the line from shoulder to hip reads clean. Just right for a day off spent walking, with only what you need.
Four things to check before buying a pre-owned CELINE Triomphe
✓ Decide clasp or all-over motif first
The shortlist changes completely between a model with the clasp and one with the motif. Settle early on whether the bag leads an outfit or sits with it, and the search narrows.
✓ Choose the shape, then the size
The three models differ in what they hold and how they are carried. Starting from size labels pushes the shape question to the back, so pick the shape first and compare measurements after.
✓ Each material wears in its own place
Embroidered canvas frays at the thread, coated canvas lifts at the corners, and calfskin shows it as shading. Check the four corners of the base, the opening and the area around the clasp in the photographs of each piece.
✓ Never judge authenticity on one feature
The shape of the clasp, the spacing of the motif and the stitch pitch are all useful signs, but no single one settles the question. our guide to telling them apart reads several together, and the final call is best left to the seller's authentication process and the support offered after purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Which suits everyday use better, the clasp model or the all-over model?
A. Triomphe has a steady following on both sides, and neither one dominates. Customers who want the bag to show at the front tend to choose the clasp model, while those who want it to sit with their clothes lean towards the all-over model. We have handled both.
Q. Can the Triomphe Round Purse be found pre-owned?
A. The Round Purse is a compact round model, and fewer of them circulate than the bags. Stock turns over from time to time, so looking alongside the other small goods in Triomphe Canvas tends to help.
Q. Is Triomphe Canvas difficult to look after?
A. The all-over Triomphe Canvas is coated, so everyday marks lift with a dry, soft cloth. The corners and edges do rub, though, and not overfilling the bag goes a long way towards keeping its condition.
Q. Does the Vertical Cabas hold A4 papers?
A. The Medium and the Small both stand upright, so A4 papers go in unfolded. On the Mini the body does not reach the short edge of A4, so the Small or larger is the better fit if papers need to travel flat.
In summary
Triomphe is the name of a clasp shaped after the chains of the Arc de Triomphe, and the same name covers the all-over motif. A Triomphe bag therefore means two things: a model with the clasp, and a model with the motif.
Work in that order and it goes quickly: clasp or motif, then shape, then size. Three places repay a close look, namely the four corners of the base, any creasing at the opening, and rubbing around the clasp. Wear reads differently on each material, so read the photographs and the product details before comparing.
At ALAMODE we carry a wide selection of CELINE, the Triomphe among them. Every piece is listed with its own photographs and full details, so you can weigh condition and design as you choose. If you are looking for one particular piece, do take a look at our online shop.
Where to Buy CELINE in Shibuya
Tokyo Brand produce by ALAMODE Shibuya Main
1F Saint Louis Building, 26-3 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042
Hours: 12:30–21:00 (Closed: January 1)
TEL: 03-5990-4745
