In luxury fashion, a handbag often does far more than carry belongings—it carries a story. Nothing cements that story faster than attaching it to a public figure whose charisma is already legend. Below is an in-depth chronicle of the most celebrated “eponymous bags,” tracing the moment of inspiration, the design journey, and the cultural ripple effect that followed each name.
Hermès—Where the Tradition Began
Birkin (1984)
The myth is as irresistible as the bag itself: Jane Birkin’s straw tote toppled from the overhead compartment on an Air France flight, scattering cosmetics at the feet of Hermès chairman Jean-Louis Dumas. By touchdown, the pair had sketched a roomy yet refined alternative on an airline sick bag, birthing a silhouette that would become Wall Street’s favorite status symbol. Annual production remains limited and entirely hand-stitched, preserving the aura of unattainability that fuels five-figure price tags. Here are 7 secret details you should know about Jane Birkin’s original Birkin.
Kelly (officially renamed 1977)
Hermès first introduced the “Sac à dépêches” in the 1930s, but a single 1956 photograph of Princess Grace Kelly shielding her pregnancy with the bag proved more potent than any ad campaign. Paparazzi shots circled the globe; orders flooded Paris. Two decades later the house bowed to popular demand and rechristened the style “Kelly,” enshrining Grace’s poised glamour in leather and gold hardware.
Dior—A Princess, a Purse and a Rebrand
Lady Dior (1996)
When France’s First Lady Bernadette Chirac needed a gift for Princess Diana’s 1995 visit, she selected Dior’s new “Chouchou” top-handle. Diana was photographed with it nonstop—Met Gala, hospital visits, even the Serpentine Gallery. Within a year the bag was renamed “Lady Dior,” immortalizing her courtesy title and cementing its place among the most collected totes on earth.
Gucci—Jet-Set Icons in Bamboo and Piston Locks
Jackie 1961
Originally catalogued as the G1244, the curved-hobo earned its lasting moniker after Jackie Kennedy Onassis clutched it against paparazzi flashes outside her Fifth Avenue apartment in the early 1970s. Alessandro Michele revived the style in 2020 as “Jackie 1961,” pairing archival piston hardware with bold colorways that once again landed on celebrity shoulders.
Diana (1991 / re-issued 2021)
Princess Diana’s off-duty uniform—cycling shorts and an oversized Harvard sweatshirt—was rarely complete without a bamboo-handled Gucci shopper. After her death the house quietly referred to the silhouette as the “Diana”; in 2021 Michele formally relaunched it, neon-Velcro belts and all, as a tribute to her laid-back aristocratic charm.
Bardot (1960s original, revived 2019)
Gucci’s slouchy shoulder bag with piston clasp mirrored Brigitte Bardot’s bohemian nonchalance. Though the style slipped into archives, it resurfaced for the brand’s Off The Grid eco-line, proving that Bardot’s carefree spirit still sells. rebag.com
Louis Vuitton—Cinema Meets Trunk-Making
SC Bag (2009)
Director Sofia Coppola asked Vuitton’s design team for the “perfect weekender”—structured enough for New York, relaxed enough for L.A. The resulting duffel, with travel-minded side pockets and Speedy-esque heritage, became the SC. Its quiet luxury predates today’s minimalism trend by a decade.
Mulberry—The British It-Girl Trilogy
Alexa (2010)
One paparazzi shot of Alexa Chung carrying a vintage Mulberry men’s briefcase prompted the brand to shrink and soften the silhouette. The “Alexa” ignited the It-bag boom of the 2010s, with wait-lists stretching for months.
Del Rey (2012)
Creative director Emma Hill saw echoes of old-Hollywood glamour in Lana Del Rey and designed a top-handle satchel to match. Unveiled at London Fashion Week, it fused Mulberry’s postman-lock hardware with Del Rey’s retro polish.
Cara (2014)
Model Cara Delevingne’s punk-prep persona inspired a convertible backpack-satchel capsule. Quilted nappa, lion-head studs and secret “Made in England” pockets nailed London edge and country heritage in one hit.
Ralph Lauren—A Love Letter in Leather
Ricky (introduced 1981, refined 2005)
Named for Ralph’s wife, Ricky Lauren, the lock-belted satchel references her equestrian lifestyle. Two Italian artisans take 12 hours to cut and assemble each bag—an intimate scale that mirrors the family narrative behind the brand.
Saint Laurent—Muses for the Maison
Loulou (2017)
Anthony Vaccarello honored Yves’s confidante Loulou de la Falaise with a chevron-quilted shoulder bag that balances Parisian chic and rock-star ease.
Kate (2010)
A slim evening clutch draped with chain tassel, the Kate nods to perpetual muse Kate Moss. Its clean flap became shorthand for after-dark minimalism, and resale demand remains fierce.
Jamie 4.3 (2022)
Named for and often modeled by Jamie Bochert, the Jamie reinterprets Saint Laurent’s archival “Carré Rive Gauche” quilting in semi-shiny lambskin—a grunge-glam homage to Bochert’s androgynous allure.
Bottega Veneta—An Accidental Name
Jodie (2020)
When paparazzi caught Jodie Foster shielding herself with a vintage BV hobo in the ’90s, fans dubbed the silhouette “the Jodie.” Daniel Lee’s modern intrecciato knot revived the moniker officially, proving that organic nicknames can outlast corporate ones.
Salvatore Ferragamo—Cinema Royalty in a Tote
Sofia (2009)
Ferragamo’s family-run atelier saluted life-long client Sophia Loren with a structured Gancini-clasp top-handle, blending red-carpet polish with Italian pragmatism.
Jason Wu—A Star and Her Satchel
Diane (2014)
Actress Diane Kruger co-designed a compact frame bag with Wu. The collaboration underlined her reputation as red-carpet risk-taker and Wu’s flair for Old-World silhouettes.
Marc Jacobs—The Supermodel Superstar
Stam (2005)
Quilted leather, kiss-lock frame and chunky chain made the Stam—named after Canadian model Jessica Stam—the Y2K It-bag. Its 2022 reissue tapped into Y2K nostalgia and introduced the design to Gen Z.
Gabriela Hearst—Activism Meets Accessory
Nina (2016)
Hearst’s debut bag channels singer-activist Nina Simone via a sculptural pouch that unfurls from a turn-lock. Its rarity (only a handful released each season) mirrors Simone’s singular legacy.
Demi (2018)
The smaller sister style honors actress Demi Moore, first spotted carrying it at a royal wedding. Its cult status surged after Meghan Markle adopted the emerald satin version.
Chanel—Founder and Flame
Gabrielle (2017)
Karl Lagerfeld’s penultimate design, the Gabrielle hobo, celebrated the house’s founder. A rigid base supports a soft upper, echoing Coco Chanel’s balance of discipline and rebellion. Chanel discontinued the line in 2023, making early editions instant collectibles.
Boy (2011)
Lagerfeld again mined house lore, christening the boxy cross-body after Arthur “Boy” Capel, Coco’s great love and financier. With gunmetal hardware and straight edges, the Boy targeted a younger, gender-fluid clientele.
Tod’s—A Princess on the Move
Di (née D Bag, 1997)
Princess Diana paired the capacious calfskin tote with everything from lilac skirt suits to off-duty rugby sweaters, prompting Tod’s to rename it in her honor. The 2013 “D-Styling” update kept her legacy alive while modernizing proportions.
Lana Marks—An Heirloom Friendship
Princess Diana Top-Handle (1997)
Close friend Lana Marks crafted a bespoke crocodile bag for the princess, later adding the “Princess Diana” to her permanent collection. The pear-shaped flap and ladylike handle remain unchanged—a quiet reminder of Diana’s influence beyond major fashion houses.
Why Names Matter
Attaching a handbag to a famous name does more than honor a muse; it forges an emotional shortcut. Consumers buy not just craftsmanship but a fragment of someone else’s narrative—Grace Kelly’s fairy-tale discretion, Jackie O’s urbane cool, Jane Birkin’s effortless chic. In an era when luxury houses fight for cultural relevance, these stories continue to turn stitched leather into modern mythology—one celebrated name at a time.
