Brief History of the Kelly Bag
The history of the Kelly bag dates back to the 1852 and is closely intertwined with the evolution of Hermès. The Kelly bag's origins can be traced back to the release of the Haut à Courroies (HAC) bag that was made to hold saddles for equestrians. The HAC was then reinterpreted into the Sac à Dépêches in the 1930s. It wasn't until Grace Kelly used the bag to hide her pregnancy in 1955 that the Sac à Dépêches became popular. Hermès renamed the bag the “Kelly” in 1977 as a nod to the actress-turned-princess.
Kelly Bag Picks for Fall
With the recent kick off of the fall auctions at Sotheby's, you have more options than ever to find your next Kelly bag perfect for fall. We have Kelly bags in all of the hottest color trends including burgundy, shades of gray, rich browns and butter yellow.
Burgundy: Rouge H Mini Kelly
Burgundy is one of the hottest colors for fall according to Vogue, Who What Wear and other fashion press. Prada, Bottega Veneta and Ferragamo all featured burgundy in their fall collections. An Hermès Rouge H Mini Kelly bag is the perfect bag to add some burgundy to your fall wardrobe. We love Rouge H with gold hardware for fall while the Mini Kelly bag remains the most popular must have Kelly bag. The Mini Kelly bag is perfect for day or night and casual or dressed up. While Rouge H is often overlooked by collectors that prefer neutrals and pastels, this season is the perfect time to try the rich hue.
Shades of Gray: Gris Meyer Kelly 25
Shades of gray were also prominent on fall runways from top designers. Louise Vuitton, Miu Miu, Marni and Stella McCartney featured over-sized double breasted coats, menswear inspired blazers and cozy knits in different shades of gray. Hermès has many shades of gray and we love a Gris Meyer Kelly 25 for the perfect true grey hue. If you prefer a lighter gray, try a Kelly bag in Gris Mouette or Gris Ciment. The lightest gray shades include Gris Pale and Gris Perle. Hermès newest and darkest gray is Gris Misty which is a great alternative to basic black for fall. We love investing in neutral Kelly bags since we know this season's hottest color trend will work season after season.
Rich Browns: Gold Kelly en Desordre 20
Warm rich earthy brown is another fall favorite as featured by Miu Miu and Chanel. Hermès has many rich brown colors but a perennial favorite by collectors is gold. A gold Kelly en Desordre 20 is our pick for fall. This versatile shoulder bag has quickly become a must have for Kelly bag fans due to its unique design and practical size. Other rich browns from Hermès includes Alezan, Biscuit, Chai and Fauve. While rich brown is a popular hue this season, it is a timeless color that you will love for years to come.
Butter Yellow: Kelly 25 Jaune Poussin
Butter yellow is another color fashion editors loved for fall 2024. While yellow can be a challenging color to wear, it is a great choice for a bag. An Hermès Kelly bag in Jaune Poussin, Jaune Milton or Limoncello are all good choices for adding butter yellow to your fall rotation. Buying a classic Kelly bag is a great way to add a trending fall color to your wardrobe. While butter yellow is hot this fall, it will easily transition into your spring and summer wardrobe for years to come.
Buying and Selling a Kelly Bag at Sotheby's
Sotheby's can assist with buying or selling your next Kelly bag. We have a carefully curated selection of Kelly Bags in pristine and excellent condition in the most popular leather and exotic materials. Shop the newest colors with 2024 date stamps, classic neutrals in all sizes and rare limited edition bags. We accept Kelly bags for consignment at auction and marketplace. Expect pristine leather Kelly bags that are size 20, 25 and 28 to be priced between $25,000 to $35,000. Exotic bags are priced higher and older Kelly bags and larger 32 and 35 Kelly bags with some wear are priced lower.
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