The Hermès handbag named after Grace Kelly after she used it to conceal her pregnancy in 1956 is the Kelly.
The bag was originally known as the Sac à dépêches, a structured Hermès design created in the 1930s. Its later name came from Grace Kelly, the American actress who became Princess of Monaco. In 1956, photographs showed her holding the bag in front of her abdomen, helping conceal her pregnancy from photographers.
Hermès officially adopted the name Kelly after the association became famous. The bag is characterized by a rigid silhouette, a top handle, a flap, and the distinctive turn-lock closure known as the Kelly clasp. It is commonly produced in several sizes and leather types.
The Kelly is often confused with the Birkin. The Birkin was created after Jane Birkin’s conversation with Hermès chief executive Jean-Louis Dumas in 1984, whereas the Kelly’s fame is linked to Grace Kelly and Monaco.