Hermes Ever Kelly
2010s Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Other
21st Century and Contemporary French Other
20th Century Unknown Other
2010s European Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
1990s French Top Handle Bags
1980s French Structured Shoulder Bags
2010s Contemporary Color Photography
Archival Pigment
People Also Browsed
Late 20th Century English Decorative Objects
20th Century French Other
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Drop Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
1960s French Top Handle Bags
2010s Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
2010s French Duffel Bags and Carry-On Bags
1980s French Evening Dresses and Gowns
1940s French Tote Bags
2010s European Cocktail Dresses
1990s Backpacks
2010s Italian Backpacks
Mid-20th Century French Suitcases and Trunks
Early 2000s French Cocktail Dresses
Recent Sales
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Early 2000s French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Clutches
21st Century and Contemporary French Clutches
21st Century and Contemporary French Cuff Bracelets
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Tech Accessories and Cases
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Clutches
21st Century and Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Bangles
Diamond, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
1990s French Top Handle Bags
1990s French Evening Bags and Minaudières
21st Century and Contemporary French Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Shoulder Bags
1990s Evening Bags and Minaudières
1990s Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags
20th Century French Scarves
20th Century French Scarves
21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags
20th Century French Scarves
20th Century French Scarves
20th Century French Scarves
20th Century French Scarves
20th Century French Scarves
20th Century French Scarves
2010s French Scarves
1990s French Decorative Art
Silk
20th Century French Pillows and Throws
Textile
20th Century Unknown Other
20th Century English Other
2010s Italian Tote Bags
2010s French Tote Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Cuff Bracelets
Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Other
21st Century and Contemporary French Shoulder Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Tech Accessories and Cases
2010s French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Late 20th Century French Top Handle Bags
21st Century and Contemporary French Clutches
Hermes Ever Kelly For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Hermes Ever Kelly?
Hermès for sale on 1stDibs
For Hermès, what began as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen would eventually grow into one of the most storied fashion labels in the world. In 1837, German-born French entrepreneur Thierry Hermès opened a saddle and harness purveyor in Paris. Gradually, the house extended into accessories and luggage for its riders, and today, in paying homage to its origins, the family-run luxury brand resurfaces horse motifs in everything from clothing and modernist jewelry to pillows and handbags.
The first top-handled bag ever produced by Hermès was the Haut à courroies, which made its debut in 1892. A tall bag secured with a folded leather flap (fastened with bridle-inspired straps), it was designed to transport riding boots and a harness. As the world made the switch from horse to automobile, the bag adapted, becoming a multifunctional travel satchel instead of a designated saddlebag. Today, 120 years later, the HAC remains in Hermès’s line — and its distinctive flap and clasping straps have laid the groundwork for some of the house’s other iconic bags.
In the 1930s, Robert Dumas (son-in-law to Émile-Maurice Hermès, Thierry’s grandson) designed a smaller, trapezoidal take on the flap bag with a handle and two side straps. Later, actress Grace Kelly, then engaged to Prince Rainier of Monaco, is said to have used one of these bags to conceal her pregnancy during the 1950s. Because she was photographed constantly, the coverage catapulted her handbag to international popularity. In 1977, Hermès officially renamed the model for her, and the Kelly bag was born. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.
Robert Dumas was also responsible for another one of the brand’s most iconic offerings: the launch of its first silk scarf on the occasion of Hermès’s 100th anniversary in 1937. Based on a woodblock designed by Dumas and printed on Chinese silk, the accessory was an immediate hit.
Today, vintage Hermès scarves, typically adorned in rich colors and elaborate patterns, serve many functions, just as they did back then. Well-heeled women wear it on their heads, around their necks and, in a genius piece of cross-promotion, tied to the straps of their Hermès bags. Kelly even once used one as a sling for her broken arm.
In 1981, Robert Dumas’s son Jean-Louis Dumas, then Hermès chairman, found himself sitting next to French actress and musician Jane Birkin on a plane, where she was complaining about finding a suitable carryall for the necessary accoutrements of motherhood. After the two travelers were properly introduced, Birkin helped design Jean-Louis’s most famous contribution to the Hermès canon: the Birkin bag, a roomy, square catchall with the HAC’s trademark leather flap top and the addition of a lock and key. Owing to the brand’s legendary commitment to deft, handcrafted construction, the Birkin is an investment that is coveted by collectors everywhere.
While the Kelly and Birkin may be standouts, gracing the arms of everyone from royal heiresses to hip-hop stars in the past few decades, the handbags are but a small part of Hermès’s fashion offerings. Since the 1920s, the brand has produced some of the most desirable leather goods in the world. There’s the Constance bag, a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy, the recently relaunched 1970s-era Evelyne and, on the vintage market, a slew of designs dating back to the 1920s.
Good design never goes out of style. Find a variety of vintage Hermès handbags, day dresses, shoes and more on 1stDibs.
Finding the Right handbags-purses-bags for You
An integral part of fashion, handbags and purses have been indispensable accessories ever since we began to carry around personal items. Level of craftsmanship, style and shape matters — from coin purses in ancient Greece to early 20th-century opera bags and onward, handbags have evolved considerably over the years to meet our needs and desires, whether or not you happen to be prioritizing functionality over a flashy exterior.
Once, a single “It” handbag ruled each fashion season. No more. Today, lovers of vintage handbags are savvier and have a wider range of shopping options. Nevertheless, classics created by the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Balenciaga still rule.
“It is not a fashion bag — it is a statement bag,” says Mightychic's Debra Kent of Hermès's widely beloved accessories. “When you carry an iconic Hermès bag — Birkin, Kelly, Constance — no one knows how long you have been into this culture or if you are a newbie. Your status is validated immediately.”
First released in 1997, Fendi's Baguette rose to fame along with Carrie Bradshaw, the Sex and the City character portrayed by Sarah Jessica Parker. Recently, the design has seen such a resurgence in popularity that Fendi has reissued it.
They are part of design history, so owning a handbag has meaning. As New York–based fashion historian Sarah C. Byrd says, “You have made the choice to invest in this piece because you understand the value of it in the past and in the future to come.”
From a 1980s Chanel black leather quilted mini buckle bag to the rare Hermès Birkin 30cm Himalayan with diamond hardware to a range of 19th-century bags, find a rich variety of vintage and designer handbags and purses spanning numerous brands on 1stDibs — seasonal “It” designation no longer needed.
Read More
The Hermès Passe-Guide Bag Might Not Be as Well Known as the Birkin or Kelly, But It’s Every Bit as Chic
Find out why this under-the-radar piece is so exceptional.
How to Spot a Fake Hermès Birkin Bag
The iconic Birkin bag is much coveted — and often copied. Find out how to tell the real deal from a convincing fake. Of course, you don't have to worry about this on 1stDibs, where every seller is highly vetted.
Why the Hermès Birkin Bag Is a Surprisingly Savvy Investment
More than a fashion statement, this iconic style continually appreciates in value.
How to Spot a Real Hermès Kelly Bag
A symbol of luxury and elegance, the design has a storied past and a legion of devoted collectors.
14 Iconic Luxury Handbags and the Stories behind Them
When the name of a bag is as well-known as its brand, you know it's a classic.
The Definitive Guide to Hermès Birkin Bag Leathers
The color, texture and durability of an Hermès Birkin bag is as important as its iconic shape. Here, we present all you need to know about Birkin leathers and hides.