We all know these iconic timeless pieces of leather but how many of us know the timeless beauties they have been named after. Be it the most-coveted Hermes Birkin or the ever-popular Lady Dior, there is an interesting tit-bit of a tale in their names. These iconic bags have withstood changes of eras, fashions and styles and have emerged unscathed (perhaps even stronger) every time.
They are the eye of envy of so many who cannot afford it (lets be honest they are one-of-a-kind) whilst dreaming of owning at least one such timeless beauty and carry it with élan. And even for the lucky ones who can afford them – it is not that they are always readily available. There could be a good amount of waiting period for many of these iconic names making as much a prized possession and special as a chance meeting with the iconic beauties they have been named after would have been.
Soul today brings you some of the most favoured Timeless Iconic BAGS of the century and a peek into the history behind their names.
Created in 1984 by the then Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas for the English actress-singer Jane Mallory Birkin, the Birkin bags are at the forefront of iconic bags. Miss Birkin had once complained of not finding a right weekend bag to Mr Dumas on a flight from Paris to London and he came up with this iconic black supple leather bag which would go on to become one of the most highly prized and coveted symbols of wealth and status among the elites.
Birkin Bags are sold in various ranges of size, colour and leather. Each piece is made-to-order with exclusively chosen colour, leather and the fixtures. For the ones who can afford it there is also a limited edition range with diamond-encrusting. Calf Leather being the most opted choice, there’s also other leather options like ostrich, croc, lizard and saltwater crocodile skin – the latter one being the most expensive. The prices differ from one another as they are fixed once the colour, leather and fixtures are decided and hence the prices can be as unique as the bags themselves.
Among these timeless iconic bags The Birkin Bag is a highly popular bag which also made history for being the bag with a waiting list of up to six years (and thus having a high resale value in many countries).
Lady Dior from The House of Dior
The name itself oozes with the mystery and sophistication often relegated to royalty. The bag was a gift from the then France’s First Lady, Bernadette Chirac, to the People’s Princess, The late Lady Diana, Princess of Wales in the year 1995. It is said Lady Di (fondly called so) fell in love with the bag which was adorned in black leather and featured an elegant stitching. So much was Lady Di impressed that she ordered the designer bag in every style available.
Being the most photographed woman in the world the iconic Lady Dior also shared the same fame in the arms of the most beautiful woman of her time and beyond. Seeing the popularity and the association with someone so elegant and stylish, The House of Dior decided to rename the bag in the honour of the princess by re-christening it the ‘Lady Dior’. Since then it has become one of the most iconic bags for the House of Dior.
The quilted leather, cross-stitch pattern, crocodile handles, golden rings and charms made the bag very popular among the high society. Each piece requires a minimum of eight hours to construct and the work of seven craftsmen. They are available in their classic colour choices as well as many limited editions ones.
When we talk about the Speedy bag from the House of the Louis Vuitton’s, Breakfast at Tiffany’s star comes instantly in our mind. The childlike innocence with a feminine grace and style, Audrey Hepburn was one of the early celebrities to be seen touting the bag around.
Originally of a 30cm size, it was especially created in a smaller size of 25cm exclusively for Audrey Hepburn in the year 1965. Today we can buy them in various sizes like 25cm, 30cm, 35cm and 40cm and in material ranging from the Monogram canvas to the Damier Ebene and Damier Azur. It also comes with a cute little golden lock-key. It is one of the most practical and affordable lines of the Louis Vuitton. Smart and stylish, Speedy is a bag which spells both good taste and smart investment compared to the other iconic bags (in terms of moolah and utility).
Very recently Louis Vuitton has introduced Speedy Bandoulière which comes with embossed Empreinte leather and a detachable leather strap in a bouquet of fashionable shades and is tad expensive from its senior counterpart.
The Former First Lady of USA, Jacqueline Kennedy was a fashion icon for women worldwide. Her sleeveless A-line dresses, white gloves and low-heel pumps became a fashionable rage back then and quickly became popular as the ‘Jackie’ look. No wonder then that the leather shoulder bag from the house of Gucci that she was spotted and photographed through the whole of the sixties became known as the ‘Jackie’ bag. Women crowded Gucci stores all around the world to copy the style icon and thus elevated the bag to an iconic status.
The handcrafted hobo-style purse is a testament to the enduring allure of graceful sophistication of the former first lady. The ‘Made in Italy’ bag is one of the few which has been totally deconstructed and reborn as ‘The New Jackie’ in a reinterpretation of the classic design in 2009. The elegant bag is most popular in the GG canvas and colours like Black, Blue and suede Burgundy leather.
It would be wrong to give anyone else the credit but the character Carrie Bradshaw (yes, of the Sex and City fame) of making this bag such a hit among women in their early 30’s. Designed to be carried under the arm like the French loaf it’s named after, it was launched in 1997 and quickly became the bag of the moment with a regular starring role in the HBO hit series Sex and the City.
Sarah Jessica Parker who portrayed the role of Carrie Bradshaw has her name associated with the bag forever. The ‘it’ bag with its floral sequins and vibrant colours became the must-have accessory and a game-changer for independent and liberated women (as seen in the SATC series where we saw the star living by her own rules, and paying more for a bag than her rent if she so desired).
Also known as the ‘Fun’ bag, The Baguette was seen carrying through many Hollywood Celebs after its SATC fame and till date remains one of the most popular styles from the House of Fendi.
