Starting this thread for all to share any iteration of the Balenciaga Flap Bag that you have!
My mania started after I saw a listing for this bag in Mastic (S/S 03).
The bag looked so familiar, then I remembered the photo of Kate Moss (black suede?) and Gisele (in caramel) wearing it in early 2003, and realized that, yes, this is the same style — especially since they’re both OG Le Dix Bal Gals.
… BUT their’s were lightly different than the one I saw listed (Flat Brass and no weight distributor).
So, I tracked down one in Black and another in Caramel, then dug the depths of TPF (here and here)...
After receiving both of mine, and reviewing what information I could find, I've basically decided that Kate & Gisele's versions, like the ones I have, are likely from S/S 02 (Second Season) and F/W 02 (Third Season) because…
1- They’re flat brass
(Calling card of pre-SS 03 bags)
2- No weight distributor on the strap
(Both Kate and Gisele’s bags don’t have one and a TPFer posted one that does not have a weight distributor (unsure if @muchstuff 's has a weight distributor), so it feels too coincidental that all of our bags lost the distributor)
3- Black one is chèvre leather and has a Second Season tag
(Feels like the same leather as the Second Season Hobo (unclear if we ever figured out if it was chèvre or lambskin or nappa)
The leather is super soft and smooth - feels like an Eames chair - and is light at ~382 grams)
4- Caramel one is moto-tough leather and has a Third Season style tag
(With a style code on the back
Moto-tough leather is tough to describe, but I'd describe it as like cellophane that's been scrunched up, then straightened in leather form. This is also slightly heavier at ~406 grams (odd because it feels lighter than the black one))
5- YKK zippers
(Pre-S/S 03 Bal bags were YKK zippers, also included a photo of the SS02 Hobo zipper for reference)
TLDR: The Balenciaga Flap Bag was introduced in S/S 2002 (Second Season), based on this reasoning.
Since photos from older TPF and RDC (@RealDealCollection 👋🙂) are unfortunately not working anymore, thought I’d make a more comprehensive thread about this bag.
… and thoroughly welcome any corrections!
Balenciaga Flap Bag Re-Releases...
S/S 03 has the weight distributor and raised hardware (code: ???)C. 2006 with a pocket mirror and different hardware (code: 159694 1669) - listing example here
C. 2008/2009 or 2010’s with lightly raised hardware (code: 110510 213048) - listing example here
For posterity, the style code for the F/W 02 (Third Season) FB Flap: 100664 213048
The dimensions are roughly 11" W x 7" H x 4.5" D for both Second and Third Season Flap bags.
This is what the inside, mirror (it's on the other side of the zipped inside pocket), the adjustable belt look like:
... and a mod shot of the two, if you're curious to see how it looks on a non-supermodel (I'm 5'5.75" for reference and am holding too much water (look at my knuckles or don't, actually, please don't) to want to weigh myself atm):
The mystery of why there’s a second ring on the caramel flap will have to wait for another day, as I’ll probably never solve that one!
Please share any Flap Bags you have!
After all, it's the Roaring 20's and we may as well start flapping around with these flap bags. 
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