Classic Bags Named by Pop Culture – Part 1
The It-Bags That Defined Eras
Have you ever wondered how well-known and classic designer bags got their name? From princesses to presidency, pop culture icons have been a pivotal influence for classic handbag styles for several years. In this multi-part series, you’ll be taken on a deep dive into handbag history to discover how these holy grails became the fashion sensations that they are today. And the best part? Many of these iconic It-bags are available pre-owned from WGACA right now. Your chance to own a piece of fashion history just got even easier. Read on to choose your favorite and shop the curation today.
The Dior Lady Dior: Fit for a Princess
In September 1995, Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales, traveled to the Grand Palais in Paris to attend the opening of a Paul Cézanne exhibition. It was during this event that the First Lady of France gifted Diana with a brand-new Dior bag that had not yet been released. Introduced by then-creative director Gianfranco Ferré and originally named the Chou Chou, which is French for “favorite,” the bag quickly became just that – a favorite of Princess Diana’s.
In November 1995, just two months after receiving the handbag as a gift, Princess Diana visited Buenos Aires, Argentina and was photographed carrying a black Dior bag as she exited the plane. The handbag quickly became Princess Diana’s staple accessory, draped on her arm for any and every social event, even at the 1996 New York Met Gala. In 1995 the bag was temporarily renamed the “Princesse” before officially being renamed the Lady Dior in 1996 after her nickname “Lady Diana.” Within a two-year period of changing the name to honor Princess Diana, the fashion house sold over 200,000 Lady Dior’s.
The Lady Dior bag has become the pinnacle of the royal wardrobe. Its iconic square silhouette, rounded top handles, cannage patterned stitching and ‘D.I.O.R’ charms are recognized by fashion enthusiasts, celebrities and royalty alike. Every detail of the bag is a nod to the history of the iconic fashion house, as the cannage motif dates back to the cannage patterned chairs Christian Dior used for his fashion shows and the ‘D.I.O.R’ charms resemble those of which Christian Dior would carry with him for good luck. Popularized by the people’s princess, the Lady Dior bag is a coveted classic that will never go out of style.
The Gucci Jackie: Fashion’s First Lady
The first version of the Gucci Jackie bag was created in 1958 and was given the model number G1097. The original version featured a snap-hook closure and was released in a renaissance-print fabric, calfskin and horsehair. The second version debuted in 1961 and was given the model number G1244. The reimagined version introduced the classic green and red Gucci web to the mix and featured a new cylindrical closure. During its long history, the bag has been referred to as both the G1244 and the Fifties Constance.
In the 1970s and ‘80s, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, former First Lady of the United States, was often seen carrying the bag. The bag became synonymous with Kennedy’s personal style and was an unwavering staple in her wardrobe. Kennedy was photographed countless times holding the bag, prompting the style to rise in popularity. Photographs of Jackie taken in the 1970s and ‘80s provide evidence that Jackie owned several iterations of the classic crescent-shaped bag. While both versions sport key differences, they appear to have been adored equally by Kennedy.
Gucci renamed the 1961 model the Jackie after Jacqueline Kennedy in the mid 1970s as the bag became undeniably associated with her. The original 1958 model is known today as the Bouvier, paying homage to Kennedy’s maiden name.
The Hermès Kelly: Gracefully Royal Since the 1950s
The history of the Hermès Kelly bag began in 1892, when the brand released its first ever Hermes bag, the Haut à courroies. The Haut à courroies was originally designed to be a large bag, intended as a carryall for equestrian equipment such as a saddle and riding boots. By the early 1930s, Robert Dumas-Hermès began reimagining the bag to be smaller and more elegant, intended for transporting important documents and files.
Officially released in 1935, the bag was named the Sac à Dépêches, which translates to the dispatch bag. In 1955, American actress and Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief. During filming, award-winning costume designer Edith Head chose the Sac à Dépêches as part of Kelly’s affluent character’s wardrobe. While on set, it’s rumored that Kelly loved the bag so much that she refused to return it when filming wrapped.
In 1956, Kelly was spotted using the bag to disguise her pregnancy from paparazzi photos. A photo of her sporting the bag was featured on the cover of Life Magazine, skyrocketing sales of the Sac à Dépêches. By 1977, Hermès officially renamed the bag the Kelly as an ode to the influence Grace Kelly had on the bag's rise to fame.
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 Lady Dior, Gucci Jackie and Hèrmes Kelly pre-owned and authenticity guaranteed at What Goes Around Comes Around.
