HERMES black Grainee leather KELLY 35 RETOURNE Bag GHW
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Hermès Kelly 35 Retourne bag in black Vache Grainee leather featuring gold-tone hardware.
Category
Hermes Kelly
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HERMES Blanc white Swift leather KELLY 35 FLAT Bag PHW
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Hermès by Jean Paul Gautier Kelly Flat 35 Bag in Blanc is crafted from smooth, supple Swift leather, offering a clean, minimalist expression of the iconic Kelly d...
Category
2010s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
Hermès Kelly To Go Wallet Orange Epsom Leather Gold Hardware Unisex
By Hermès
Located in London, GB
This authentic Hermès Kelly To Go Wallet in orange Epsom leather with gold hardware is a refined wallet-on-chain inspired by the house’s iconic Kelly silhouette.
Category
2010s European Wallets
Hermes Kelly 25 Retourne Bag Black Matte Alligator Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an Hermes Kelly 25 Retourne bag presented in classic Black Matte Alligator.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
HERMES black leather KELLY 35 RETOURNE Bag w Palladium
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
100% authentic Hermès Kelly 35 Retourne bag in back Veau Togo leather with palladium hardware.
Category
2010s French Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermès Kelly 25cm Rose Extreme Epsom Leather w/Palladium Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Hermès Kelly 25cm Sellier in Rose Extreme Epsom, rendered in a vivid, high-impact pink that leans toward neon coral-fuchsia depending on lighting, giving it a sharp, almost electric ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermès Brand New Kelly 32 Capucine Togo / Gold HDW
By Hermès
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Hermès Kelly retourne 32cm in capucine togo leather and gold tone hardware.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermès 1995 Framboise & Black Veau Doblis Suede Vintage Kelly 20cm Sellier
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
"Hermès Framboise & Black Veau Doblis Suede Vintage Kelly 20cm Sellier Product Details Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 20cm Product Title: Framboise & Black Veau Doblis Suede Vintage Kel...
Category
1990s Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermès Vintage Kelly Bag 35cm Candy Rose Epson Leather Silver Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Stuttgart, DE
Hermès Kelly bag, 35 cm, (Made in France) Epson leather, Candy Kelly Rose Tyrien and Rubsi, Silver hardware , Collection 2011s.
Category
2010s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
HERMES Marron Fonce SHINY CROC KELLY 32 SELLIER Bag GHW
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Hermès Kelly 32 Sellier Bag in Marron is exquisitely crafted from shiny porosus crocodile leather, showcasing a rich, deep brown hue with a luminous finish.
Category
1990s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
HERMES 2002 Kelly 32 Sellier matte Ebene Niloticus PHW brown handbag
By Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermès
Located in Hong Kong, NT
HERMES 2002 Kelly 32 Sellier matte Ebene Niloticus PHW brown handbag Reference: LAYU/A00156 Brand: Hermes Designer: Jean Paul Gaultier Model: Kelly 32 Sellier Collection: 2002 (Squar...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermès 1996 Miel Shiny Porosus Crocodile Leather Vintage Kelly 20cm Sellier
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Miel Shiny Porosus Crocodile Leather Vintage Kelly 20cm Sellier Product Details Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 20cm Product Title: Miel Shiny Porosus Crocodile Leather Vintage Ke...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermès 2001 Black Shiny Porosus Crocodile Leather Vintage Kelly 20cm Sellier
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Black Shiny Porosus Crocodile Leather Vintage Kelly 20cm Sellier Product Details Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 20cm Product Title: Black Shiny Porosus Crocodile Leather Vintage ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermes Kelly 28 Rouge Grenat Epsom Leather Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Aventura, FL
As is the case for other Hermes products, the Kelly bag is handmade by a unique craftsman throughout the whole process.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Shoulder Bags
Hermès Black Shiny Mississippiensis Alligator Leather Kelly 20cm II Sellier
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
"Hermès Black Shiny Mississippiensis Alligator Leather Kelly 20cm II Sellier Product Details Xupes Ref: MML038 Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 20cm II Type: Top Handle, Shoulder Serial N...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermès 1998 Black Box Calf & Toile Canvas Vintage Kelly 32cm Sellier
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Black Box Calf & Toile Canvas Vintage Kelly 32cm Sellier Product Details Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 32cm Product Title: Black Box Calf & Toile Canvas Vintage Kelly 32cm Selli...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermes Kelly 28 Turquoise Leather Gold HW GHW Shoulder Bag 2015
By Hermès
Located in Guangzhou, CN
Accessories Dust bag,lock,key Size Width: 28cm Designer Hermes Model Kelly 28 Exterior Material Leather Exterior Color Blue Interior Material Leather Interior Color Blue Hardware Co...
Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
Hermès Black Matte Porosus Crocodile Leather & Ostrich Feather Folie Kelly Elan
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Black Matte Porosus Crocodile Leather & Ostrich Feather Folie Kelly Elan Product Details Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly Elan Product Title: Black Matte Porosus Crocodile Leather ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermès Vert Comics Chevre Chamkila Leather & Ostrich Feather Folie Kelly Elan
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Vert Comics Chevre Chamkila Leather & Ostrich Feather Folie Kelly Elan Product Details Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly Elan Product Title: Vert Comics Chevre Chamkila Leather & Os...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermes Kelly Ghillies 32 Bamboo Togo Swift Leather Palladium Hardware Handbag
By Hermès
Located in Aventura, FL
Discover the distinctive Hermès Kelly Ghillies 32 in Bamboo Togo and Swift Leather with Palladium Hardware, an exceptionally collectible interpretation of the iconic Kelly silhouette.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Top Handle Bags
HERMES Mini Kelly Pochette Leather Red Silver Palladium Hardware PHW 2015
By Hermès
Located in Guangzhou, CN
Condition Signs of normal wear; corner abrasion, minor surface stains and indentations, scratches on hardware, clean interior.Minor color retouching on the corners Size Width: 22cm, ...
Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly Sellier 25 Blue Frida Bag Gold Hardware Epsom Leather
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
This exotic Hermes Kelly bag colour is a beautiful year round neutral.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermès Micro Kelly 15 cm Sellier Red Leather Gold Hdw
By Hermès
Located in Corcoué Sur Logne, Loire-Atlantique
Exceptional and Adorable Authentic Hermès Micro Kelly Rare item, a must-have for any Hermès lovers Sellier Version (outside stitching) for a rigid shape, so chic !
Category
1990s French Top Handle Bags
HERMÉS KELLY 20cm bordeaux Calfskin Leather, gold hardware, small shoulder bag
By Hermès, Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel
Located in Stuttgart, DE
About Very beautiful Mini Hermès Sellier shoulder bag, bordeaux , Box calf, M in circle - 1983 Features: - Inside Pocket 1 - Size " Width 7,9 inches x H 5,7 inches x 3.7 inches - Si...
Category
1980s French Shoulder Bags
Hermes Kelly 20 Mini Sellier Rose Scheherazade Alligator Bag Palladium Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Timeless and highly coveted this exquisite vivid jewel tone pink mini Hermes Kelly bag is a collectors treasure. The Kelly 20 bag in alligator is extremely limited and difficult to p...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermes Kelly 36 Noir Epsom Leather With Gold Hardware Handbag
By Hermès
Located in Aventura, FL
Elevate your collection with this timeless Hermès Kelly 36, crafted in the iconic Noir Epsom leather.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly Cut Clutch Bag Blue Colvert Crocodile Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers a limited edition Hermes Kelly Cut featured in smoky Bleu Colvert Niloticus Crocodile.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Clutches
BNIB Hermes Kelly Pochette Bordeaux Mississippiens Alligator GHW G Stamp 2026
By Hermès
Located in Forest Park, GA
BNIB Hermes Kelly Pochette Bordeaux Mississippiens Alligator GHW G Stamp 2026 A rare vision of quiet majesty, the Hermes Kelly Pochette in Bordeaux Mississippiensis Alligator captur...
Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly 25 Bamboo Togo Leather with Palladium Hardware Handbag
By Hermès
Located in Aventura, FL
A stunning example of Hermès craftsmanship, this Kelly 25 handbag is crafted from Bamboo green Togo leather.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Shoulder Bags
Hermes Kelly Cut Gris Elephant Porosus Crocodile Clutch Bag Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers a limited edition Hermès Kelly Cut Gris Elephant Porosus Crocodile with Gold Hardware This Hermès Kelly Cut is crafted in Gris Elephant Porosus crocodile, offering...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Clutches
Hermès Kelly 28 Black Box Calf Leather Handbag with Palladium Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Houston, TX
Exceptional Hermes Kelly 28 sellier handbag strap in Black Box calf leather.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly 32 Bag Matte Fauve Barenia Porosus Crocodile Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Hermès Kelly 32 in exceptionally rare matte Fauve Barenia Porosus crocodile, finished with Gold hardware.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly Mini Pochette Blue Tempete Leather Palladium HW NEW RARE, 2026
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Rare and Most Coveted Hermes Kelly Pochette Blue Tempete Swift Leather Complimented by Palladium Hardware.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Clutches
Hermès 1990s Kelly 32 Black Box Leather Unisex Top Handle Handbag
By Hermès
Located in PARIS, FR
The Hermes Kelly 32 in black Box leather captivates with its structured lines and iconic look.
Category
1990s Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly 32 vert cru, Jaune, blue thalassa Clemence leather Bag
$13,265Sale Price|30% Off
Hermes Kelly 32 vert cru, Jaune, blue thalassa Clemence leather Bag
By Hermès
Located in Athens, GA
Hermes Kelly 32 Tri-color Vert Cru, Jaune, Blue Thalassa Bag.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary European Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermes Kelly Mini 20 Mauve Sylvester Epsom Leather Top Handle Bags, 2026
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Rare and Most Coveted As New Hermes Mini Kelly 20 Mauve Sylvester Epsom Leather Complimented by Gold Hardware.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly Mini 20 Blue Electric Epsom Palladium Hardware RARE Top Handle
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Very Rare and Most Coveted Hermes Mini Kelly 20 Blue Electric Epsom Leather Complimented by Palladium Hardware.
Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
HERMES Kelly Short orange shiny liz leather PHW classic wallet
By Hermès
Located in Hong Kong, NT
HERMES Kelly Short orange shiny liz leather PHW classic wallet Reference: NILI/A00106 Brand: Hermes Model: Kelly Short Material: Leather Color: Orange, Gold Pattern: Solid Closure: T...
Category
2010s French Wallets
Hermes Kelly 25 Sellier Tricolor Terre Ebene Craie Epsom Top Handle, 2026
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
New RARE Most Coveted Hermes Kelly 25 Sellier Tri Color Terre, Ebene & Craie Epsom Leather, Complimented by Gold Hardware.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly 25 Sellier Noir Padded Leather Limited Edition Top Handle Bags
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
As New RARE Most Coveted Hermes Kelly 25 Sellier Black Padded Swift Leather, Complimented by Gold Hardware.
Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly Bag 32 Box calf leather shoulder hand bag
By Hermès
Located in 10707, DE
Hermes Kelly Bag 32 in black leather with gold hardware.
Category
1990s Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly Sellier 25 Vert Criquet Bag Epsom Leather Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers an Hermes Kelly Sellier 25 bag featured in fresh Vert Criquet.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermes Rouge Kelly 28 Box leather with palladium hardware in New Condition
By Hermès
Located in Athens, GA
Stunning smooth box leather sellier Kelly bag. The most wanted size Kelly. Palladium silver hardware.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Structured Shoulder Bags
Hermès Kelly 25cm Sellier Gris Misty Epsom Leather w/Palladium Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Hermès Kelly 25cm Sellier in Gris Misty Epsom, delivering one of the most iconic executions of the Kelly silhouette in a sharply structured, architectural form where precision and pr...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Structured Shoulder Bags
NEW Hermès Kelly 28 Bordeaux Matte Alligator Gold Hardware GHW RARE
By Hermès
Located in Philadelphia, PA
RARE Hermès Bordeaux Matte Alligator Kelly 28 with Gold Hardware GHW in NEW UNUSED condition.
Category
2010s Top Handle Bags
New Hermes Kelly 28 Mauve Pale Clemence Epsom Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Hermes Kelly 28 Mauve Pale Clemence PHW B 2023 Full Set Gold Hardware New Never used.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
New Hermes Kelly 28 Sellier Noir Black Epsom Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Hermes Kelly 28 Sellier Noir Black Epsom Gold Hardware New Never used.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermés Kelly Jump Backpack Bag In Noir Swift Leather GHW 2025
By Hermès
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A rare Hermès Kelly Jump backpack bag. The exterior of this Kelly Jump is crafted in Noir Swift leather, and is complemented with gold-tone hardware and tonal stitching.
Category
2010s French Backpacks
Hermes Kelly Twilly Bag Charm Fauve w/ Palladium Tadelakt Leather
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Mightychic offers a limited edition Hermes Kelly Twilly Bag Charm featured in Fauve with signature bone topstitch.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Wallets and Small Accessories
Hermès Kelly 25 Sellier Black Epsom Leather Bag with Gold Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Height: 19 cm Width: 25 cm Depth: 9 cm The Kelly bag came to success when it was first paparazzied on the bumpy belly of Princess Grace Kelly in 1956.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly 28 Sellier Gold, Blue Celeste, Indigo Epsom Shoulder Bag
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Absolutely Stunning Rare Limited Edition "Kellygraphie" Hermès Kelly 28 Sellier Gold Epsom, Blue Celeste Chèvre & Blue Indigo Togo Leather Combination.
Category
2010s French Shoulder Bags
Hermès Kelly Dépêches 25 Noir Galop d’Hermès Palladium Hardware - '20s
By Hermès
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Hermès Kelly Dépêches 25 crafted in the extremely rare Black Galop d’Hermès leather with Palladium Hardware.
Category
2010s Top Handle Bags
Hermès 1982 Kelly Bag 32 cm Gold Courchevel Leather with Strap
By Hermès
Located in Stuttgart, DE
Hermés 2 way Kelly bag, Retourne, 32 cm, Curchevel leather in gold, Collection L in circle = 1982 with long autentic Strap, Lock and Key and Hermes dustbag included.
Category
1980s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
Hermes Kelly Pochette Feu Orange Epsom Leather Palladium Hardware Rare Bag
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Rare and Most Coveted Hermes Kelly Pochette Feu Orange. Epsom Leather Complimented by Palladium Hardware.
Category
2010s French Evening Bags and Minaudières
Hermès Etoupe & Nata Chèvre Mysore Leather HSS Kelly 20cm II Sellier
By Hermès
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Etoupe & Nata Chèvre Mysore Leather Special Order HSS Kelly 20cm II Sellier Product Details Xupes Ref: CB1691 Brand: Hermès Model: Kelly 20cm II Type: Top Handle, Shoulder ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags
Hermès Mini Kelly Charm Purse Lizard with Gold Hardware and Twilly
By Hermès
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Hermès Mini Kelly charm rendered in lizard leather, scaled down into a miniature interpretation of the iconic Kelly silhouette with precise detailing that mirrors the proportions and...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Tech Accessories and Cases
Hermès Porte cles Touquet Margiela Black Leather Kelly Key Holder Hermes
By Martin Margiella, Hermès
Located in PARIS, FR
Hermès "Touquet" model key holder by Martin Margiela, inspired by the clochette and strap found on Kelly, Birkin, or Bolide bags. Crafted from black Box leather (with matching graine...
Category
Early 2000s French Pouches and Wristlets
HERMES Casaque red Clemence leather KELLY 28 RETOURNE Bag Ghw
By Hermès
Located in Zürich, CH
This 100% authentic Hermès Kelly 28 Retourne bag is crafted in Rouge Casaque Taurillon Clemence leather with gold-plated hardware.
Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
Hermès Kelly 25cm Blue Zanzibar Sellier Chèvre Leather with Palladium Hardware
By Hermès
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Crafted in Epsom leather, the bag holds a firm, lightweight structure that keeps every edge sharply defined, emphasizing the Kelly’s geometric frame and clean architectural lines.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Top Handle Bags
Hermes Kelly Mini 20 Purple Chevre Leather Palladium Hardware Top Handle Bag
By Hermès
Located in Miami, FL
Rare and Most Coveted Hermes Mini Kelly 20 Rose Pourpre Chevre Leather. Complimented by Palladium Hardware.
Category
2010s French Top Handle Bags
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Vintage Hermès Kelly Bags
Vintage Hermès Kelly bags are among the most desired handbags in the world — a symbol of luxury and elegance, this design has a storied past and a legion of devoted collectors.
Is it any surprise that Hermès's description of the Kelly bag (with some quick reformatting) reads like poetry?
“thirty-six leather pieces / assembled by a craftsman / devoted to beautiful, noble gestures, / six hundred and eighty hand stitches, / sixteen small studs, / a padlock, / a swivel clasp / and a leather key cover or clochette.”
For devotees, the Hermès classic has a visual poetry and meaning that transcends the bag itself.
Founded in 1837 as a crafter of equestrian gear for aristocrats, Hermès was nicely aligned with actress Grace Kelly’s classic style and blue blood lineage. Like most of the storied house’s pieces, the iconic design of the Kelly bag boasts an evolution that reads like a timeline of good living.
The Haut à courroies, Hermès's original top-handled bag, was created in 1892 to carry boots and a harness. In 1923, it was modified for the wife of automobile magnate Ettore Bugatti to fit into a car’s side pocket. This design was called Torpedo No 1. Robert Dumas-Hermès redesigned it again in 1935, making it smaller, adding a belt and naming it the Sac à dépêches.
“In the age of travel, women needed a bag that was easy and safe to carry,” says Graham Wetzbarger, certified appraiser and authenticator. The Sac à dépêches fit the bill.
From 1955 onward, Grace Kelly was frequently spotted carrying her Sac à dépêches. Had Instagram been around in those days, #Kellysac would have included images of the star and her bag at the Cannes Film Festival and during the 1955 announcement of her engagement to Prince Rainier of Monaco. It would have included pics of Kelly and her bag on her royal honeymoon, and, yes, it would even have included images of the new princess using her bag to hide an emerging baby bump. She was a superstar marrying a prince, and her photo was everywhere.
By 1956, replicas of the “Grace Kelly handbag” were best sellers in America and Britain. By 1960, the Sac à dépêches had become a status symbol and was better known as the Kelly.
Find the perfect vintage Kelly bag for you on 1stDibs today.
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 And Purses 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.
Questions About Hermès
- 1stDibs ExpertAugust 26, 2024The difference between the Kelly 25 and 28 is size. The Kelly bag is approximately 25 centimeters high, 19 centimeters wide and 9 centimeters deep. Larger in size, the Kelly 28 measures around 28 centimeters by 22 centimeters by 10 centimeters. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Hermès Kelly bags.
Why is Hermès so special?
1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 25, 2024Hermès is so special for a few reasons. The French luxury house is one of the most storied fashion labels in the world and has a rich heritage that dates back to 1837.
Hermès began in Paris as a maker of leather equestrian goods for European noblemen. The house later 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 jewelry to pillows and handbags.
Hermès artisans spend years honing their craft as apprentices before they produce Hermès pieces in premium materials. For example, the Kelly bag, which was named in tribute to one of its biggest fans, Grace Kelly, takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches are made by one Hermès artisan. Each Birkin tote is also hand-sewn according to Hermès’s centuries-old saddle-stitching technique, and its exotic leathers, a variety that includes ostrich and crocodile, are subsequently painted and polished by house craftsmen in France.
On 1stDibs, explore a selection of vintage Hermès handbags and accessories.
Read More
Beyond the Birkin: 10 Hermès Bags with ‘If You Know, You Know’ Appeal
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Dress Like Your Favorite NFL Player with an Hermès HAC Bag
Before the Birkin there was the Haut à Courroies, which has become the chic carryall of choice for the league's most stylish athletes.
This Hermès Picnic Garden Party Bag Is Elegant and Errand-Friendly
Does wicker get more high-end than this?
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.
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When the name of a bag is as well-known as its brand, you know it's a classic.
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