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Kelly Bag
Iconic Designs

Kelly BagBy Hermès

About the Design

In 1837, Thierry Hermès (1801–78) founded his eponymous luxury goods company in Paris as a saddle manufacturer, serving the era’s carriage trade. In 1880, under the stewardship of Thierry's son Émile-Charles, fine riding gear was added to its offerings to complement the saddles. Hermès eventually expanded their workshops to design handbags in the years that followed. The Kelly bag, originally introduced as the Sac à dépêches (“the dispatch bag”) in 1935, was created by Robert Dumas, son-in-law to Thierry's grandson Émile-Maurice Hermès. 

Designed for independent women who wanted a piece that was both luxurious and efficient, the Kelly bag has a trapezoid shape, two triangular gussets, a sculpted flap and a handle.

To this day, the understated bag comprises 36 individual leather pieces, 16 studs and a signature padlock and leather key cover, with three layers of leather at the base to ensure the bag can stand upright. Each Kelly bag takes between 18 and 25 hours to produce, and its 680 hand stitches owe solely to one Hermès artisan.

The Kelly bag earned its name during preproduction on Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 film, To Catch a Thief. Costume designer Edith Head sourced products from Hermès to outfit actress Grace Kelly, who fell in love with the Sac à Dépêches and continued to carry it long after the movie wrapped.

Months after marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956, Kelly was spotted carrying a brown pigskin Sac to shield her pregnancy from the paparazzi. And while the oft-repeated claim that Kelly and her bag appeared on a Life magazine cover isn’t true, photography of the actress and her cherished accessory began to appear everywhere at the time, and the bag’s profile suddenly skyrocketed. 

In 1977 Hermès officially changed the item’s name to the Kelly bag. Less than a decade later, Hermès introduced another top-handled bag to its line, also named after a style symbol, the Birkin bag.

The Paris-based British actress Jane Birkin sat next to Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas — Robert's son — on an Air France flight. He noticed her overflowing handbag, and she told him she longed for “a handbag that is bigger than the Kelly but smaller than Serge’s suitcase,” in reference to her then-romantic partner, the French musician Serge Gainsbourg. The Birkin bag was created in 1984, joining the Kelly in Hermès’ permanent collection.

Hermes Kelly Bag

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Hermès Kelly Bag 32 Clemence Leather Blue Izmir Top Handle Bag
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Located in Torre Del Greco, IT
Bag by Hermès, Kelly model, size 32, made in Clemence leather, soft and textured to the touch, in the Blue Izmir colorway, with silver hardware. Equipped with the classic flap with i...
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Hermès Kelly II Sellier Mini Cloute Black Box Calf Studded Palladium Hardware
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Brand: Hermès Style: Kelly II Sellier Mini Cloute Size: 20cm Color: Black Material: Box Calf Studded Leather Hardware: Palladium Hardware (PHW) Dimensions: 7.5" W x 4.5" H x 2.25" D ...
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2012 Hermès Kelly 35 Ghillies Evercalf Rose Texas/Rouge H
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Located in Torre Del Greco, IT
Bag by Hermès, Kelly Ghillies model, size 35, made of evercalf leather, smooth and soft to the touch, in the two-tone Rose Texas and Rouge H colourway. Equipped with a flap with inte...
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Hermes Kelly II Sellier 25 Epsom Vert Vertigo/Vert Fizz/Blue Palladium Hardware
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The Hermès Kelly II Sellier Bag is a captivating accessory meticulously crafted for your needs. This 25cm bag is fashioned from exquisite Calfskin leather and accented with Palladium...
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Hermès 25cm Kelly Sellier Black Epsom Leather Gold Hardware
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Located in Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Brand: Hermès Style: Kelly Sellier Size: 25cm Color: Black Material: Epsom Leather Hardware: Gold Hardware(GHW) Dimensions: 9.8" W x 7.5" H x 3.5" D Handle Drop: 4.5" Strap Drop: 16.5"
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21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Red Kelly 35 Bag
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Hermes Red Kelly 35 Bag. Epsom sellier Kelly bag. Rare size in sellier. Palladium silver hardware. Interior clean. Plastic is still on hardware. Looks like new condition. Includes cl...
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21st Century and Contemporary European Shoulder Bags

Hermès Kelly Mini II Cuivre Chèvre Mysore PHW
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Located in Mayfair, London, London
A beautiful Hermès Kelly Mini II handbag. The exterior of this Kelly Mini features Cuivre Chèvre Mysore leather and is complemented by palladium hardware and tonal stitchings. It has...
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This authentic Hermès Blue Electric Kelly Doll Bag Charm is brand new. Adorable iconic Kelly Bag in bright Electric Blue with Palladium hardware and co...
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21st Century and Contemporary European Wallets and Small Accessories

HERMÉS KELLY Retourne 32 cm bag in toile beige, Courchevel blue leather 1995s
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Located in Stuttgart, DE
Iconic Hermès "Kelly Retourne" 32 cm 2 way bag (Made in France), beige Canvas and ''Courchevel dark blue leather. Stamped with Y - 1995. Measurement Height 23 cm - Width of t...
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1990s French Shoulder Bags

Hermès Kelly II Retourne 35cm Graphite Veau Taurillon Clemence PHW
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A lovely Hermès Kelly II Retourne 35cm bag. The exterior of this Kelly is crafted in Graphite Veau Taurillon Clemence leather and is detailed with palladium hardware. It features a f...
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Hermes Etoupe Mini Kelly Bag
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Located in Athens, GA
Hermes Etoupe Mini Kelly Bag. Rare and very difficult to get Mini size Kelly bag. Most wanted etoupe color. Gorgeous grey color with gold hardware. Excellent like new condition. Neve...
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Hermes Gold Kelly 28 Bag
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Hermes Gold Kelly Sellier 28 Bag. Gold color with gold hardware. The most wanted size 28 in Kelly. Interior clean. Excellent condition. Sellier is more structured and this one is bea...
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Hermes Bordeaux Kelly 28 Bag. Excellent condition. Like new condition. Togo leather. Rare color and most wanted size in Kelly. Palladium silver hardware. Interior clean. Includes clo...
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21st Century and Contemporary European Shoulder Bags

Hermès 28 cm Midnight Blue Epsom Kelly Sellier with Violet Interior
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This authentic Hermès Midnight Blue Epsom 28 cm Kelly Sellier is in pristine unworn condition with the protective plastic intact on the hardware. Hermès bags are considered the ulti...
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21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermès Black Box Leather Kelly 1998
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The 1998 Hermès Kelly bag in black Box leather is a timeless and iconic piece, exemplifying the brand’s dedication to impeccable craftsmanship and understated luxury. Made from Box c...
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1990s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags

Kelly II retourné soleil
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Located in Paris, FR
Kelly II retourné 35 HERMES Togo soleil Condition: very good Country of manufacture : France Collection : Kelly II retourné Genre : unisex Material : togo leather Interior : leather ...
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2010s French Top Handle Bags

Hermès Pink Magnolia Togo 25 cm Kelly
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This authentic Hermès Pink Magnolia Togo 25 cm Kelly is in pristine condition. Hermès bags are considered the ultimate luxury item worldwide. Each pie...
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Hermès Kelly 35cm Clemence Leather Retourne Ultraviolet Bag Palladium Hardware
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100% Authentic After Grace Kelly, the Hollywood star and a princess, used her Hermes bag to hide her baby bump and subsequently, the public started referring the bag after her name,...
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Hermès Kelly II Sellier Mini Gold Epsom Leather Gold Hardware
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Located in Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Brand: Hermès Style: Kelly II Sellier Mini Size: 20cm Color: Gold Material: Epsom Leather Hardware: Gold Hardware(GHW) Dimensions: 7.5" W x 4.5" H x 2.25" D Handle Drop: 3.25" Strap ...
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21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermès 25cm Kelly Sellier Bleu Indigo Shiny Lizard Gold Hardware
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Located in Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Brand: Hermès Style: Kelly Sellier Size: 25cm Color: Bleu Indigo Material: Shiny Lizard Hardware: Gold Hardware(GHW) Dimensions: 9.8" W x 7.5" H x 3.5" D Handle Drop: 4.5" Strap Drop...
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21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermès Mustard Yellow 25 cm Kelly with Palladium
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Located in Palm Beach, FL
This authentic Hermès Mustard Yellow 25 cm Kelly is in pristine condition. Hermès bags are considered the ultimate luxury item worldwide. Each piece is h...
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21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

HERMES KELLY BAG 2 WAY 35 cm, CHEVRE LEATHER IN BLACK, KOLLECTION 1998 - B
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Located in Stuttgart, DE
Hermes Kelly Bag 35 cm, 2 way, Chevre leather in black, a very insensitve leather, marked with B - 1998 the square . Very good condition - ...
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1990s French Shoulder Bags

Hermès Kelly II Sellier Mini Black Epsom Leather Gold Hardware
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Located in Santa Rosa Beach, FL
Brand: Hermès Style: Kelly II Sellier Mini Size: 20cm Color: Black Material: Epsom Leather Hardware: Gold Hardware(GHW) Dimensions: 7.5" W x 4.5" H x 2.25" D Handle Drop: 3.25" Strap...
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21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle Bags

Hermes Kelly 28 Rouge Grenat Epsom Leather Gold Hardware
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This bag, defined as “simple and perfectly made”, exists in many combinations of leathers (around 20) and countless colors. Created in eight different sizes ranging from 15 to 50cm, ...
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21st Century and Contemporary American Shoulder Bags

Hermes Kelly II Retourne 28 Veau Swift Anemone
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Located in New York, NY
Hermes Kelly II Retourne 28 Veau Swift Anemone, Palladium Hardware Condition: Brand New Material: Swift Leather Measurements: (W)28cm × (H)22cm × (D)11.5cm Hardware: Palladium plat...
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HERMÉS KELLY Sellier 2 way bag 35 cm gold Courchevel leather, stamp B /1998
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Located in Stuttgart, DE
A gorgeous Hermès Kelly Sellier 35 cm bag in gold Courchevel leather (Made in France). The gold Courchevel leather is complemented with gold ...
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Hermès Bleu Indigo, Black, Cuivre Togo & Box Calf Au Galop Leather Kelly 28cm
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Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
Hermès Bleu Indigo, Black, Cuivre Togo & Box Calf Au Galop Leather Kelly 28cm Retourne Brand- Hermès Model- Kelly 28cm Product Type- Shoulder, Top Handle Serial Number- * Age- Circa...
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Hermes Herbag Zip 31 Blue Indigo Toile Black Vache Hunter Gold Hardware
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Mightychic offers an Hermes Herbag Zip 31 featured in Bleu Indigo Toile and Black Vache Hunter cowhide leather. Rare with Gold signature Clou de Selle closure. Chic colour combinatio...
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