The Kelly bag is named in honor of Princess Grace Kelly. Designer Thierry Hermès conceived it in 1892, and... Wait, was Grace Kelly even born in 1892? What incredible story lies behind the legendary Kelly bag? We'll tell you everything!
From the « Haut à Courroies » Bag of 1892 to the Kelly Bag
Hermès, the leather goods maker of 19th-century horse riders
Creator Thierry Hermès founded his first leather goods workshop in 1837. He is one of the most legendary designers. Originally, he exclusively made equestrian accessories. Then, he began clothing riders. Later, the brand found a vocation for haute couture and luxury leather goods. The ancestor of the vintage Hermès Kelly bag is the « Haut à Courroies » bag, designed by Thierry Hermès in 1892 for riders. When Robert Dumas took over the brand, he reinvented this sporty creation to make it a luxury feminine accessory. The « Haut à Courroies » bag thus became the dépêche bag in 1930. One copy of the bag was gifted to Grace Kelly in 1954 during the filming of a Hitchcock movie, « To Catch a Thief ». If you love the vintage Hermès Kelly bag, you must absolutely see this film! But it's not because of the movie that the Kelly bag bears its name.
When an icon like Grace Kelly loves a bag so much, it gets renamed!
Two years after the release of Hitchcock's film, Grace Kelly still wears the bag she was gifted. She never parts with it; it’s her everyday bag. One day, when rumors of her first pregnancy surface, she tries to escape the paparazzi chasing her. Coming down from a plane, she is seen carrying her bag in front of her belly to hide her curves. But… a photo still reveals that she is expecting a happy event. The Hermès bag is clearly visible. Only it, the future baby, and her radiant young mother can be seen. Very quickly, hordes of women rush into Hermès stores to buy this bag, closed with two elegant straps. The bag was officially renamed Kelly in 1977, with the approval of the Princess of Monaco. Anyway, it had already been called that by women for 10 years! Do you also dream of owning one? Visit Secondement Boutique, where we regularly have vintage Hermès Kelly bags to offer you!
Buy your used Hermès Kelly bag secondment
We share your passion for vintage and luxury leather goods
At Secondement, we love fine leather goods and of course, the vintage Hermès Kelly bag takes top place in our catalog. Because it is beautiful and an iconic bag that goes with everything. Hermès has always been the embodiment of elegant simplicity. It's the designer who never overdoes it, always has an eye for just the right amount. We told you its story: the Kelly bag was originally a travel case. Also, at Hermès, it now comes in several sizes, a total of seven formats. For your dressy evenings, smaller Kelly bags are more suitable. You can also consider the delightful small So Kelly bag. It is taller than wide, beautifully adorned with two elegant straps that add a glamorous touch. vintage Hermès Kelly bagAnd as for the large Kelly bags, they are the perfect everyday companions. You can compare them to a Birkin bag. Well... It’s true that these two look remarkably alike.
Are you hesitating between a Kelly bag and a Birkin?
How to choose between a Birkin bag and vintage Hermès Kelly bag ? Firstly, they don't have the same shape. The Kelly bag is more rectangular than a Birkin, which is more square, although both ultimately take on a stylish trapezoidal silhouette when viewed from the front. The Hermès Kelly bag has a single handle, while the Birkin has two. This makes it easier to carry open. It’s also still much wider than a Kelly, with a chic it-bag spirit. So, to dress more elegantly, it's better to choose a vintage Hermès Kelly bag. For a versatile, everyday bag, a Birkin will be more comfortable. The Birkin was created for a young mother. The Kelly, for a princess. All said. In life, honestly, we would need both. And thanks to Secondement, you have the choice!
