Classic Bags Named by Pop Culture – Part 2

The Bottega Veneta Jodie: Hollywood Cool Meets Italian Craft

In honor of American actress, director and producer Jodie Foster, the Bottega Veneta Jodie bag was named after Foster and arrived in stores in early January 2020 under the creative direction of Daniel Lee as part of Bottega’s resort 2020 collection. Originally unnamed, the handbag was given the title the “Jodie” after a paparazzi photograph surfaced of Jodie Foster using a large black Bottega Veneta bag as a shield to hide herself from the cameras.

Primarily produced in Bottega’s classic Intrecciato leather, this handbag appeals to luxury handbag collectors aspiring to lean into the quiet luxury phenomenon. While Intrecciato is the main textile used when crafting the Jodie, it’s also been seen in a shearling rendition as well as a handful of other limited-edition iterations, including but not limited to a tubular laminated lambskin version, a metallic silver studded version and a denim look-alike version. Colors range from neutrals like beige and black to playful shades of neon, pastel and metallic. The Jodie is available in three sizes—mini, small and classic and is a modern iteration of the classic Bottega Veneta hobo.

The Jodie bag undoubtedly made a splash in the luxury fashion world upon its release, despite launching during a worldwide pandemic. With the rise of quiet luxury, the Jodie bag has become a widely adopted classic handbag style that is anticipated to remain an it-bag among luxury lovers.

The Saint Laurent Kate: From Catwalk to Icon Status

Eponymous with British super model and fashion icon Kate Moss, the Saint Laurent Kate bag was introduced in 2010 during the Stefano Pilati era of Saint Laurent and has remained a staple in Saint Laurent’s handbag collection ever since.

The Kate bag features a structured rectangle silhouette, a polished chain strap and a standout signature YSL logo adorning the front—making it a versatile handbag that seamlessly transitions from day to night. Whether it’s worn as a crossbody or carried as a clutch, the Kate bag embodies effortlessly chic style, much like its namesake, Kate Moss.

World renowned for what was dubbed “heroin chic” style, Kate Moss was all the rage in the early 90s due to her grungy, streetwear inspired aesthetic and extremely thin physique that became wildly popular in the fashion industry during the 1990s. While Kate Moss herself has been seen sporting the Kate bag on occasion, it wasn’t named after Moss due to her love for that specific style handbag like other designer bags named after pop culture icons. Saint Laurent named the bag the Kate as an ode to her aesthetic, aiming to capture Kate Moss’s effortlessly chic style.

The Hermès Birkin: The Bag That Redefined Luxury

As a tribute to British actress and singer Jane Birkin, the Birkin bag was created in 1984 after a chance encounter on an Air-France flight from Paris to London between Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas. It was during this platonic meet-cute in the clouds that the conversation of the Birkin first occurred, all because the contents of Jane’s wicker basket accidentally spilled onto the lap of Dumas.

Jane was a full-time working mother who wanted an oversized carry all handbag with dedicated space for her daughter’s bottles. She explained to Dumas that she would love a more supple, spacious and practical Hermès handbag that was bigger than a Kelly but smaller than a luggage piece that would suit her everyday needs of practicality meets elegance as a mom on the go. It was then and there that Dumas prompted Jane to sketch the silhouette she envisioned for this Hermès bag—on the exterior of an airplane sick bag. In 1985, Dumas generously gifted Jane a prototype of her dream handbag design with one stipulation—the bag would be named in her honor.

First sold for the mere price of $2,000, Birkin bags back in the day were relatively low in cost as the bag didn’t gain significant popularity until the late 1990s and early 2000s during the it-bag era. While the initial response to the Birkin bag was anticlimactic (mostly due to Chanel purses dominating the leather goods market in the 1980s) recognition and desirability of the Birkin bag quickly surged in the early aughts once the handbag was featured in the popular HBO television series “Sex and the City.”

Nowadays, prices for Birkin bags vary drastically, with certain combinations of textiles, colors and sizes inflating the prices by tens of thousands of dollars. Exotic and exclusive models such as the Himalayan Birkin can cost anywhere between $150,000-$450,000 while versions such as the Birkin Faubourg can run you anywhere from $160,000-$300,000. Additionally, the price for a diamond-encrusted Birkin ranges from $65,000-$200,000. Prices for these rare models are subject to change based on the condition of the item, with smaller sizes often earning higher price tags in the resale market. One of the most expensive Birkin’s sold to date (besides Jane Birkin’s original prototype that sold at auction for a whopping $10.1 million last month) is called the Sac Bijou Birkin, which was released as part of Hermès’ Haute Bijouterie Collection in 2012.

Created by designer Pierre Hardy, who was appointed creative director of fine jewelry at Hermès in 2001, the Sac Bijou Birkin is a miniaturized Birkin, initially intended to be worn as a bracelet, crafted in rose gold and inlaid with over 2,000 diamonds. With only three diamond Sac Bijou Birkin’s in existence, this highly rare Birkin has a price tag at around $2 million USD.

Whether the style names were derived from celebrities in cinema or on the catwalk, you can rest assured knowing your classic handbag was likely named after a notable pop culture icon. If you’re in the market for a timeless handbag, shop WGACA’s pre-loved and 100% authentic guaranteed collection of Saint Laurent Kate’s, Bottega Veneta Jodie’s and Hermès Birkin bags at What Goes Around Comes Around today.

Stay tuned for the next installment in this series as we explore three more classic handbag styles inspired by pop culture. In the meantime, shop the Saint Laurent Kate, Hèrmes Birkin, and more pre-owned authentic pieces at What Goes Around Comes Around.