Welcome to our post about the Top 10 Luxury Handbags and the Iconic Women Who Inspired Them!
Some of the most amazing designer bags in history were inspired by famous women. These women are a part of history, and the bags named after them are truly iconic.
So, without further ado here are The Top 10 Luxury Handbags and the Iconic Women Who Inspired Them:
1. Hermès Kelly Bag – Grace Kelly
One of the most classic bags ever, the Kelly will never go out of style! In 1935 Émile-Maurice Hermès diversified the brands offerings designing a bag for his wife to carry. Called the Sac à Dépêches the bag was practical and elegant with a classic style. The accessory achieved worldwide recognition in 1956 when the American actress and princess of Monaco Grace Kelly used her Sac à Dépêches to cover her pregnant belly from the paparazzi. As soon as the photo of that is published on the cover of Life Magazine women from all over the world start running to Hermès asking for the Kelly Bag. In response the brand changed the bags name to the Kelly, and history was made.
Today an icon of elegance and sophistication, the Kelly is one of the most sought-after bags on the resale market, not only for its timeless style but also for the enduring allure of the woman it is named after.
2. Lady Dior – Lady Diana
A bag that was designed almost 30 years ago in honor of one of the biggest style icons in fashion history, the Lady Dior is one of the most beautiful designer bags! In 1995 Bernadette Chirac, then First Lady of France, requested Dior to custom design a bag for Lady Diana. The bag was gifted to the princess while she was on an official visit to Paris, it instantly became one of her favorite bags! After that Lady Diana was spotted multiple times carrying the bag, so Dior decided to change its name to the Lady Dior in 1996, with the princess’s blessing. Described as iconic and legendary the brand launched the bag in a larger series, becoming a favorite of Dior clients.
This is a classic top handle bag that will never go out of style, and is a bag every handbag lover should know!
3. Hermès Birkin Bag – Jane Birkin
The Birkin bag is the most famous and popular bag in the world, and for sure one of the most classic. The Birkin was designed in 1983 when Hermès creative director Jean-Louis Dumas set next to the actress Jane Birkin on a flight. She was wearing a straw tote and explained that most leather bags were too structured for her taste. So Dumas designed the bag on that flight on the back of a napkin.
Today the Birkin is an icon and is the kind of bag that will last you your whole life.
4. Gucci Jackie Bag – Jackie Kennedy
Like the enduring allure of the woman it’s named after, The Jackie is a bag that will never go out of style. In 1961, Gucci introduced a Hobo-style bag that caught the eye of Jackie Kennedy, whose husband so famously loved Gucci’s loafer moccasins. It’s said that upon seeing a paparazzi image of Jackie Kennedy with the bag (then called the Fifties Constance), the Gucci family quickly christened the bag the Jackie. Relaunched in 2021, the recognizable shape is presented in many materials like leather and the GG Supreme canvas.
No matter which one you choose this is a beautiful bag that will be a cherished item in your wardrobe forever, perfect for any occasion!
5. Louis Vuitton Speedy – Audrey Hepburn
After the success of the iconic movie Breakfast At Tiffany’s in 1961, Audrey Hepburn requested Louis Vuitton to design a smaller 25 centimeter style of the Louis Vuitton Keepall. Back then, the bag was available in three sizes—30, 35 and 40 centimeters. Audrey wanted a bag that would be fit for everyday life as well as for traveling. And so, the Speedy we know today was born, and now, 60 years later, it remains one of the most popular and most iconic Louis Vuitton bags. The original Louis Vuitton Speedy bag was designed without a strap, but in 2011 Louis Vuitton released the Speedy Bandoulière with an adjustable shoulder strap that can be removed.
The strap, zipper closure and durability of the canvas, make this one of the most functional designer bags ever.
6. Gabriela Hearst Nina Bag – Nina Simone
Nina Simone, the civil rights activist and musician known throughout the world for her talents, was the inspiration behind the famous Nina bag. A structured top handle with a distinctive round pouch that gently unfolds from a turnlock closure, the Nina is crafted from smooth Italian Nappa leather. Is an elegant and unique bag, the design is modern and classic at the same time.
This is a distinctive, understated and stylish bag beloved for its refined and timeless allure.
7. Salvatore Ferragamo Sofia Bag – Sophia Loren
Italian actor Sophia Loren and Salvatore Ferragamo formed an instant bond thanks to their shared heritage and fondness for Naples. Loren moved there as a child, while it was in the southern Italian city that Ferragamo learnt the craft of shoemaking. Loren, along with Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Judy Garland, was a loyal customer and often called upon his custom-made heels for her film and real-life wardrobes. For spring/summer 2009, the brand introduced the Sofia bag as a tribute to Loren and her loyalty to the house. With the classic Gancini clasp this bag is elegant and timeless.
Unfortunately this bag is not currently sold by Ferragamo, but you can find it on the resale market.
8. Mulberry Alexa Bag – Alexa Chung
Inspired by the much-loved style of Alexa Chung and incorporating the signature Mulberry Postman’s Lock hardware, the Alexa quickly became a house design classic and the most sought-after Mulberry bag of its time when it was launched in 2010. Its collector’s item status was sealed when the Victoria & Albert Museum featured it in its Bags: Inside Out exhibition in 2020, alongside other luxury bag design classics from across the globe. Over a decade on, the Alexa’s enduring appeal continues to inspire a new generation of fashion lovers with updated textures and detailing.
Since the relaunch of this bag in 2020 we have seen multiple colors and sizes, all with the amazing Mulberry quality and a timeless allure.
9. Moynat Réjane Bag – Gabrielle Réjane
The Réjane, which was first made in 1903, was named after Gabrielle Réjane, a prominent figure in French theater. It was the first ever bag to be named after a star. The simple, feminine lines are reminiscent of classic Moynat trunk detailing. Each bag takes a single artisan 20 hours to make using the intricate method known as bords francs, which exposes the leather edges of the piece all at once. This timeless design is completed by the jewel-like, Art Deco-inspired clasp, the bag also has a removable shoulder strap that allows for multiple ways of wearing it.
This bag is chic, quiet and timeless, all you could need in a designer bag!
10. Ralph Lauren Ricky Bag – Ricky Lauren
The story of the Ricky bag starts in 1964, when Ralph Lauren first met the woman who would become his wife and muse Ricky. The Ricky’s first iteration appeared 20 years ago as a satchel that is still sold today. To create it, Mr. Lauren drew inspiration from sources related to his wife’s love of blending men’s style and outdoor sport. Its most identifiable detail is a functional lock, shaped like a figure eight and engraved with “Ralph Lauren,” that is instantly recognizable. Today, there are several variations of Ralph Lauren’s iconic Ricky, ranging from evening clutches to wallets.
Whether handbag or wallet, evening clutch or canvas tote: If it’s a Ricky, it’s an icon.
Hope you enjoyed the Top 10 Luxury Handbags and the Iconic Women Who Inspired Them! Finally, check out The Luxury Bags Worn by Royalty!
