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Hermès Kelly Bag

ICONIC BAGSClassics of the Most Renowned

Luxury BrandsHandbags, alongside diamonds, are a girl’s best friend.

One could refer to them as being a woman’s most important accessory – an expression of femininity

and an exclusive status symbol. These accessories have become true fashion icons. Every brand has a certain,

special model that is its trademark and that acts as an inspiration for future models, such as the 2.55 from

Chanel, Prada’s Galleria or the Kelly Bag by Hermès.

Probably one of the most renowned brands when it comes to

coveted handbags is the house of Louis Vuitton. In 1930, the

Speedy was introduced – the first city bag that was then a

reduced version of the legendary Keepall travel bag. The name

originated from the rising speed of transportation in the 30’s

such as cars, trains and airplanes. It is the ultimate handbag

classic, as well as the absolute bestseller for the house of

Vuitton. The Speedy 25, the smallest amongst the « Speedies »

was developed by Henri Louis Vuitton in 1965 as a result of an

order made by the Hollywood star Audrey Hepburn and quickly

became a cult object. The Noé was designed in 1932 for a

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Louis Vuitton Noé

champagne producer, who needed a bag that could transport

five bottles of champagne. The name Noé is a reference to

Noah, the biblical figure who, after having survived the great

flood in his arch, began to grow wine. Wine, in turn, is the basis

for champagne.

When speaking about classic handbags as icons, one has to

mention the irresistible Birkin and Kelly bags by Hermès.

The story behind the origins of the Birkin Bag begins with a

meeting between Jean-Louis Dumas and Jane Birkin on an

airplane journey at the beginning of the 1980’s. The actress

divulged her wish for an especially wide and practical handbag.

It should replace the basket that she used to carry her

personal belongings in. Jean-Louis Dumas realized her wish

by sketching a bag onto an airplane napkin that would comply

with the wishes of the French actress. He designed a leather

handbag similar in shape and details to the Haut a Courroies.

In 1984, the Birkin was first introduced onto the market, and

since then it has remained an unchallenged classic alongside

the Kelly Bag. The Kelly Bag has been produced by the house of

Hermès since 1892. Back then the large bag was produced to

transport horse-riding accessories such as bridles, and whips,

amongst others. In 1935, Émile-Maurice Hermès reduced

this very large travel bag to a very successful city model. In

1956, a photograph showed Grace Kelly, the new princess of

Monaco with a Hermès bag shortly after her wedding. Grace

Kelly loved wearing the bag and owned many different models

with which she was frequently photographed. The decision for

the Kelly Bag’s new name was made by Robert Dumas, who

was president of Hermès at the time, with permission from

the princess. The Kelly Bag to this day remains a worldwide

bestseller when it comes to bags made by Hermès.

A further classic highlight is the Knot by Bottega Veneta. The

Knot is one of the most renowned and popular bags made by the

fashion house. When Tomas Maier became creative director of

Lady Dior

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Bottega Veneta Knot

the brand in 2001, he at once recognized the potential that this

small clutch had. Maier designed a new locking mechanism for

the bag in the form of a leather knot that bestowed the bag

with its name. Since then, the Knot has had an important place

in every collection designed by the fashion house. Modern

interpretations included refined and fantastical versions

such as the Origami Knot for example, made of intertwining

laquered leather, the Jardin Knot made up of countless leather

flowers, the Vintage Jewel Knot that is decorated with antique

crystals, the Memory Knot made of nappa leather with metallic

aluminum coating that returns to its original shape after

every touch, the enamel version which is lined with soft nappa

leather and has an exterior made of hard metal and the Metal

Lace Knot made of metallic lace made of woven sterling silver,

cushioned satin and soft crocodile leather. Many Knot models

are available in strictly limited editions of 100 or 25 pieces

according to production and availability of the rare materials

that they are made of.

A further favorite within the history of handbags is the Lady

Dior. Lady Diana, one of the fashion icons of our time, helped

the Lady Dior attain its name. During a Cézanne exhibition in

Paris in September 1995, Bernadette Chirac gave the Lady

Dior handbag to Diana Princess of Wales as a gift. Diana liked

the bag so much, that she ordered it in all its available versions.

It was created within an atelier in Paris and is known for its

quilted Cannage pattern that is stitched onto the leather.

The inspiration for the Cannage pattern originated from the

interior objects of Napoleon III and it was first used by the

house of Dior in 1947. Probably the world’s most beautiful

and famous women are fans of the Lady Dior, including Sarah

Jessica Parker, Leighton Meester, Blake Lively, Emma Roberts

and Anne Hathaway. The Lady Dior bag remains a timeless

accessory to this day and is the most famous classic handbag

made by this fashion house.

Louis Vuitton Speedy

Prada

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