London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

8 Bags That Were Named After Celebrities

8 Bags That Were Named After Celebrities

These bags were inspired by some of fashion’s most esteemed celebrities.

As celebrities continue to gain prominence in popular culture and influence everyday fashion trends, designers have turned to fashion’s most renowned luminaries as muses. To commemorate their muses and personify their artistic vision, luxury brands have sought to develop namesake bags that will withstand the test of time. Timepieces like the Birkin and the Lady Dior are cult favorites still loved among celebrities and fashion enthusiasts alike. Archival bags like the Gucci bamboo tote, beloved by the late Princess Diana, relaunched 20 years after being spotted on the princess-but this time with a modern twist. From Hollywood starlets to political figures, L’OFFICIEL rounds up bags that drew inspiration from fashion’s favorite icons

The Jackie 1961 by Gucci




First introduced as the G1244 in 1961, the slouchy, crescent-shaped hobo bag was originally a unisex piece. The former first lady Jackie Kennedy took a liking to the bag and often sported the leather accessory with her iconic tortoiseshell glasses. The bag became synonymous with her chic sense of style after she was famously photographed using one of these bags as a shield from the paparazzi in the ‘70s, prompting Gucci to rename the bag in her honor.

Revered by fashion enthusiasts and celebrities alike, the bag has stood true with the test of time. Since receiving Kennedy’s seal of approval, the half-moon-shaped accessory remained a popular silhouette and has been brought back and reimagined numerous times by Gucci’s successive creative directors. Gucci’s current Creative Director Alessandro Michele revived the archival piece in his Fall/Winter 2020 men’s collection with a few tweaks to fit the tastes of the modern customer. The updated Jackie 1961 is now available in mini, small, and medium iterations and new colorways.

The Birkin Bag by Hermès




Considered as a symbol of wealth due to its long waitlist and limited inventory, the highly coveted Birkin bag was named after the British actress and muse Jane Birkin. The bag came into existence in 1984 thanks to an accidental encounter with the former Hermès head Jean-Louis Dumas and Birkin on a flight from Paris to London. The two ended up sitting next to each other and struck up a conversation about Birkin’s ideal bag. With Dumas’ recommendation of pockets and Birkin’s desire for a convenient bag that fits all of her essentials, the two collaborated on a sketch for the iconic Birkin bag we know today.

The Lady Dior by Dior




Epitomizing the house’s elegance and femininity, the Lady Dior remains as one of the most relevant Dior bags to date—alongside the Saddle Bag. Given as a gift from France’s first lady Bernadette Chirac to Princess Diana in 1995, the princess immediately adopted the bag and ordered every available version. Thanks to Princess Diana’s status as the most photographed woman of her time, the accessory quickly became synonymous with the princess as she often wore the bag in numerous outings. Though Dior didn’t have an official name for the cult-favorite bag at first, Princess Diana’s contribution to the bag’s popularity prompted the brand to rename the bag in her honor.

The Nina Bag by Gabriela Hearst




Known for her well-rounded talents, the musician and civil rights activist Nina Simone was the inspiration behind Gabriela Hearst’s Nina Bag. The cult-favorite bag, beloved by Meghan Markle, features a petite, uniquely rounded pouch held by a structured top handle.

The Kelly Bag by Hermès




Another fan-favorite from Hermès, The Kelly Bag was surprisingly not named after the Hollywood starlet and Princess of Monaco at first. Thanks to the costume designer Edith Head, Kelly first fell in love with the bag on the set of Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief. Known for her Hollywood glamour and elegance, the star quickly popularized the trapezoid-shaped bag in the ‘50s after she was spotted wearing the bag in numerous outings, including the announcement of her engagement with the Prince of Monaco and during her pregnancy. The star made headlines after using the handbag to cover her baby bump from the paparazzi. Although the bag was already synonymous with Kelly, it wasn’t officially renamed until 1977.

The Sofia Tote by Salvatore Ferragamo




As a loyal client and longtime friend of the Italian footwear designer Salvatore Ferragamo, Italian bombshell Sofia Loren is the woman behind the Sofia Tote. The bag was first introduced in Ferragamo's Spring/Summer 2009 collection as an homage to the actress.

The Diana by Gucci




Following the success of the reimagined Jackie bag, Gucci brought back another one of Princess Diana’s favorite handbags from its archives: the bamboo tote. Now renamed as the Diana bag, the accessory was continuously spotted on Lady Di throughout the ‘90s, including her iconic photo leaving Chelsea’s Harbour Gym wearing a collegiate sweater with biker shorts. As the princess further distanced herself from the royal family, Princess Diana became bolder with her fashion choices while forgoing royal dress codes.

While maintaining the integrity of the structured shape and the ‘90s bamboo handles, Creative Director Alessandro Michele introduced a contemporary twist to the tote, including a fresh color palette, new sizes, and detachable neon belts.

The Alexa Bag by Mulberry




Taking the 2010s by a storm, Mulberry’s Alexa bag was inspired by the British fashion mogul and longtime muse Alexa Chung. A decade after the bag was launched, Mulberry recently announced a capsule collection designed by the media star for the brand's 50th anniversary. Inspired by the original satchel design of the Alexa, the collaboration taps into ‘70s nostalgia while channeling masculine formality.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×