(By: Jorge Gonzalez S, founder of FashionMall.online)
In most wealthy circles all over the world the Birkin from Hermès is the well known iconic bag any rich woman must have to complete her closet. But did you know there is a lesser known line of bags that is just as iconic and coveted as the Birkin? The name is Hermès Kelly bag and the Kelly bag was popular and famous among the world elites way before the Birkin. And just as the Birkin, the Kelly has an interesting story as well.
The Kelly was an evolution of Hermes’ “Sac-a-depeches” (translated to dispatch bag), a bag that became popular in the 1930’s due to its practicality, it resembles what today is a briefcase and men used it to carry documents and business related items, what made it popular was the fact that it had a handle and it was large in size, unlike leather binders used at the time, which needed to be carried in your hands. The bag was so practical and in a way stylish and well made women adopted it at the time, they used it to carry their daily things or for short and long trips.
The women’s version of the bag evolved, making it more womanly and in 1955 one of those bags was used by the American actress (and later royalty) in one of Alfred Hitchcock popular moves at the time (the movie to catch at thief). Grace Kelly liked the bag so much she decided to keep it after shooting the movie.
She married the Price of Monaco and became a princess, and Life magazine photographed her in 1957 with a pregnant belly and carrying the bag and suddenly wealthy women around the world began asking at Hermes’ boutiques for the “Kelly” bag and the bag became a status symbol.. 20 years later (in 1977) Hermès decided to officially change the name of the bag to the Kelly bag.
Since then, the Kelly lineup has become huge. The Kelly ranges from small wallets, clutches, small bags, mid size bags to big bags.
Some of their special edition bags have become so collectible they fetch some of the highest prices in fashion history. Bags like the Kelly Idole (also known as Kelly Doll) or the Himalayan Kelly can fetch prices surpassing one hundred thousand and a quarter of a million dollars respectively.
And just like the Birkin bag , there is a waiting list and to buy one new can be very difficult but fortunately there is a huge number of Kelly bags available for immediate purchase in pre-owned luxury bag online stores and venues.