Whether it be for carrying groceries or adding a pop of colour to your look, the handbag is arguably one of the most versatile accessories.
Known for their perfect mix of practicality and personality, designer bags have become some of the most coveted fashion pieces in recent decades, with celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and Sarah Jessica Parker known for their expansive collections of the highly sought after leather goods.
Scroll down to find out the origin story of some of the world’s most popular luxury bags and the women that inspired them.
Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly | Hermès Kelly
1950s cinema starlet and Princess of Monaco Grace Kelly first brought attention to her structured Hermès bag in 1956, with the Princess photographed utilising the bag to shield her growing baby bump from paparazzi.
Legendary director Alfred Hitchcock has been credited by many Hermès enthusiasts as the catalyst for the Kelly’s popularity, following the inclusion of various Hermès accessories in his 1954 film To Catch a Thief – starring Grace Kelly.
The Kelly was first designed in 1923 and was originally named The Bugatti. The bag was also the first of handbag to utilise a zipper. Following the bag’s skyrocketing popularity, Hermès officially renamed the bag as the Kelly in 1977.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis | Gucci Jackie
The iconic G1244 slouch bag was originally named the Constance, with the bag first launching in 1961.
U.S. First Lady Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Kennedy Onassis reportedly first set her eyes on the classic tote in 1964, with the First Lady purchasing six bags in the one transaction.
Kennedy Onassis was frequently photographed with the Constance throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with the fashion house officially renaming the G1244 as the Jackie 1961 in 2020.
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn | Louis Vuitton Speedy 25
Breakfast at Tiffany’s star Audrey Hepburn may not have a bag to her name however, the actor was responsible for creating one of the most beloved and versatile pieces in the Louis Vuitton collection.
Originally launched in 1930, the Louis Vuitton Speedy quickly became one of the most sought after travel bags, with the bag being available in a size 30, 35, and 40.
In 1965, Hepburn requested that Louis Vuitton release a smaller version of the monogram bag, and thus, the Speedy 25 was born.
Jane Birkin
Jane Birkin |Hermès Birkin
French actor and 1960s icon Jane Birkin first found inspiration for the world’s most coveted bag while on a flight from Paris to London in 1984.
During the flight, the contents of Birkin’s travel bag spilt throughout the cabin as she placed her bag in the overhead locker, with the actor turning to seat partner Jean-Louis Dumas, Executive Chairman of Hermès, to complain that she had been unable to find a bag to meet her needs as a young mother.
Birkin reportedly asked if Hermès would be able to produce a larger version of their iconic Kelly bag, with her namesake bag sporting a similar structure with greater practicality.
Birkin continued to use her first black prototype Hermès Birkin up until her passing in July 2023, with the bag becoming well known for its various decorations and well-worn appearance.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana | Lady Dior
Princess Diana’s love-affair with the Lady Dior first began in September 1995, with the First Lady of France gifting the Princess of Wales with the then-unreleased Dior bag.
Originally named the Chouchou, Princess Diana was the first to debut Dior’s latest launch. The Princess was frequently photographed with the quilted mini bag, with the star reportedly requesting a navy blue version to match her eyes.
Princess Diana
Princess Diana | Gucci Diana
When Princess Diana was not sporting her trademark Lady Dior, the Princess of Wales opted for practicality with her Gucci Diana tote.
Originally named the 1991 Bamboo Handle Tote, the Gucci bag was frequently pictured alongside Diana as she ran errands throughout London.
Former Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michelle revived the Bamboo Tote for the Diana Capsule Collection in 2021, with the bamboo handle now available across a variety of different shaped bags.
Alexa Chung
Alexa Chung | Mulberry The Alexa
Mulberry first released their satchel style Alexa in 2010, with the company dedicating the bag to television presenter and model Alexa Chung.
Over a decade later, Chung collaborated with the brand to launch her own capsule collection, including a redesigned Alexa, to mark Mulberry’s 50th anniversary in 2021.
Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey | Mulberry Del Rey
Following the success of Lana Del Rey’s Video Games music video, Mulberry’s former Creative Director Emma Hill was instantly inspired by the singer.
Following a brief meeting between Del Rey and Hill in a London hotel, the Mulberry Del Rey was launched in late 2012 as an homage to the singer.
